National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1885-08-20
REGULATING THE REBELS.
THE METHODS OF PUNISHMENT IN
LEES ARMY.
First Blood Shed in Behnlfof Discipline
"A Droll Story of n Union Regiment
Officers who Were Social Interiors
Of Their Men.


"A Droll Story of n Union Regiment
Officers who Were Social Interiors
OF Their Men.
When, IN the late autumn Of 1861, the
amy Of the Potomac, as II was then styled,
to distinguish II from the army Of the Shcn-
ondoal, fell back from before the lines Of
Gen. Mcclellan in front Of Washington to
go into winter quarters at Centervllle, the
troops had been brought to very fair state
Of oder and discipline for that carly period
Of the contest. The picket duty was severe
in It's eXactions, and the drilling was CON
tinuOus In favorable weather-squad, com
pany, battalion, and brigade drills. As the
days rolled by in the comfortable cabins built
for winter quarters discipline was necessa-
rily relaxed on account of the unusually in
element season for this latitude, and the mo-
notony Of the life and the vices engenderod
by long stay in the idleness Of the camps
began to tell upon the morale of the army.
Dissatisfied men formed cllques, aud insub-
ordination was rife. Gen. Johnston viewed
this state Of affairs with alarm, and he has
toned to correct condition Of things
which, II permitted to 90 on, might have
led to the disintegrntion Of his entire force
Accordingly daily drills were resumed
whenever the condition Of the weather
would permit, and quarter guards, camp
guards, and the outlying picket guards
were vigorously maintained
CIVIL AND MILITARY LAW.
Now, as there is law in civil life, so there
Is in military, only that the latter is hide
hound--its code being the army regua-
tions, supplemented by the vast discretion.
nry power of the commanding officer, In
Tho earlier mart Of the civil war. when tho
volunteer troops on either aide considered
themselves as good as their officers and
paid about as much Difference to their
orders as they would have done In civil
life, the privates in very many instances
being superior TO those placed above them
by circumstances, both In education aud
social position, were very FESTIVE under the
obligatory restraint of military decipline
and IL the higher officers had not been wise
enough to make allowances for this
state of affairs, and to relax the strlctncss
of the rules with discretion, IL Is more than
probable that serious mutinies would have
embarrassed the operations of the generals
ON both sides. recollect that such an
emeute occurred sometime In February.
near Centeryille, in Louisiana brigade, and
Stuart's flying artillery was wheeled into
position to check IL. But even Mt that
period punishments for tho refractory vera
put into practce-confiuemeu In the ollar,l
house, the ball and chain, extra police duty,
riding the wooden horse, carrying n rail
on the shoulder, the underground sweat
box, &c.
NARROW ESCAPE.
| 7 came In n sudden death occurred nj
PETERSBURG. in Februorv' IS65. when I was
In command Of comnany r. of tho 1st Vir.
Oinio battalion III Infantry The hat.
falion was comnosed cbiaav of
Irishmen who had hccn enlisted rs
| rcUulnrs I'm fine service of tho state of
| Virginia for five wears, before the state
seeded. | was transferred, by being com
missioned, from the nth regiment of Pick
etts division In November, 1868. While ut
| Petersburg, as above stated, had great
deal of trouble to keep the men In camp.
| They were hard, rough lot as fur as
whisky and women We're concerned, though
good soldiers otherwise. There was in my
company Mississippi ilatboatman of the
name Of Brady, who had persistently
| lodged duty and flanked the pickets
| for q week or more, and gone into
Petersburg without a pass. One even
ing at o O'Clock roll call he turned up
and noticed him. had previously sent a
| corporal and q file of men to hunt him
down. When the roll had heen called
summoned him IN front OF the company
ahu gase mn i scoacI ~ agnnho nor n's
s,I IN esp1e,,y 10 =. a,1,, v hd ,,.
on LIE eoll'aIee mno i nau a,,oauy n"'u uu.s
p utior ", sa,d hir tn TastI Thr1 40 my
I nIN, W e9iu III, W oa.' ,I.,Nt a
NC anu prefer cnn1ges usniiiss mn,
no so9ner huu tuo Woius iSt. 5l,y liou w
unan ne mn,pPeo guy u tnuS ni'ne VI
| Meupnn Peuuhat Wv Oito"hs' anu
s'uuh E,r,ousiy iu,a d ~ th my Vroasv ,,.r,,
mnS aii leu anu eI a hroa T h IILv
uncApGutcu, Duo ',, ,u Wi""ia,io nod
I1sepC iroa sYu1nmGSs mg'd it naii ti,,
nicI, ns time i save v No ia su thro III, (