(I shall not, in
this book, feel obliged to give the proceedings.and doings of every day. Whilst
in camp, sometimes for whole weeks, one day was so like the others that to
state the occurrences of each would be but a repetition of words. As most of
this fall and winter were spent in one place-Camp Griffin-I shall refer only
occasionally to occurrences or events, without feeling the necessity of
confining myself accurately to dates.)
During the past week
I have been much shocked by the growing tendency to drunkenness amongst the
officers of the army. I do not doubt but that if the soldiers could procure
spirituous liquors, they would follow the example set them by their much loved
officers.
I have been som[e]what
amused for a few days by the antics of an officer of high rank, who has been
shut up by sickness in his tent, and under my supervision. He entered the army
about the time I did, and had for some time been a much esteemed member in good
standing of the Good Templars. He had been from camp a few days—I think to
Washington—and returned sick. He had been with me but a short time when his
vivid imagination began to convert the stains on his tent into "all manner
of artistic beauties— figures of beasts and men, and of women walking on the
walls of his tent, feet upwards." Fie, fie! Colonel; if I did not know
that you were a Good Templar and a married man, I should think such fancies
were unbecoming. 'Tis a good thing to be a Templar and a married man, but still
"All is not gold that glitters."
SOURCE: Alfred L.
Castleman, The Army of the Potomac. Behind the Scenes. A Diary of
Unwritten History; From the Organization of the Army, by General George B.
McClellan, to the close of the Campaign in Virginia about the First Day
January, 1863, p. 38
