Centinal No. X (Virginia Gazette, September 3, 1756)

(This anonymous letter criticizing the lack of discipline at Fort Cumberland was seen as a politically motivated attack on George Washington, the absent commander of the men at Fort Cumberland and Stephen who was the ranking officer at the fort. Stephen and his men wrote a letter demanding an apology threatening to resign. But the incident "blew over.")

The Profession of Soldiers, especially at such a Time as this, is not only noble but benvolent; and worthy at once of universal Honor and Gratitude. They are the Guardians of their Country, and all that is included in that important Work. And therefore, their ? should not be inviously depreciated; their Foibles maliciously exaggerated; or their Conduct censured by Chimney corner Politicians, who lie ineaking at Home in their Glorious Ease, and know not their Circumstances, or the Reasons upon which they account. While their Character is tolerable, and they in any Measure answer the End of their Profession, their names should be treated with the utmost Tenderness and Respect.

But soldiers differ; some will shed their Blood,
And some drink Bambo for their Country's Good.
Some in the Field will nobly risketh their lives;
Some Hero-like, will swear or play at Fives,
Some shew themselves the genuine Sons of Mars;
Some, brave in Venus' or in Bacchus' Wars,
Can shew their Lecherous and drunken Scars.

No Profession in the World can secure from the Contempt and Indignation of a Character made up of Vice and Debauchery; and no man is obliged to treat such a Character as sacred. When Novices and Rakes and Spendthrifts and Bankrupts, who never have been used to command or who are been found insufficient to the Management of their own private Affairs, are honored with Commissions in the Army; when Men are advanced according to Seniority, the Interests and Influence of Friends and not according to Merit; when the common Soldiers are abused, in a fit of Honor, or Passion, or through an Orientation of Authority; and in the meantime, perhaps tolerated **** really worthy of Correction; when the Militiamen are browbeaten discouraged at every noble Achievement,** with the Soldiery in the monopoly of H**when the Officers give their Men an Example of all Manner of Debauchery, Vice, and Idleness, where they lie skulking in forts, and there dissolving in Pleasure, till alarmed by the Approach of the Enemy, who could expect to find them no where else, when instead of searching out the Enemy, waylaying and preventing their Incitements, they tempt them by their Security and Laziness, to come in Quest of them, and attack them in their Fortifications-When this is the Case, how wretchedly depict'd must a Nation be? What useless Lumber(?), what Encumbrance, is the Soldiery

I would by no Means make the Event the Standard by which to judge of the Measure taken though *******the Standard of the Crowd. Successful R** will never lack popular Applause, and unfortunate C***will never escape Censure. But when nothing braver is so much as attempted,. . .or by Accident, or for the necessary Self defence; when Men whose profession is to endure hardships, and encounter Dangers and suffer their Country to be ravaged in their very Neighborhood, then, certainly Censure cannot be Silent; nor can the Public receive much Advantage from a Regiment of such dastardly Debauches.

Shew me one Scar character'd on their Skin,
Men's Flesh presrv'd to whole, but ? win. >

Men of Virtue, and true Courage can have no Heart to enlist, and mingle in such a Crowd. And the few of that Character that may be among them, are in Danger of catching the general Contagion; or of being damp and mortified at the sight of such Vile Extravagance and Opposition.

Horace, who knew the Estate of the conquering Roman Army in the period of its Highest Glory, and multidinous Victories, will Teach us the Discipline proper for Soldiers.

But it seems the Delicacy of modern Soldiers cannot bear such hardy Discipline. Then Ease and Pleasure must not be disturbed by the Fatigues and Dangers of the Field or Woods.

Their Country calls; and feel the Heroes run
To save her--if the Game or Dance is done.

Their Luxury and Sensuality have unmanned many an Army, and enslaved or ruined many far flung Cities and Kingdoms. Let me enumerate a few Instances, for the Warning of surviving Nations--The first great Empire of the World. (ED. The anonymous author describes how a lack of discipline and partying led directly to the downfall of Assyria, Babylon, Persia, Alexander the Great, the cities of Tarentum and Sybarites.)