The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-11-25
THE STRESS FOR MEN.
"Reminiscences of the Desperate
Economy of the south.

Economy of the south.
The extraordinary demonstration on
Thursday and the presence of so many
veterans in line caused one of the distin-
guished leaders of the men who wore the
gray to recall some "reminiscences of the
days when the thinned and ragged lines
of the Confederacy's defenders were max
ing their last stand against the over
whesming hosts of the enemy. As an evil
dence of the stress to which the Confed-
crate government was put in order to OBJ
tain men to fill its exhausted armies the
Renaissance is not only of interest at
present. but one worthy of being preserved
for future time.
Here" said a veteran, sis a simple
fact of Confederate orders going TO show
their thinned ranks as the struggle pro-
crossed, and the impossbility of recruit
ing. There was not enough of them. The
enemy said we had robbed the cradle and
the grave and it was more or less true
In The ranks were found eager boys side
by side with sturdy old men.
when war broke out details of cavalry
soldiers were made for service at general
headquarters and with the several gen.
erals according to their rank. Upon the
complete organization of the cavalry by
stewart these QetdliS were properly OF
dered back to their colors. An order from
Gen. Lee provided for that important serv-
Ice by 'couriers' detailed from the reSpec-
tive infantry commands. The men were
selected for their intelligence and courage;
were much exposed, and could be
trusted like staff officers to con-
Vey verbal messages and orders
in the haste and stress of battle. They
we're to keep themselves well mounted.
AS they were constantly losing their
horses by bullets and oVerwork those fell
lows were put in This respect up to all
they knew.
I'm Lees army a corps commander was
limited to six men for this service, division
commands TO four and brigadiers 10 two.
But on even this splendid allowance a
change had to come, Regiments were
skeletons. Their coaonels wanted every
man with the colors and in 1864 Gen. Lee
ordered back an those details 10 their COM
pauies. Their places were supplied by
others who were fit to ride, but not fit
to march afoot. 1t was done. Every
man uncomplainingly gave up mis- horse
and took to his gun with the colors and
the important courier work was hence
forth achieved by brave fellows who, dis
abled by wounds for foot work. were yet
equal to anything mounted. Has
there ever in all war annals a
closer economy of men? Is there any lit
tie thing so significant among so much
that is all revealing of the nacious length,
the sacrifices, the devotion of the strug-
gle by these Confederates? These few,
these happy few" against the ever full
ranks, the awful numbers of their deter
mined enemy
These thoughts were brought to the
mind of the veteran by his meeting one
of the old coMiers who had served with
him in the Army of Northern Virginia,
and who, in company with others, had
been ordered back to his command, be-
cause not a single man able to march and
fight could be spared. Truly it can be
said that no other war ever witnessed such
an economy of men and resources in the
desperate effort to overcome superior
wealth and numbers as did that between
the North and South.