The Desire for Promotion

The desire from promotion, for honor among his fellow men, is inherent in the mind of every intelligent man, and it is this that gives valor to the soldier on the battle-field.  Many, it is true, in the contest were are now waging, are armed with a less selfish and higher principle, that of defending the right of protecting the government to which they are so unfaltering attached; but at the same time, even these desire promotion from the ranks, if for no other object than that they may accomplish more by moving in a wider and more influential sphere.  Intelligent men, men who are governed by a stern sense of duty, filled with laudable aspirations for higher position than that of a common soldier, always make the best soldiers.  Men actuated by mere brute courage, with bull-dog instincts, in the face of victory may fight heroically, but having no reputation at stake, no principles to defend, with the first adverse movement they become cowards.  These truths are demonstrated by every engagement in which the troops of the North have fairly met those of the South.

We do not suppose that an army of more intelligent men has ever been enrolled than those now in the field at the North.  They are not stipendaries , fighting for pay, but patriots, contending for country and distinction.  Take the army of the North, and we presume there are not five in a hundred but that can read and write.  Take that of the South, and we doubt if there are five in a hundred that can read and write. – The South was very much mistaken when it attributed the non-combatant principles of the North, that willingness to yield rather than fight, which has always characterized us, to a spirit of cowardice.  They find that Yankee intelligence is as far superior to Southern chivalry in manly contest, as in all those attributes that tend to elevate men in the scale of being.

But we commenced to write about that honorable distinction desired by every intelligent man among his fellows.  Since the recent victories, in which the Iowa troops sustained so signal a part, we have frequently been applied to and use our influence for their promotion.  Our answer has been that their action on the battle-field, the courage there displayed and wounds received, would have more weight than anything the press could urge in their behalf.  An illustration of the truth of this has recently fallen under our notice.  We give it in an extract from the letter of a Washington correspondent describing a scene that occurred in audience with the Secretary of War:

“A young lieutenant, a volunteer in uniform is next with a card of introduction from a Pennsylvania Senator. – ‘What do you wish?’ says the Secretary.  The amanuensis seizes his pencil, and prepares to take his answer.  ‘To be transferred to the regular army,’ is the reply.  Quick as lightning the Secretary asks, ‘Have you been in battle?  have you ever been wounded?’  ‘No, sir,’ answers the astonished youth. – ‘Then, sir,’ says the Secretary, ‘you cannot go into the regular army; all vacancies there will be filled from those who have distinguished themselves in battle, have wounds as their certificates.  Go, sir; when you can come back from the battle-field, and show that you have earned a transfer to the regular army, then, and not till then, can you gain it.’  Murmurs of applause circle around the crowd, and the young carpet knight goes blushing back to his regiment, a wiser man.”

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Saturday Morning, March 22, 1862, p. 2