Year: 1864

tactics, which is that Of massing hi@ ff,rres anil
suddenly preeipitating them against his antag
ouist. In no less than four instances during
this campaign has the Red Star" Division OF
the 20th Corps met these reckless dashes Of
Hood, and in each instance the enemy was not
only repulsed but terribly punished. johnson
was too cautious aud too economical of his
strength to thus idly waste it. Instead OF at
lacking us he rather chose to wait behind his
formidable intreHchments for US to attack him.
Not 90 Hood. He is too impatient to endure
the cool calculating work of strategy, and
therefore, dashes himself 10 pieces against our
serried lines, and we ali say, let him dash
This kind of management of the armies of the
rebellion is just what we want. Let it be con-
tinued until, like the fabulous ram, the spitefu
thing has butted itself all away except that
portion which is said to have remained to tell
the sad tale of the Kilkenny Cats.


l believe that it is consistent with the char
acter of these Notes to make mention of any
thing note IOorthy that hear or see, without
much regard to connection 10 the subject.
will therefore tell what l heard soldier say
the other day while be was shoveling earth in
the trenches. "Some officers" said he, "are
very brave when they get canteen of whisky
slung on their neck. We privates, though,
have to go into the fight without it," All,
what irony wish that every officer of this
army, and every other army to whom it ap-
plies might have it ringing. ringing in his
ears until it would make him ashamed of him
SELF Much is often said about the gallantry
in battle of Gen. A, or Col. B., when the
doughty knight had borrowed from John Bar
ley-corn all the courage and Obliviousness Of
danger for which credit is thus given him
Surely in such case as this at least, the devil
ought to have his due, and it is unfair in news
paper corresponding to bestow upon others
the credit properly belonging to him. Besides
it is absurd to call him brave who cannot, or
does not, depend upon his own inherent
strength of will to face danger. True cour-
age does not consist 10 ability to disparage
peril, or in using artificial means te destroy the
sense of it. The real hero is the man who
while he clearly discerns and fully appreciates
the danger to which be is exposed has yet with
in himself that powerful sei-control and
strength of purpose which enables him to go
forward and do his duty at every hazard
Again, if il is right for an officer to go be-
sotted into battle it is right for a private sol
der, and ii it is proper in one instance it is
proper 10 all. To carry out the idea, when
ever our army is about to have an engagement
it ought to convert itself into a drunken, era
w rabble in order that the moral weakness
resulting from the natural sense of danger may
be neutralized. The proprieiy of thing so
absurd needs not to be discussed In my
humble opiniOn-and it is one founded upoh
long and careful observation, the efficiency
of the army would vastly improve by the to-
tai abolition Of the whisky ration, and by the
rigid enforcement of the article of war against
intOxicaIion on the part Of officers. Careful
research will develop the startling fact that
at least half of all the disasters of this war,
and consequently the loss of half of the lives
which it has cost US, is directly traceable to
the Incorporate habits Of those who have been
charged with our military operations. There
are those who will scof at this statement, but
it is terribly true. Let temperance men in
vestigate this matter and they will soon be
convinced that what have said is a very mod
crate representation of the facts. They will
preceive, too, what great necessity there is for
speedy correction of the evil. The great
heart of our country has not poured out its
patriot sons 10 be inundated upon the shrine
of Bacchus. Yet have heard men high 10
military authority talk slightingly at their
cups of matters involving the livee of thous-
auds of soldiers, and the happiness and hope
of many home heaFth-stone. o God, how
great is the folly of men!


Exactly how much longer the great etrug-
gle for Atlanta will last it is difficult to tell
Many confidently anticipated that our army
would be in possession of the city within /
lew hours several days ago. But they were
appointed. The Importance of the place to
the enemy as railroad centre and strategic
point is immense, and it is not hard to see
why he should make the most desperate efor is
to hold it as long as possible Once in our
possession it forms q substantial base from
which we may operate against Augusta, Mil
ledgevile, Macon, Montgomery, and even Mo-
bile, Savannah and Charleston, hardly except
ing Richmond. There is DO place in the Con
federaey in thefate-of which there is more-oi
the destiny of the rebellion involved.


South of Atlanta the mountain ranges OF
the Cotton States substantially cease and the
rivers flow directly Southwark into the Gulf,
or else Southeastward into the Atlantic
| mere Is tHcTSlOIo III Tue uatuFal I6atuE6S Oi
the country no longer any material obstacle tC
military operations. There is no longer a
mouatain barrier or a deep river 10 Obstruci
the invasion Of almost any portion of the terri
tory. We are inside OF the last circle Of na-
tional delenses which guards the life of the
SlaVehoding Conlederacy. And what won
der if yet devoves upon this army the rea
work Of destroying The rebellion. And if thil
be the vital point,-for surely Richmond ii
not-why keep an immense army in Virgins
} struggling against almost iusurmountable OBJ
staeies for the accomplishment OF a secondary
!: end .? Would it not be better to leave sui
fcient force to guard the line of the Potomac
and defend Warrington, aud send The remain
der of the vast Army of the Potomac TO co
operate with Gen. Sherman? What are Rich
mond and Virginia worth to the enemy if b


looses the Carolinas and Georgia? Let Us oc
> cupy the Cotton States, let US get possession
) of their cities, mountains and mines, and thu
rebellion will be u nullity. Here it Was era
died and nurtured up to gigantic proportions
, and here it must be destroyed.


Respectfully submitting these reflection
for the consideration OF yourself and the Secre


tary Of War. l remain,


Very truly yours,


A. 4. SEcHAND.


XII.