The Raymer enterprise., 1917-02-15


the most courage toward the enemy ond tbe 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
VIII 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 longer period than our regulations have
heretofore prescribed
Our liberties must of necessity be greatly haz.
arded II 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 10 no control cannot be reduced to order
In an Instant.
There Is no situation earth less enviabe or
more distressing" continues Washington, than
that person who "a at the head of troops regardless
of order and discipline and unproyded 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 an officer have re-
ceiyed by thousand things that have happened
contrary to my expectations and wishes; the ef-
feet Of my own conduct and present appearance OF
things so little pleasing to myself to render II
matter of no surprise to II stand capltally CEN
snrei by congress Induce thorough con.
vicon In my mind that IL 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
ever wish for
This unhappy state Of things was almost wholly
due 10 the feeling manifested In several sections Of
the country. persisted In to the hamperlng Of
WashIngton's campaign and to the detrment Of the
niit al n,
Washlngton's representations and the tardily
dawning consciousness that war was eneviable
and that, being so, unpreparedness meant calamity.
On December 20, 17T6. he wrote to the president
Of congress: "Short enstments and mistaken de-
pendence upon our militia have been the origin of
all our misfortune and the great accumulation Of
our debt. =. =. . ! beg leave to give Il as my
humble opinion that elghty-eight battalions are by
no mems equal to the opposition you are to make.
and that not moments time is TO be lost in rails
ing greater number. not less. In my opinion
and that Of my officers, than hundred and ten.
In my judgment this is not a time to stand
upon expense; funds are not the only object of
consideration. II may be thought that
am going good deal out Of my line of duty to
advise thus freely. A character TO lose. an estate
IN fortell the inesimable blessings OF liberty at
stake and life devoted must be my excuse"
Far from nulHlnG nliflstlt nluaf ana Waning 10
keep all power in his own hands, Washington well
coined cooperation.
After he had been invested with the dctatorial
powers neeessitated 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 discoy-
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 he
construed into the slightest hint that you wish 10
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 us 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 Washlngtons 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
ly going into winter quarters or not. reprobatlng
the measure as much as II they thought the SOL
diers were made Of stocks end stones and equally
insensble of frost and snow. and moreover. as II
they conceived 1t easily practicable for an inferior
army under the disadvantages have described
ours 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.