Year: 1862

The Condition of our Soldiers.
The recent snow no doubt extended throughout
the valley of Virginia, where at least one hundred
thousand of our veteran troops are already feeling
the sure approach of hard winter. Many of these
veterans are without Shoes or blankets or suitable
clothing The last Richmond Dispatch gives the
following extract from letter written by soldier
in Armistead's brigade:


1--WE had quite a fall fsnow here yesterday, and
it remained on the ground very well, not beginning
to thaw. My feet are perfectly naked, and have
to tramp over the frozen snow with bits of old ban
kets tied over them, which keep constantly coming
off, We are about marching tents are struck,
baggage packed, and we standing out here wait
ing for the order to fall in."


Many Of our soldiers in this State without
shoes and almost in rags. An officer who took part
in the late conflicts in the Eastern part of this State
told US day or two since, that when the order 10
advance on the enemy was given, scores Of ragged
and shoeless veterans responded to the order with
shouts of enthusiasm and in their bare feet marched
for miles through the snow, six inches deep, to
meet the invader. He had been in battle before,
but he was never so reused as he was on this occa-
sion by the sublime courage of these barefoot boys.
Though humble privates, they arc really deserving
Of the chief honor in this war. Every nerve should
be strained to provide for such men.


The last Richmond Whig, noticing the suffering
in our army, breaks forth Indignantly as follows:


" A few days ago scene was witnessed in our
streets which at last aroused the people to lively
sense of the real condition of our soldiers 4
number ofregments marched down 9th street, pass
ing the very door of the Var Department. Citizens
standing near-there were officials present; they
never are on such occasions-saw with their own
eyes what the papers have long and vanly tried to
make them believe. They saw numbers of soldiers
marching barefoot through the melting snow. Nor
was this all. They saw them thinly Clad in ragged
and worn out clothes; some of them without 6ian-
kcts and without hats. This was spectacle to stir
the pulses even of speculator.


But there were some who took good care not to
witness so dsagreeable sight At the very mo-
ment this barefoot procession was passing the War
Department the President of the Confederate States
his Secretary of War, all the Cabinet officers, the
Quartermaster General and some thousands of able
bodied young clerks, were sitting by rousing fires,
toasng their we'll shod feet and thinking of anyth
ing but the soldier. 1t is not to be expected that
stout young fellows, who stink into government
drudges in order to get out of the army, should
care much for anybody but themselves. 1t is not
to be expected that an administration, no member
of which Was ever known to put his foot inside of
hospital, or to bestow much as plate of soup on
sick private, or to send one of their gorgeous ve-
hlcles to bring in the wouaded-it is not to be ex-
pected that such an administration should care very
much for anything but the s2ubbing of men like
Price and BeauregaTd. Our political system makes
them secure in their places for six years, and it is
matter ofprofound indifference to them what hap
pens, so long as they draw their salaries and
reward their favortes with the honors and bountes
OF Government"


The above is sad. and we fear, true picture
Enough hides were lost or thrown away last year,
at Manassas to have furnished shoes for half our
army. We learn from those who saw it done, that
they were piled by thousands in the Notifications
and covered with dirt. Is there forecaste in the
government? Or rather is it not true that ma
jority of those commissioned to purchase shoes and
clothing, are mere partizans-appointed because
they were partlzans-and unfit for their places p
We informed, week or two since, by an Off
Ger who visited Tennessee to purchase leather that
he met there several Confederate officers uihout
money, who were offering to purchase the leather
! if the manufacturers would send it to Richmond,
and receive their pay for it there. Of course they
/ got no leather, though there enough in that





! our troops.


The South had very great resources at the be-
J ginning of this war, but they have not been hus
banded and applied as they should have been. But
for the contributions of the people, the condition Of
our troops would have been much worse than it is
The main reliance, it would seem, is still on the
people to cothe and shoe our troops, exhausted as
they have been by former contributions and the
general drain of war. They will do their duty, and


if still greater suffering should be in store for GU,
brave boys, it cannot be said that the great body
the people are to blame for it


The Enquirer protests in earnest terms agains
the above article in the Whig, especially that por
tion of it which reflects on the President and Secre
tary Of War. 1t says that every requisition made
from Gen. Lees army for shoes and clothing, ha
been met. 1t says "our cotemporary took counse
of his wrath instead of his reason"


The New York Mercury says that Lincoln ha
displayed his vigor, mot in attack upon the enc
N.Y. but upon the liberties Of the people and tn