Discipline & Obedience
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Royal Army
5th Regiment
Flogestone Base
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27th may
Mayor
Thomas Kenneth
Flogestone
Dear Sir!
First, please accept my apologies I had to cancel our meeting due to urgent duties. I was sure we'd see each other at the Harvest Festival.
I’m writing to share my problem hoping you will be able to help find a solution. I noticed a group of citizens meet near the base wall just to listen to the screams of convicts being punished. In the beginning, only a few people were gathering but now whippings attract citizens from all over the countryside.
A group of men organized a gambling contest based on the number of lashes my soldiers can withstand without screaming! The winner is a person, who gives the nearest number. Somehow civilians were able to infiltrate our base. They have knowledge of which soldiers are punished: date, order, amount of given lashes. The host who took bets even describes details of the convict's physique. I was told privates were offered money in exchange for information on how reluctant and tough particular convicts are to make better guesses.
During the formal part before the whipping citizens make noise in excitation throwing out numbers. While the whipping punishment is administrated, there is complete silence behind the wall. Everyone waits in suspense for the first significant moan. When the soldier begins to scream loud, uproar begins again in seconds. When the crowd can’t agree if groans are loud enough to call it a scream, they begin to argue.
My soldiers have to watch punishment in silence with respect, while people outside the base amuse themselves at the misfortune of my privates. As I explained in a previous letter, I can’t stop whipping my soldiers to prevent insubordination. I hope you can issue an order to halt reprehensible practices or to ban public assemblies near military base. I still hope to meet you soon.
Sincerely
Andrew Taft
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