Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1874-05-07
until the Fall M 1854, that
win the contest. Bot aiter Z
r.tH ru,,eacw hs1 becone =

win the contest. Bat after
rate currency had become
less--when . seldier's mcsth
scarcely bay one meal for BIZ
that was the case IN all The e. s. 81
ten or twelve months-thoee n
the lshoriug class Who he'd T..
compelled to chose beeNeen
services and the strosgest ~
know-their duties . uivese
They olsyef - - Ofr s
|ess;s sss sss.ss 3 81 s,iksi; ls.;i;..' :
The vretched impressment laws deprived
the army of many valuable men OF class
less poor than that Just referred to. Those
laws required the impressment OF all arti-
clcs Of military necessity that could not
be purchased. The govcFnment had the
power Of regulating the prices TO be paid
BY it for all such commodities. and It's
commissioners appointed for the purpose
| fixed them much below the market values.
No one would sell to the government. Of
course, when he could get from bis neigh.
bors twice the government price for his
horses or grain; consequently. the officers
| of the government could never purchase.
but had always to procure supplies BY im-
pressment. No rules for their guidance
we're prescribed. none at least that were
observed by them or known to the public.
and they were subjected to no supervis-
ion. All the property Of Confederate cit
izens,arplicable to military purposes was.
therefore. under their absolute control.
The bad and Indifferent officers impress
sed what they were called upon to fur
nish, in the manner least inconvenient to
themselves. usually on the nearest plan
ta,ious or farms. or those where opposi-
ton was not apprehended. The farms o
soldiers were generally under the maaage-
men. of women, and therefore we're, moi
unusually, drawn upon for much more
than their proportion. Hence. it was not
uncommon for a soldier to be written t.
. by his wife that so much Of the food hi
, had provided for herself aud children hac
. been impressed; that it was necessary tha
: he should return to save them from sui
: fering or starvation. Such summons
it may ~ell be supposed, was never un
e needed. The su!ferings Of the soldier
h themselves. produced BY the want OF pre-
r per clothing drove many Of the least hai
4 DIV on, of tho ranks. Want Of food ais
y is said to have had the same effect. espt
E cially in the army before Richmond in til
i last winter of the war. It was by sue
B., causes, all due to an empty treasury, ths
= our armies we're so reduced in the la
= months of the war. As to the charge I
= want Of loyalty or zeal in the war | asser
a from as much opportunity for observat't
Of as any individual had. that no people ev
IS displayed so much under such circuu
ID stances, and with so little tagging Tor
q long a time continuously. This "
as proved by the long service OF the troo
o. without pay and exposure to such har
s. ships, from the causes above mentione
he as modern troops have rarely endure
ut BY the voluntary contributions food a
RS clothing sent to the armies from eve
le, district that furnished regiment; BY
IL general and continued submission Of
&C. people to the tyranny Of the impressm'
*, system as prac,iccd-such a tyranny.
he believe, as no other high-spirited peo
ce. ever cndured-and by the sympathy a
ar aid given in every house to all profess
the to belong to the army or t, be on the
ay. to Join It. And this spirit continued
the only after all hope Of success had dl
Pc bu. after the final confession Of defeat
'er- their military commanders. But, eve
o.. the men Of the South had not b1A q
um Gus in the cause. the patriotism Of Il
the mothers, and wives. and sisters. VIC
rms have inspired them with zeal or sha'
en, them into its manifestations. The wo'
rate Of the South exhibited that feeling VI
,her ever il could be cxercised-in the arr
ap- by distributing clothing made with
this own hands. at the railroad stations
,ary their own homes by fee ding the marc
pose soldiers. and above all. the hospi
pro- where they rivalcd Sisters of Charity
art am happy in the belief that their dev
oops patriotism and gentle charity are 4
or richly rewarded.
ople