The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-04-25
INJUSTICE TO PRIVATE SOLDIERS.


| To THE EDITOR OF rHK HERALD
The deserter's letter, which made Its frat appear
ance In your valuable paper. Is again brought to our
notice by the Army ana Nary Journal. That de-
serter claims TO be created worse than brute, "
and declares that ne deserted the service OF his
country az last and only alternative The army
and Nary Journal Introduces the letter to lis read
ers with the remark that 1--WE have too much ex-
pertence OF deserlers excuses TO trust their state
ments on any subject without corroborative evil
dence" Now. II abuses do exist In our army, aud
treatment how, would ask, are those wrongs to
be redressed, n editors welding such
mighty influence In military affairs set
the seal OF doubt and disapprobaton
upon the feeble efforts which the poor soldier may
make to bring knowledge OF their existence to the
notice Of the reading publics 1t would be prepos-
terously absurd to expect that the guilty par les Will
discover their own crimes. Surely those who benent
themselves by fraudulently Withholding from the
poor private portion Of his allowances Will not ex-
pose their own Ubiquitous practice. No; the first
lntlmation OF wrong and oppression must come. not
from the oppressor but from the oppressed. adj
mt mat, regarded rs simply question or veracity
between the private and DISTINGUISHED commissioned
0ifcers, the statements OF the former would be
invalidated by the improbanty OF hts story. But,
viewed from another standpoint, IL would not be a
very severe tax upon one's creduty TO believe That
great dea o, injustice ana petty tyranny Is prac
II Is the practice LII our army TO permit company
commanders TO leave In the Commissary Depart
men portion OF the rations allowed by government
to every enlisted man, the officer receiving Its value
III ready money. Now, II the company commander
be strictly honest man this money received by him
Will be expended for the benefit or the company. II
ne oe not an honest man. he will appropriate most Of
II 10 his own Individual use, and feeling OF dis
satisfaction and injustice Will Jake possession Of the
minds OF the men. hold, therefore, that liz prac-
tice, as carried out IN our army, can be defended
only upon tue Suppusirion OF universal recril ude.
The money so drawn IS called company fund. am
reliably informed that in the small detachment or
ABOUT nfty men stationed at Fort Whipple, Airing
ton Heights, Va, this company fund (so-caed)
amounts To about one hundred dollars u month
quite an Item 10 one whose shoulder straps
denote no higher rank than lieutenant.
IT IS worthy OF note that seven men
Many OF their comrades knew they were going
SUFFICIENT to appeasc the cravings of hunger. In all
probability that number VIII be far exceeded at the
next regular payday, II there Is not radical
change III the culinary department before that time.
Since last April twenty enlisted men have de-
serted from that post, ana the universal complaint
has been, and now Is insunlciency OF food aud the
tyranny OF non-cOmmlssioned officers. These are
not "dcserters excuses" but it Is the complaint OF
thousands Of honest, faithful soldiers. Many honest
and Intelligent men entered the service from fond
ness oil soldiers lile which they contracted during
the late war, ana are forced from these TO
desert Prisoners aid associations and societies for
all over the country, ana II Is to be hoped that,
long, steps VIII be taken by the friends OF humanity
IN behalf OF the half starved soldiers OF army.
II. s. ". s..