36' Notes on America. 



The appointment of the officers by the privates is sufficient of itself to 

 destroy all effective discipline. In the country towns tavern-keepers are 

 generally preferred, on account of the superior facility for meeting afforded 

 by their business. The uniforms of the independent companies are ridi- 

 culously expensive and showy ; and the frequent trainings serve rather to 

 demoralize than to discipline the men. I have repeatedly on review days 

 seen the greater number too much intoxicated to keep the ranks. It is 

 usual on great occasions, before dismissing the troops, for the command- 

 ing officer to deliver a suitable, that is to say a complimentary harangue -, 

 and I once heard a Connecticut colonel hold forth in a very exalted strain. 

 He concluded, I recollect, by thanking the privates for their officer-like 

 conduct on that great day meaning, I suppose, that the men were as drunk 

 as their officers. 



I have twice attended reviews when whole divisions have mutinied and 

 marched off the field, because the "right" or post of honour was not 

 assigned to them. Court Martials, &c. were talked of but the mutineers 

 of course treated the threat with deserved contempt. This disgraceful 

 work is the fault of the system, not of the people $ for the Americans, as we 

 know to our cost, under regular discipline, are orderly, effective, and most 

 gallant soldiers. 



After having thus borne my willing testimony to the gallantry of the 

 American soldiers, I trust I shall not be suspected of any wish to detract 

 from it, when I mention a single instance of poltroonery in an officer of 

 the United States' Navy, which fell under my own observation. I once 

 sailed from Philadelphia to Charleston, in company with the individual 

 alluded to, and as we neared the shore, our vessel, through the mismanage- 

 ment of the pilot, struck upon the bar, which guards the entrance of the 

 harbour. The captain of the ship was much alarmed, and gave orders to 

 cut the halliards, but the first mate, who was an active, determined fellow, 

 insisted upon our carrying all sail, and " thumping over," as he termed it. 

 The wind was high, and we certainly came into rather rough contact with 

 the bar. At this time, I saw the United States' officer trembling, pale as 

 death, and clinging to a hen-coop. His young and very handsome wife, 

 to whom he had only been married the previous week, had secured the arm 

 of an Irish gentleman. He was endeavouring to comfort her. " Oh my 

 God," she exclaimed, " we shall all go to the bottom." " We are there 

 already, Madam," said the Irishman, and the idea seemed to reassure her 

 a little. At length we " thumped" across the bar into deep water, and 

 presently afterwards landed. The lady of course was profuse in her 

 acknowledgments to her protector ; who had behaved, she declared, with 

 true American firmness. " Irish firmness, if you please," he replied, and 

 the unfortunate husband seemed to feel the sting of the remark. Yet, I 

 know, that this man had " sought reputation at the cannon's mouth," and 

 had fought his way up in his profession with distinguished bravery. 



It is usual in England to describe American elections as very peaceable 

 and orderly proceedings. The charm of the ballot is supposed to work 

 wonders upon the passions of the transatlantic politicians. But I am sorry 

 to be obliged to confess, to the discredit of my favourite Charleston, that 

 elections there sometimes reminded me very forcibly of what I had often 

 witnessed on similar occasions at home. Extreme party violence, bribery, 

 and intoxication, prevailed grievously, The Irish portion of the population, it 

 will easily be credited, is never backward in enjoying these opportunities of 



