Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1918-02-22
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AZ0ZER LZz4ZIZE6S 1t X4LLEHEOGGE
the wounds which my feelings as an officer have
received by thousand things that have happened
contrary to my expectations and wishes; the Ell
feet of my own conduct and present appearance
Of things so little pleasing to myself to render
it matter of no surprise to me If should stanu
capitally censured by congress induce
thorough conviction In my mind that It VIII ne
impossible unless there is a thorough change IN
our military system, for to conduct matters 10
give satisfaction 20 the public, which IS all the
recompense aim at or ever wish TOT.
This unhappy state of things was almost Wnons
due 10 the feeling manifested In several sections
Of the country, persisted in to the hamperihs "
washington's campaign and TO the detriment Oh
the cause Congress was finally prevailed upon Oy
washinrton's representations and the tardlly
dawning consciousness that war was ineVltaDle
and that being so, unpreparedness meant "a
Iamity.
On December 30, 1776, he wrote to the president
of congress-: .sshort enlistments and a mistaken
s,anenden.e upon our militia have Geen the origin
of all our misfortunes and great accumulation OF
o,,r debt I beg leave to give 1t as my
humble opinion that So battalons are by no means
equal TO the opposition you are to MAKE anu eha'
not a moments time is to be lost in raising
greater number not less in my opinion anu ina.
of my officers than 40. In my Jhusneh.
ths is not a time to stand upon expense; our
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 loose. estate to forfeit, the IN
estimable blessings of liberty at stake ana me
devoted must be my excuse.
Far from holding himself aloof and wanting to
keep all power in his own hands, Washington
welcomed cooperation.
After ne had been invested with the dictatorial
powers necessitated by the emergency of public
affairs. the council Of safety Of New York apollo
gized for certain measures they had taken in re-
gard 10 Now York troons which We're later dis
covered to have been an infringement on his au,
thority. washington replied 81 should be I'M
happy 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
enviabe pleasures attending my situation as TO
make me TOO Jealous of its preregatives. Rather
than compton, OF your late efforts I'm the military
way you deserve the thames of us all, and feel
myself happy in this opportunity of returning you
mine in the greatest truth and sincerity"
At Valley Forge where Wassiington's troops
were almost naked had few blankets and scanty
food he was moved to resentment against "the
gentlemen, without knowing whether the army
was really going into winter quarters or not
reprohating the measure as much as If they
thought the soldiers made of stocks and
stones and equally insensible of frost and snow
and, moreover. if they conceived 1t easily prac
ticabie for an inferior army under the disad-
vantages / 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 assure these gen.
tlemen that 1t Is n much easier and less distress
ing thing TO draw UP remonstrances in com
Portable room by good fireside than to occupy o
ts;Yt al.N
without clothes or blankets. However, although
they seem to have little feeling for the naked and
distressed soldiers. feel superabundantly foI
them. and from my soul pity those miseries
which it is neither in my power to relieve nor pre-
vent"
Washington made persistent efforts to GET 3
guarantee of half-pay for his officers after the
war, himself having personal interest in the
measure; he had declared from the first that he
would never profit By 1t to the amount of Il single
penny. He deprecated constantly the jealousy OF
the military part Of the government by the civil
department
.'If we would pursue right system of nolicv /,
there would be none Of these distinctions. we
shoi.td ALL congress and army he considered as ont
peopIc, embarked in one cause In one Interest
acting on The same principle and to the same end
In 1903 Washington. in his second term as presi
dent wrote TO congress that, while he soueht
peace and urged faithful discharge of every iut,
toward others. he recommended prompt measures
not only for defense but for enforcing just claims
There is a rank due the United States among
other nations which Will be withheld, If not an
eolutely lost. by the reputation of weakness. i
we desire TO avoid insult we must be able to rene
1t: IL we desire t. secure peace. one % the mos
powerful instruments OF our prosperity, Il u,us
be known that we are at all times ready for war.
he wrote