Had A Similar Report Been Made Of The
Armies In The West, I Think It Would Have Been Seen That The
Proportion Of Foreigners Was Still Greater.
The average age of the
privates was something under twenty-five, and that of the officers
thirty-four.
I may here add, from my own observation, that an
officer's rank could in no degree be predicated from his age.
Generals, colonels, majors, captains, and lieutenants had been all
appointed at the same time, and without reference to age or
qualification. Political influence, or the power of raising
recruits, had been the standard by which military rank was
distributed. The old West Point officers had generally been chosen
for high commands, but beyond this everything was necessarily new.
Young colonels and ancient captains abounded without any harsh
feeling as to the matter on either side. Indeed, in this respect,
the practice of the country generally was simply carried out.
Fathers and mothers in America seem to obey their sons and daughters
naturally, and as they grow old become the slaves of their
grandchildren.
Mr. Olmstead says that food was found to be universally good and
abundant. On this matter Mr. Olmstead might have spoken in stronger
language without exaggeration. The food supplied to the American
armies has been extravagantly good, and certainly has been
wastefully abundant. Very much has been said of the cost of the
American army, and it has been made a matter of boasting that no
army so costly has ever been put into the field by any other nation.
The assertion is, I believe, at any rate true.
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