The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1885-02-08
DISCRETION.
aScout's" Exhaustive Paper on
the Subject.
FROM AUTHENTIC SOURCES
..s and Figures for the Soldier
and Civilian-Interesting
Notes.

Ills said BY some that the army, as at
-rosept managed, is one Of the failures
IF the age, and to ascertain the direct
oarse we have visited the Post known
oz Fort Douglas, and have sought the
opinions Of many of the file. From re-
cent statistics it appears that at least
% per cent. desert annually.
10 fully understand this vexatious
nroblem let US make few PREDATORY re-
marks What is the make up" CT the
army? Of what class of men Is it com
rosed2 Whilst Scout affirms that
many now wearing the blue uniform are
nerfect gentlemen, yet not few are far
hollow the medium. Many enlist to
avoid starvation. Of that class, we note
roung men, who have blasted their fu-
tures from drink, gambling or licentIous-
ness whilst rather than beg" has
caused more than one to swear allegi-
snce who would not otherwise.
Took over the records of the army and
Won will find private soldiers OF refine
inpnt. forced to do something to keep
tbe wolf from the door; while others do
az from private causes. OF the latter
nearly always YOU will find men under
some alias, so then to cover crime not
few don the uniform. 1t costs the
government an immense sum to trans
9ori recruits from the different rendez-
yons to the posts in the far west, and
il is now high time due notice of the
rapid decrease of the army be taken by
our wise men at Washing
ton. Let committee of
civilians, Congressman, be appointed
to properly investigate and then the
matter can be adjusted. As instructed
by the HERALD, we append the result of
our visit to the Fort:
We spoke only to the private soldier
and with the non-commissioned men.
We deemed the information thus clio
tied sufficient to write upon, yet THE
HERALD columns are open to the rank
at any time they may wish to express
themselves. Private x. in answer to
our query: "Is it ill-treatment, bad food,
too much work or drink that causes de-
sertions ?' replied: I'm the first instance,
you ask, Are we ill-treated?' As re-
regards that I can safely say, not by the
rank; but otherwise by the corporals
or sergeants, whom we are bound to
obey. As you may be aware, the
Wearers of the chevrons are not always
the most humane of men, yet a good
one sometimes, may be accidentally, is
promoted Since my first enlistment,
now twenty-five years ago, I've acted in
several capacities; am now a private
have been a non-com., but that was
during the war. Often we meet with
extremely disagreeable officers, but
very generally they know their business.
The younger ones among them, es-
pecially the West Pointers, are usually
stern and military. The best ones are
the old officers of the volunteer service
Yet to the credit of the officers must
say, they are all gentlemen. The first
SergeantS are virtually in command of
their companies. They look to the
cOmpany's interests, and their actions
are always approved by the captain
commanding. The i'll treatment thus
spoken of then, though it may be sane
toned by higher authority, is the non
CONS anger and perhaps jealousy.
You ask, Are we fed as men should
beY Well, / think not; and. more
over, in this connection, you can de-
termlne why some men desert. If am
detailed for cook, cook l am, or be. i'm
prIscned. There is no appeal for US
wemust obey or suffer the CONSEQUENT
ces' The living of company depends
upon its cook. If he be careful
ana extremely saving, he will barely
have a sufficient amount of food for the
men, and often times l have sat down
q of Ia
y ana 9read. Cooks ought to be SO en-
9steG and paid accordingly. They are
uetalled from the privates and cooking
against their will, they rather ruin than
make the food at all palatable. So put
enat uown as cause No. One, and big
one at that: Again, there are other
Iualters OF Importance. For instance,
IAN am asked to strike for an officer:
tHat IS; act as his servant. For my ser
vices l may get S. or $40 extra per
InoIlu mat, OF course, depends on the
Toth' am excused from all company
uuTy' Ny comrades then do mine, as
W., WEI. as Their own. ] am paid for this
ny Ine oiheer himself, the government
Sniy paying me S25. 70 every two months.
~ 80 lar, SO good. While some don't like
SntS work, they may as well do it, as it
o ~ GL no consequence and pays. On the
O,ueI hand, II were detailed for head
quarters to work under the directions
vi tne Sergeant-major, I'd strenuousIy-
9olect' though would have to go. That
11ley term daily duty, and no extra nav.
Jallh9t understand why men are not
eLl Gun especially for these positions
Suu heid IN such, but when | swear Ia
80 'ne united States as soldier,
wa "ihV 10 90 so, and not fill a cleri.
Ua al position. But some disagree
WIN me, Remember, I am
5.Snls you my private views
no one elSe's; yet, have seen enough
~ Ieei thelr correctness. You desire f.
anoW Il fatigue or work causes deser,
uon' IN some instances YES. but where
.neh desert IN the winter, it is not that
s .ShoVe!lng snow is the hardest
work at this season; vet. l tell Won. III
a aO ouii curing pleasant weather. Why
~ uIuef was issued some two months
9nceI,may be farther back than that
"a so the effect that non-commissionec
S,aGers IN charge of fatigue details mus
P iahe me men work or else be reduced
.n nal put us virtually in control of tn,
a non-com., and as I've remarked. som,
are TY pretty tough fellows.
,Ihough ] drink, and oftentmes an
dlI-iippT1isoGned, and justly so, on account o
uIlnS, | must now tell Won Of cans,
m ",stoe r two, and most probably tn,
G aDsI qlreet OF any of them. Will
agsi Tlai McCook has issued an orde
forth gambling, the sutler still hold