The Benton weekly record. [volume] (Benton, Mont.) 1880-1885, 1882-09-28

WHICH WAS THE BETTER
SOLDIEIS2 So
A &&e1dy og the Civil War.

"A Union Veteran" contributes the
following remarkable paper to a late num-
Der Of Our Continents: No unprecedented
pprson can deny Ghat III the war between
lhr States the Confederate soldier was
worth more, man for man, than the Fed
erAl volunteer. III proof Of this need only
be iustunced the fact that the army of
Northern Virginia, though constantly
oycrmatchcd III numbers, and having an
adversary layishly supplied with material,
though twice checked in its purposes was
never defeated until the siege Of Peters,
burg had depleted lis ranks and the near
approach of Sherman had increased the
disproportion Ct numbers to limit that
left Mo hope Of success. On the other
hand this Overmatched army had admin
iStered ut least three crushing and over
WhvInling defeats upon its adversary.
The urjst0cracy Of the South furnished
rrom the outset Il most admirable corps Of
3ino and staff officers. They were just
ncur enough TO their men to permit fAmil-
sarity and aud receive respect, and far
enough from them to prevent insubordi
u4tiOn. Coming from the same vjcinage
every man knew his officer. Even where
the officer was not personally known to
his men, he represented a class whom they
were accustomed TO follow. I has been
the fashion among both officers and men Of
the North to sneer at the discipline CT the
Confederate army. 1t is true that. in nom
essentials we very greatly e&celted them.
10 The very last the drill Of the Southern
regiments was slack, drihbling mld uneven.
In the essentials 0fdiscipline, however, they
far eXcelled liz. For neglect Of duty their
men were punished and punished speedily
and severely. In tryialties, the South
crn soldier WAS geneluIy 1t slouch with
impunity; but when it tcan1e to Il real
neglect Of duty; Struggling, pillaging,
c0Wmdice, and desortiOn, the terror OF
swift and terrible punishment was ever
before his eyes" 'What is that - the
writer Qncc asked Confederate prisoner
as We looked down upon the camp ofhis
division and saw Il body Of troops paraded
and from the center shoot up II puff OF
white smoke. "Wal,' was the cool reply,
IL reckon it's ole Bragg 1-startiil' new
graveyard; t'0ther must be nigh about
full" Bragg was not a very successful
general. He seemed to lack MI power Of
adaptation to circumstances. But it was
{he army thus trained TO obedience that, |
under General Joe Johnston, made the
Wonderful backward movement from
ResacA 10 Atlant;l-a movement not
equaed in brilliancy, completeness, and
difficulty by any other upon either side /
during the war, unless it be the death |
grapple around Petersburg. The Southern
soldier believed most .devout1y in the /
martial superiority Of the Southron, and
ii gave him confidence in the outcome /
OF the struggle which greatly enhanced his
proWcss. This is the very means OF all
others likely to make such troops effective /
By constant employment and repeated
't~FNt ~ = t4F lIsttlSASi ttAStA klNtt &AtAo 49,
GRAMS before they had fairly learned the
movements from line into column and
their reycrsals. But this was only half the /
advantage derived from this belief The
Northern soldiers and the Northern lead
crs believed it also. 70 the Northern t
mind the Southerner was being espec- |
tally delighting in bloOdshed and war
Ihc superiority Of the Southern EoInn-
tecr forces was at the outset directly On
indirectly conceded BY all AS ample
proof Of this state Of mind it is necessary /
only TO recall the abject terror that was
produced throughout the land by what I
was known as the "Black Horse Cavalry
It legion by no means formidable IT
numbers nor remarkable for actual feats I
OF arms. During the first year of the /
Nontederaey's existence, however, the |
bare name Of this death-head- bloody /
ootles corps was worth more 70 her cause
Than ten thousand Of the best trained
soI1iery on earth could have been. The
southern soldier went into battle contfdent}
ol his own proves, and despisingg his
Toe. The Northern soldier entered the
conflict determined to do his best, not II
shrinking from his duty, but overestimat-
ing lis adversary and Understanding his /
himself. This disparity Of spirtt--not OF i
sold'erly qnalities-W,ts greatly enhanced /
oy the issue Of the first general engage
SnQMt a4I gE Tfaa# nIaT Ff.