Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-09-24
PROFANE SOLDIERS.
THERE WAS VERY LITTLE SWEARING
~ THE ARMY OF THE UNION.
An Old Soldier Takes Issue With the
Author Of "Thc Red Badge of Cour-
age"-Csmp Followers and Hangers On

When the recruits Of tine First Maine
cavalry began to take on soldier airs
in their camp on the Pencbscot, in
1851. some of them assuming that
troopers should be men "full of strange
oaths." Colonel Douty promulgated an
antiprofanity order. At first the edict
WAS received with considerable merri-
ment, and explosives, innocent in them
selves though meant to do duty as oaths.
were freely used. Bot in few DAYS.
Inspired by the precepts and examples
Of certain selfrespUcting comrades, the
men too. q nobier view of it and the
'needloss vice, is the historian Of the
regiment characterizes ii, was effectually
prescribed.
The First Maine served four years
and earned a reputation for valor in the
field second tn no other mounted COM
mand. 1t brought home q flag upon
which were inscribed by official author
ity the names Of SO battles. But the
veterans we've not more proud of their
martial honors than of their good NOR.
ais, for they had won the honors and
the victory to crown them, swearing
mot at ALL" that, too, with a regi-
mental temperance pledge held in al
most universal respect.
The general over q division Of 0, 600
men who nipped the profaning evil in
the buy by saying, II will do the swear-
ing for this entire command" was
more tactful in his methods than the
Maine cavalry colonel, as he needed to
be, dealing with strange troops. but he
was not jester, neither a victim of
overconfidence in himself. If military
necessity warranted violation of the law
he would be the judge. Under leader
So clever and farsighted the crisis would
never arise. Only once during "a long
service at the froIt-service rendered in
two different regiments, different bri-
gadcs, divisions and army corps-did
hear an officer above the rank of can
tain give way TO profanity. That once
was the case of q brigade commander
invoking the curse Of Deity upon ras-
cally quartermaster. The quartermaster
resigned on the spot and went home,
thus removing what might have been a
stumbling block from the path Of many
besides the general.
1 should say that the rascally quar-
tcrnaster and his close concomitants,
the stubborn army mule and the OBJ
streperous teamster, furnished the chief
provocatives to swearing for soldiers of
the line and that in the precinct set
apart to their use-region remote from
battle and virtually outside Of the do
main of army discipline-oaths were
quite as common as they are in the
pages Of the "Red Badge of Courage. ("
In fact, the manners as we'll as the Ian
ruagc of the soldiers in that narrative
suggest that the studies for it were
made from camp followers and the hang
ers on Of the supply departments,
manned, as these were, by noncombat-
ants. Into that safe asylum drifts. &C.
cording to u well known law, the slum
element of an army in the field.
My ears still retain echoes Of volleys
I. of oaths from the lips of two men Of
that class whom l encountered on the
peninsula in 1862. Both were enlisted
soldiers and wore the blue. One Of the
offenders acted rs keeper Of the brigade
comrilissary stores. With him the swear
associates to overlook it through pity.
The other was teamster, who had fol-
lowed the sea until long past middle
life. Swearing in his case was child
ish way of showing bravado. 1t is need
less to add that he was u hopeless cow
ard, and for that reason had been detail
ed to stable duty.
By referring to the roster of the COM
pany i'll which served in 1923 now
recall the individuality Of So comrades.
and of that number recognize 90 who
did not use profane language on any &C.
casion. OF the remaining 90 only IL
can be indicted as possibly given to pro-
family at times, and that solely on the
ground Of their general reputation for
hGhtness of morals. On the expiration
OF our term of enlistment, in 1868, two
sergeants Of the company recruited a
command for the veteran cavalry serv-
ice. They had the pick Of 500 appli-
cants recently mustered out from the
two years regiments and chose their
men strictly with regard to their previ.
Gus records as gallant soldiers. When
the men came together III camp, it ap-
pearcd that there was not one among
the 100 veterans so selected who used
profane or vulgar language.
\ moment 5 reflection must convince
every intelligent person that violent
language is subyersive of all true disci.
pine, and a successful army without
discipline is an impossibility in this
age. The article Of war prescribing
profanity, promulgated. as it was, to
every new command and read ON parade
annually ut least. was a protection for
the soldier and moral weapon for the
officer. The soldier could insist upon its
observance by his superiors On the
other hand, he weakened his own cause
whenever he violated the law himself.
At first blush the article seemed tc
many obsolete and ridiculous and was
generally received as a relic of Puritan
| days. But the more onerous and exact.
ing rule the more it is studied and
analysed. Men of fixed habits obeved
readily, setting good example. In tins
end wilder spirits found that obedience
was easier than resistance. Thus at tn.
very outset the law of God was impressed
. upon the understanding Of all whs