The Kansas City sun. (Kansas City, Mo.) 1908-1924, 1917-02-17

the most courage toward the enemy and the most
kindness and good humor to each other.
IF any be so lost to virtue and love of country as
to continue In such practice after this order they
will be severely punished and discharged from the
service in disgrace"
After the disastrous battle of Long Island Wash
ington "once more took The liberty of mentioning to
congress that no dependence could be put in militia
or other troops than those enlisted and embodied
for a longer period than our regulations have
heretofore prescribed.
"Our liberties must of necessity be greatly haz-
arded, If not entirely lost, if their defense is left to
any but a permanent standing army. 1 mean one
to exist during war. Men who have been free and
subjected to no control cannot be reduced to order
in an instant.
"There Is no situation on earth less enviable or
more distressing" continues Washington, than
that person who is at the head of troops regardless
of order and discipline and unprovided with almost
every necessity. The difficulties that have sur
rounded me since l have been in the service have
kept my mind constantly upon the stretch; the
wounds which my feelings as an officer have re-
ceived by a thousand things that have happened
contrary to my expectations and wishes; the eff
feet of my own conduct and present appearance of
things so little pleasing TO myself as to render it a
matter of no surprise to me If ] stand capitally CEN
sured by congress Induce a thorough con-
viction in my mind that It will be impossible, unless
there is a thorough change in our military system,
for me to conduct matters to give satisfaction to
the public, which is all the recompense 1 aim at or
ever wish for"
This unhappy state of things was almost wholly
due to the feeling manifested in several sections of
the country, persisted in to the hampering Of
Washington's campaign and to the detriment of the
cause. Congress was finally prevailed upon by
Washington's representations and the tardily
dawning consciousness that war was inevitable
and that, being so, appropriateness meant calamity.
On December 20, 1776, he wrote to the president
of congress: "Short enlistments and a mistaken de-
nan5aDno rnOn our militia hova hapD the origin of
all our misfortune and the great accumulation Of
our debt. l beg leave TO give 1t as my
humble opinion that lightweight battalions are by
no means equal to the opposition you are to make,
and that not a moments time is to be lost in rails
ing n greater number, not less, in my opinion
and that of my officers, than one hundred and ten.
In my judgment this is not a time to stand
upon expense; our funds are not the only object Of
consideration. 1t may be thought that l
am going a good deal out of my line of duty to
advise thus freely. 4 character to lose, an estate
to fortell, the inestimable blessings of liberty at
stake and a life devoted must be my excuse
Far from holding himself aloof and wanting TO
keep all power in his own hands, Washington well
coined cooperation.
After he had been invested with the dictatorial
powers necessitated by the emergency of public af-
fairs. the Council of Safety of New York apollo
gized for certain measures they had taken ia re-
gard to New York troops which were later discOv-
cred to have been an infringement of his authority.
Washington replied: II should be unhappy IN the
belief that any part of my letter to you could be
construed into the slightest hint that you wish to
interfere in the military line. Heaven knows that
I greatly want the aid of every good man, and that
there are not such enviable pleasures attending my
situation as to make me too Jealous of its preroga-
tives. Rather than complain of your efforts in the
military way, you deserve the thanks of us all, and
/ feel myself happy in this opportunity of return
ing you mine In the greatest truth and sincerity"
At Valley Forge, where Washington's troops were
almost naked, had few blankets and scanty food
he was moved to resentment against "the gentle
men, without knowing whether the army was real
~ going into winter quarters or not. reprobadnG
the measure as much as If they thought the sol
diers were made of stocks and stones and equal!
insensible of frost and snow, and, moreover, as i
they conceived 1t easily practicable for an inferto
army under the disadvantages 1 have described
ours to be to confine a superior one, in all respect
well appointed, within the city of Philadelphia ant
TO cover from depreciation and waste the states o
Pennsylvania and New Jersey. I can as
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