The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1913-06-06

ware not more formidable than these
militla.pen. whom they had despisea
as raw peasants.
There was no desire 20 buy another
American position at that price, am
washington had time enough Tor tne
complimentary receptions and al.
dresses and the elaborate parade OF
escort and review that delayed MS
journey to headquarters. :.
He reached Cambridge on the "a Oh
July. and bore himself with 30
straightforward and engaging cour'
tesy in taking command that the ON
GERS he superseded could not but IKE
him: jealousy was disarmed.
Not ideal Soldiers.
But he found neither the prepar
atoms nor the spirit Of the army 10
his liking. His soldierly sense OF or
| der was shocked by the lose discip-
line and his instinct OF command by
the free and easy insolence OF that IT
regular levy; and his authority grew
stern as he labored to bring the mot
ley host to order and effective organi-
cation.
i 1.-THE people OF this government
have obtained character" his conf
Dental letters declared, which they
by no means deserved--their officers,
generally speaking, are the most In
different kind of people / ever saw.
dare say the men would fight very
we'll III properly offlcered), although
they are an exceedingly dirty and
nasty people. 1t is among the most
difficult tasks ever undertook In my
life to induce these people to believe
that there is, or can be, danger till the
bayonet is pushed at their breasts
Not that 1t proceeds from any uncom'
! mon prowess, but rather from an I'M
, accountable kind of stupidity in the
, lower class of these people, which, be
lieve me, prevails but too generally
: among the officers Of the Massachu
! sets part OF the army, who are near
i ly of the same kidney with the pri
! Yates
improve on Acquaintance.
3 He had seen like decentralization ant
slackness in the old days at Winches
ter. on the wild frontier, but he hat
expected to find better spirit ant
discipline In the New England levies
His first disgust. however, sool
wore off. He was not slow to see hov
shrewd and sturdy these uncouth, In
tractable ploughboys and farmer
could prove themselves upon occa
sion.
Material for a Good Army.
Il have sincere pleasure in oh
serving" he wrote to congress, "tha
there are materials for good army
great number of able-bodied men
active. jealous in the cause, and o
unquestionable courage"
There was time enough and to spar,
in which to learn his army's quality
Our lines OF defence are now com
pleted," he could tell Lund Washing
ton on the goth of August, "as near s
at least as can be-we now wish ther
to come out as soon as they please
but they discover no inclination t
quit their own works of defense; an
as 1t is almost impossible for us [
get at them. we do nothing but waite
each others motions all day at tn
distance Of about a mile"
An Immense Correspondence.
a He could even turn away frol
g. military affairs to advise that "spi
IS ming should go forward with all pc
1t sible despatch on the estate at HON
n and to say, Il much approve of yol
is sowing wheat in clean ground, {
though you should be late in doir
It,"
h. Once more he settled to the old 1
Of miliar work, this time upon a gre
II scale, of carrying difficult enterpri
h forward by correspondence. Lette
IL to the Continental Congress at Phi
IN dephia, letters to the provincial &C
as crosses of the New England coloni,
10 letters to subordinate sometimes
n sbordinate) officers at distant pos
IS letters to intimate friends and
v. fiuential men everywhere, setti
Is forth the needs and situation of I
army, advising measures of organi
re ton, supply. and defense. pointing {
,y means that might be used and m
takes that must be avoided, commal
is ing, dissuading, guiding, forecastil
is poured steadily forth from those BIZ
ne headquarters. where the comamnd
in-chief was always to be found,
I'd tent, deeply employed. calmly impe
he tive, never firing, never hesitatil
I'd never storming, leader and mast
10 Of men and affairs.
IN CTo BE CoNTINUED3