Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1917-02-15

Inc most courage toward the enemy and the most
Kindness and good hullor TO each other.
If any he 50 lost 80 virtue aud love of country as
to continue in such practice after this order they
VIII he severely punished aud 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 ia militia
or other troops than those enlisted and embodied
for Il longer period than our regulations have
heretofore prescribed.
"Our liberties must Of necessity be greatly haz.
arled, If not entirely lost. If their defense II left to
any but n permanent standing army. l mean one
to exist during war. Men who have been free and
subjected 10 no control cannot be reduced to order
There Is no situation Oh earth less enviable or
more distressing" continues Washington, Ethan
that person who is at the head of troops regardless
of order and discipline and unprovidad with almost
every necessity. The difficulties that have sur
rounded me since ! 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 n 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 1t a
matter of no surprise to me ii ] 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 recolnpense l 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
Washingtons 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 enevitablc
and that, being so. appropriateness meant calamity.
On December 70. 1776, he wrote to the president
of>congrcss: "Short enlistments and n mistaken de-
pendencc upon our militia have been the origin Of
all our misfortune and the great accumulation Of
our debt. l beg leave to, give 1t rs my
humble opinion that lightweight batta'ions 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 a greater number, not less, in my opinion
and that Of my officers, than one hundred and ten.
In my judgment this Is not Il time to stand
upon expense; our funds are not the only object Of
consideration. . 1t may he thought that l
am going a good deal out of my line Of duty to
advise thus freely. A character to lose. an estate
to fortell. the i%ncstimable blessings Of liberty ut
stake and Il life devoted must he my excuse"
Far from holding himself al0of and wanting to
keep all power in his own hands, Washington vel.
coined cooperation.
After he had been invested with the dictatorial
powers neccssitatcd by the emergency Of public af.
fairs, the Council Of Safety of New York apollo
gized for certain measures they had taken In re-
gard to New York troops>which were later discOv.
cred to have been m 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
! 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, vol, deserve the thanks Of us all. and
l 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 ind scanty food,
he was moved TO resentment against 1.-THE gentle.
men, without knowing whether the army was real
~ going INTO winter quarters or not, reprcbating
the measure nk much as II they thought the sol.
diers were made Of stocks and stones ana equally
insensiblc Of frost mud snow, aud, moreover. ny Ii
they conceived 1t easily practicable for an Inferior
army under the disadvantages I have described
ours to be 10 cOtitine n superior one, In all respects
well appointed. within the city Of Philadelphia and
to cover from depreciation and waste the states Of
Pennsylvania md New Jersey. . /. ! can MS