resent
interests, that surpassed the average deliberations of the shoulder
straps. There never probably was so large an army assembled in the world
where so great a proportion of the intelligence could be found in the
ranks. Marked individual instances were constantly met with. There was
at least one corporal in the ----th, who occupied his leisure hours with
the Greek Testament, that the time spent in fighting for his country
might not be all lost to his education for the ministry. I hope the
noble fellow will preach none the less acceptably without the arm that
he left at Donelson. Another of our non-commissioned officers was a
member of the Iowa Legislature. Could there be a happier illustration of
the fine compliment paid by President Lincoln in his message of last
summer to the rank and file of our army? Pity it must be added that no
representations could procure him a furlough to allow him to take his
seat during the session. Had he been a colonel, with $3,000 a year, the
path would have been wide and smooth that led from his duties in the
camp to his seat in Congress, or any other good place he was lucky
enough to fill.

This, by the way, is only one instance of the greatest defect in our
volunteer system: the broad and almost impassable gulf of demarcation
between commissioned officers and enlisted men. The character of the
army requires that this should be eradicated as soon as possible.
Enthusiastic patriotism might make men willing to bear with it for a
time, or while the war seemed a temporary affair. But since the
conviction has settled down upon the popular mind that we are in for a
long and tedious struggle, and that a great army of American citizens
must be kept on foot during the whole of it, overshadowing all peaceful
pursuits, and remoulding the whole character of our people, there begins
to be felt also the need of organizing that army as far as possible in
conformity with the genius of our people and Government. The greenest
recruit expects to find in the army a sharp distinction of rank, and a
strict obedience to authority, to which he has been a stranger in
peaceful times. But he is disappointed and discouraged when he finds a
needless barrier erected to divide men into two classes, of which the
smallest retains to itself all the profits and privileges of the
service. He comprehends very well that a captain needs higher pay and
more liberty than a private, and a general than a captain; but he fail