The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1917-07-10
CRITICISM ON CONGRESS

so aptly and pointedly to conditions
now prevailing in Washington that I
cannot but hope that the printing of
1t now IN the newspapers may do some
good, especially when we think of the
disastrous results which overlook the
storm Graded nation" and know that
it was largely due to just such as
mime conduct at Gen. Hagood records.
In order that what he says may be
better understood will state here that
our brigade (Hagood's) had been in
the trenches on the outer lines of the
defenses of Richmond on the Darby
town road from early in October 1864,
and on the 18th of December of that
year the brigade was drawn out of
the trenches and sent to North Caro-
lima to reinforce Fort Fisher. When
this move was made, it was the cold
est weather | ever experienced at any
time or place in my life. | told you
about it in one number of my "Rem-
iniscence" in speaking of this same
more. When the brigade reached
Richmond it was loaded into box cars
so thick and crowded that no one
could lie down, and the accommoda-
tions provided for the officers were no
better than furnished for the men. In
the extract in send you with this,
Gen. Hagood is writing about this
trip from Richmond to Wilmington.
Gen. Hagood says:
Eve were detained some hours in
Danville for want of transportation,
and it was late in the day, the 22nd,
before the brigade began to go for
ward over the Piedmont road. The
eight miles, and it was not until the
morning of the 10Th that the whole
brigade was transported over it
three and a half days to go 48 miles
by rail- The road and the rolling
stock were evidently in bad condition,
but the delays were so frivolous, and
the accidents so numerous that Cen
eral Hagood suspected treachery and
finally got on by selling engines and
taking the trains in his own hands.
1t is hard to say whether there was
design or only criminal mismanage-
ment in the delay.
"The Confederate Congress had adj
| journed a day or two before, and at
Danville a party of congressman, con-
sisting of Senators Orr of South Car
DINA, Johnson of Georgia, senator
from Mississippi and another (Leach
of North Carolina) presented to Cen
eral Hagood an order from the sec
rotary of war addressed any officer
using a railroad for troops to give
these gentlemen transportation home
ward. They were welcomed to the
headquarters car and for three days
nary freight boxcar, and in it were
carried the staff horses, the baggage
of the staff, the staff themselves, and
their guests. From their conversa-
ton, it was evident that they were
not entitled to the thanks voted by
| the Roman senate to the consul re-
turning from Cannae, that he had
not despaired of the republic under
difficult circumstances They were in
fact, utterly demoralized. This was
the first time the writer had ever
heard any one embarked in the cause,
civilian or soldier, express doubts of
it's ultimate success; and prophetic,
perhaps, patent as they were, they
now made but little impression upon
him, for he had long looked upon the
Confederate Congress for the most
part in the light of the post quarter
master and commissary officers,
somb-proofs, in which prudent men
evaded the hardships and dangers of
war He believes now, when the his
tory of this great struggle is fairly
written, that the record of our con-
gress will be that they were utterly
wanting in the discharge of the high
duties of their position. They had
neither the courage to control Mr..
Davis nor the patriotism and mag
namity when they differed with him
to cordially support him in his devot-
ed exertions."
/ really think if the general had
written what was foremost in his
mind, the word "cowardly" would
have been written instead of "pru-
dent" where it appears in the last
paragraph I have quoted. Nor do I
think that Mr.. Wilson needs to be
controlled" as large majority or
congressman and the people cordially
support him in all of his measures
because they see and feel that he is
right and is working strenuously for
the best interest of the whole people.
But there are few unpatriotic block
heads in Congress who are doing all
they can to bring disaster on the
country just so they can shoot off
hot air and bring themselves in the
limelight. They have not courage to
fight themselves, and do all they can
to persuade others not to, so as to
have as many towards in their COM
pany as possible.
80, wad some pow'r the giftie gle US
To see oursels as ithers see u.s."
Laurie T. Izlar.