The Virginia Gazette

From the MASSACHUSETTS SPY.

The following is the production of a common soldier in the army.

To his Excellency General Gage.

The language of praise or flattery, but that of the deepest sorrow: I have served his Majesty near thirty years, and when I look back and compare the present service with what it was when I first enlisted, I could almost wish I had never been born; a soldier, at that day, was something of a respectable character, and whatever town he came to was treated as a citizen; few men, if any, were admitted into the army without they sustained good moral characters at least, and a soldier's honour and reputation was then as dear to him as his life: The cat was seldom made use of to bring him to a sense of duty; we were admonished again and again, we were treated then as reasonable creatures, with all the tenderness imaginable, well paid, and well clothed, and very little indulgence granted to us which was not incompatible with our duty; but times are changed, instead of being respected, we are held in detestation and abhorrence, we are become a reproach amongst men, and really thought good for nothing but to stop a bullet, or satiate the cruelty of our officers, which, upon very little pretence, is exercised with the greatest wantonness. If my memory fails not, when I first entered the army, I was in it three years before I saw a man punished, and then the punishment was inflicted with the greatest reluctance, after repeated admonitions, so that it was evident to every one the offender was chastised justly; but now, every morning, our ears are dinned with the cries of some unhappy sufferers. And the late poor victim, that fell a sacrifice on the common, is a convincing proof that your Excellency is steeled to every sentiment of humanity. Permit me, Sir, to ask what exigence required that poor fellow to be put to death so suddenly? Not to allow a poor creature scarcely twenty four hours to prepare himself for death, but, in the most mercifless manner, plunge him at once into eternity, with all his sins 'unrepented of, is really shocking to human nature! And, though your Excellency has many able advocates for your tender and compassionate feelings, I cannot help thinking whatever they may say in future on that subject will be looked upon as mere sarcasm.

The long experience you have had in the army ought to force conviction on your Excellency's mind, that repeated flogging never reclaims a soldier. 'This should naturally lead you to seek for a remedy elsewhere: Need I point it out! Our officers and leaders are in general become a most corrupt, profligate, and abandoned set of men. No wonder then, when the head is unsound, if the members be rotten; no wonder, if'such precedents are set before us, that we follow the example. Let an old soldier speak for once: Lay aside the cat, pay more attention to reforming the morals of the soldiery, reform yourselves; for, as the old saying is, precedents go farther than precepts. Then shall you command a set of men in whom you can confide, and desertion will scarcely be heard of; a soldier's honour will again become dear to him, and his character respectable: But, till that is the case, what confidence can you have from a set of men whom you are continually cutting to pieces, 'for the very same faults you are guilty of yourselves, especially when we have a city of refuge set open to us, a wide and spacious country, the inhabitants of which are, with open arms, offering us an asylum. In a word, treat us as rational creatures, not like brutes, and you will soon see a happy change amongst us, which is the sincere wish of your Excellency's, &c.

AN OLD SOLDIER.