To Them Hitherto The War Had Seemed To Be An
Arena On Which Each Might Do Something For His Country Which That
Country Would Recognize.
To themselves as yet - and to me also -
they were a band of heroes, to be reduced by the compressing power
of military discipline to the lower level, but more necessary
position, of a regiment of soldiers.
Ah, me! how terrible to them
has been the breaking up of that delusion! When a poor yokel in
England is enlisted with a shilling and a promise of unlimited beer
and glory, one pities, and, if possible, would save him. But with
him the mode of life to which he goes may not be much inferior to
that he leaves. It may be that for him soldiering is the best
trade possible in his circumstances. It may keep him from the hen-
roosts, and perhaps from his neighbors' pantries; and discipline
may be good for him. Population is thick with us; and there are
many whom it may be well to collect and make available under the
strictest surveillance. But of these men whom I saw entering on
their career upon the banks of the Mississippi, many were fathers
of families, many were owners of lands, many were educated men
capable of high aspirations - all were serviceable members of their
State. There were probably there not three or four of whom it
would be well that the State should be rid. As soldiers, fit or
capable of being made fit for the duties they had undertaken, I
could find but one fault with them.
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