The National tribune., 1893-09-28
STRENGTH OF THE REBEL ARMY.

STRENGTH OF THE REBEL ARMY.
1t seems impossible TO silence that stupid
old falsehood that the rebels had but 600,-
600 men in their army. 1t has recently
come up again in full vigor in an article
written for The Forum by one of the former
editors of the Nashville american He as
serts that only 100000 enlisted in the Con-
federate army" and says:
| Nearly 900 more Federal pensioners on
the National peuson-st than there soldiers
III the Confederate army. 1t is estimated that the
South has paid indirectly since the to pension
Union soldiers $3.50, ,0O0C coo.
tits simply and preposterously untrue that
there were only 100000 soldiers in the rebel
army, and any man who pretends to know
anything of the history of the war should
be ashamed to make such a statement.
If there is one thing that is certain in the
history of the rebellion it is that every white
man in the II seeding States who was able
| to carry musket and march mile was
compelled to do military duty from the be-
ginning of 1862 till the end of the war; The
thoroughness with which the rebel leaders
forced every man into the army and made
him do something toward sustaining the re-
bellion, is one of the most remarkable
features of the struggle. Never before in
the history of the world was there such
wholesale impressment of the males of
country.
In the Spring of 1862, the rebel leaders
threw aside all the fim-6am they had been
previously indulging in about patriotic
uprising of the people," and nerved them
selves for desperate measures to carry on a
desperate struggle. Many months before our
Government or people thought about draft,
the rebel Government instituted the most
drastic conscription ever known. In April,
1862, it ordered that no more new regiments
or batteries should be organized but that
every white male in the Southern Confederacy
between the ages of Is and 45-with few
specified xceptions-should enter some of
those already formed. If he volunteered at
once he would be allowed to choose the regi-
ment he would enter. If he wanted to be
conscripted by the officers, he would be as
signed TO any regiment which needed re-
cruits. There was no term of service; he
must go in for the war;.
Wounds or disability did not excuse him.
If he was still able to perform any duty, he
was sent to the rear to relieve some able
bodied man who could take his place at the
front.
The orders from the rebel War Depart
ment constantly admonish Surgeons,
Quartermasters, Commissaries, etc, to use
disabled soldiers for clerks, nurses, guards,
ETC., and send tie able-bodied employees to
the front. Disabled officers and soldiers
were to guard bridges ferries, ETC., and help
execute the conscript act, until they were
able to return to the field
The little chance there is for exemption is
shown by General Order No. D. dated
Richmond, Feb. 3d. 1868, giving instruc-
tions to medical officers appointed to ex-
anime conscripts:
ADJUTAsr AND ISsPgcroR-GEyERAL' OFFICE
RICHMOND, Feb. 20. 1863 J |
General Orders, No. o.
II. AS general rnIe. i. may be received that
Ia.
OF the various occupations Of civil life he is able to
discharge the duties OF soldier.
~. The following are some OF the grounds not |
deemed sufficient and satisfactory for exemption:
J. General DebHHy.-The grades OF this condition |
are numerous. aud on receiving them ali as |
grounds for exemption, the examining surgeon |
cannot be considered as discharSing his duty 10 |
the service. In arriving at correct Judgment |
upon this point he will be aided by the considera-
tion. that observation has by means established
that so-saiied high standard of health is best |
adapted to encounter The exposures OF military |
life such physical condition being especially liable
10 disease; while health OF u lower grade with |
out any co-existing positive disease is frequently
and improved by The exposures incl |
dent TO the life OF a soldier
2. In case of slight defornity natural or the re-
suit OF accident and Irregular union of fractures
results from such deformity. the conscripts must
be held liable for military service
3. Denfness.-This is not n valid reason for ex-
enipton, unless excessive (Which must be stated
In the monthly repor,) as to ncapsciIale a man for |
the duties OF sentinel. The fact of lis existence
must also be established by the affidavit of re-
spectacle physician. who has known tin conscript |
10 be the subject Of the infirmly.
4. impairment Of Speech.-Uness OF n very ag-
Sravated character, is not valid for ex-
emption.
5. Heart Disease (or9anic) Organic disease of |
the heart being comparatively infrequent the /
physical and rational signs should be scrutinized |
with great care, and the subject of examiua ion |
should not be excused unless the case Is satisiac-
tory established.
g. Functional Disturbance Of Hearts Action-Th |
is very comnon-not a valid ground for exemption |
and will generally be relieved by change to The life
of the camp
T. KheumatisTn.-The kind should be designated |
whether acute or chronic artcular or muscular |
1t is a complaint liable to be used as r. means of
evasion. Where it is simply muscular without |
swelling or contraction of the joints, and the gem
erai health OF the conscrpt is otherwise sound he
should be held liable 10 military duty.