Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1917-03-09


contest who shall behave with
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 he severely punished and discharged from the
service in disgrace"
After the disastrous battle of Long Island Wash
ngton "once took the liberty of mentioning to
congress that no dependence could be put in militia
or other troops than those enlisted and embodied
for longer period than our regulations have
heretofore prescribed.
"Our liberties must of necessity he greatly haz-
arded if not entirely lost if their defense is left to
any but permanent standing army. mean one
to exist during war. Men who have been free and
subjected to control cannot be reduced to order
in an instant.
There is no situation 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
rounded me since have been in the service have
kept my mind constantly upon the stretch; the
wounds which my feelings an officer have re-
ceived by 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
matter of surprise to me if stand capitally
sured by congress Induce thorough con-
victiOn in my mind that it will be impossible unless
there is thorough change in our military system,
for me to conduct matters to give satisfaction to
the public, which is all the recOmpense aim at or
wish for"
This unhappy state of things 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 finally prevailed upon by
WaShingtOn's representations and the tardily
dawning consciousness that war was inevitable
and that, being unpreparedness meant calamity.
On December 20. 1776 he wrote to the president
Of congress: "ShOrt enlistments and mistaken de-
pendence upon our militia have been the origin of
all our misfortune and the great accumulation Of
our debt. I beg leave to give it as my
humble opinion that eighty battaliOns by
means equal to the opposition you are to make,
and that not moments time is to be lost in rails
ing a greater number not less, in my opinion
and that of my officers, than one hundred and ten.
. . . In my judgment this is not time to stand
upon expense: our funds not the only object of
consideration. . . . 1t may be thought that
am going a good deal out of my line of duty to
advise thus freely. character to lose, an estate
to fortell the inestimable blessings of liberty at
stake and life devoted must be my excuse"
Far from holding himself aoof and wanting to
keep all power in his own hands. Washington well
coined cooperation.
After he had been invested with the dictatoral
powers necessitated by the emergency of public af
fairs. the Council Of Safety of New York apollo
gzed for certain measures they had taken in re-
gard to New York troops which were later discOv-
cred to have been an infringement of his authority
Washington replied: 81 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
greatly want the aid of every good man. and that
there are not such envable pleasures attending my
situation as to makesme too jealous of its prerOga-
tives. Rather than complain of your efforts in the
military way. you deserve the thanks Of 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 real
ly going into winter quarters not. reprobating
the measure a. much as If they thought the SOL
diers were made of stocks and stones and equally
insensble of frost and snow. and moreover as II
they conceived it easily practicable for inferior
army under the disadvantages l have described
to be to cOnfine superior one. in all respects
well appointed, within the city of Philadelphia and
TO cover from depreciation and waste the states Of
Pennsylvania and New Jersey. can as