The Sun.
London, England, 1866-10-15 00:00:00

An English Review of the American War.

(From the Anglo-American Times.)
The Times, in its review of Tenny's " History of

the Rebellion iu the United States," does scant jus-

tice to the leading Northern generals. In estimat-

ing a triumph the difficulties overcome should be
fairly weighed in awarding the need of praise. It
is a very small affair for a European army to defeat
an Asiatic army, although it might task a general's
powers to the utmost to penetrate into an Asiatic
country, and to utilise his victory when gained.
The difficulties of warlike operations in America are
not to be estimated by a European standard. The
magnitude of the country, a vast proportion lying
still in a state of nature, renders offensive opera-
tions embracing the whole area peculiarly difficult.
The Northern generals were met at the outset by
a task of which a glance at our review of Mr. JAY'S
address to the Union League Club of New York will
give some idea. The South had been long preparing
for the contest, and so skilfully had the arrange-
ments been made by the able men who planned them
that they embraced not only a formidable organisa-
tion to the Seceded States, but the disorganisation •
of the Northern. The position, when the war com-
menced, is summed up in one sentence—" The
Treasury empty, forts, arsenals, navy-yards surren-
dered ; arms and munitions stolen and dispersed ;
the little navy scattered and disabled ; the army
officers in part demoralised ; and treachery lurking
in every department of the Government." This
was the, base on which the North commenced its
gigantic conflict ; and, as might easily have been
foreseen, it opened in disaster. Given, the whole
position as we now know it, and the result might
have then been worked out to what actually hap-
pened. In estimating the qua'.ities o. f the con-
tending generals the obstacles each side had
to overcome should be fairly stated. The armies
of both Confederacies were volunteer forces. The
object of the one was defensive, that of the other
offensive. For defence volunteers acting on their
own soil are almost as good as regular troops. For
invasion, where every man's hand is against the
invader, the highest training is necessary. The
South then commenced with a twofold- advantage.
It had appropriated to itself all the resources of the
Government, and it was defending its territory
against an invading foe, from whom it had pre-
viously extracted all its military appliances. Act-

ing in the interior of a wide circle, it was enabled
to throw back its more numerous opponents by
massing on any point threatened an overwhelming
This was always the secret of Southern
success, and it was always the great danger of
Northern attack. The generals who had to plan
and carry out the offensive operations acted
under every disadvantage. LzE was no doubt a
commander of the highest aLility, but he

orce.

never succeeded, not for a moment; in the
invasion of a Northern State. Twice he pene7
trated through Maryland, even into Pennsylvania,
each time to be hurled back with the greatest
disaster—and both operations were signal mistakes.:
GRANT was never defeated in his objects, and
GRANT'S objects were always offensive. He had
before him the most difficult country to traverse, a
series of strong positions to take, an army of born
soldiers to defeat, commanded by a general of re-

splendent talents. These, it will be allowed, were
no ordinary difficulties, and to him, therefore, in all
justice, must be given the first place among the
military commanders of the age. Nor was this
GRANT'S only merit. He planned the whole cam-
paign, which ended in breaking up the Southern
Confederacy as if it had been an egg in his
hand. Stonewall Jackson, although a soldier
of extraordinary merit, fell before he had attained
to the highest command, and cannot, therefore,
fairly be brought into comparison. It is one thing
to command a division as a subordinate, and an-
other to carry to a successful close the greatest
military operations the world has seen, with the
exception of the wars of Napoleon. Personal
heroism inspires an undue admiration, and is apt to
call forth exaggerated praise. The only true com-
parison lies between Lee and Grant ; and if suc-
cess be taken as the criterion of merit, the palm
must be awarded to the Northern general. Sheri-
dan might fairly be compared with Stonewall
Jackson, and Sherman was Johnstone'isuperior.
To M'Clellan may be due all the praise given by
the Times, but he had the misfortune to attain to
the chief command, when the difficulties be-
fore the North were simply insurmountable.
The Northern armies had then to be formed,
and the Northern Cabinet and people had yet to
learn what offensive warfare meant. In Europe the
difficulties which met the early commanders in this
war are not yet fully understood. Here it was sup-
posed that the North sent overwhelming forces
into the field, which were crushed by the superior.
gallantry and generalship of the South. The real
fact is, that the South brought the superior force
against their foe, against which the North,
unprepared, threw itself with tbegtra
and unavailing gallantry.
Taught by
greatest
defeat, audacitythe
nation braced itself up, and
ceased
sed to strike wild
and futile blows. When fairlyera prepared for war
both its
troops armies
and en
ls were equal to
the best
and
to
oany
emergency ; and
a comparison of respective merits cannot till
then be instituted. Tlie reviewer is even more unjust
son between FARRAGUT and
B t:c HANAN. FARRAGU
T'S exploits have rarely been
excelled, seldom
indeed equalled, and he stands
in drawing a comparison
now, beyond all comparison, at the head of the
admirals of the age. The reviewer has hit on a
peculiar word in describing the cruise of the Ala-
bama.
There is nothing "wonderful" in a swift
armed steamer capturing and burning defenceless
merchantmen. The only wonderful part of her
career was its end. For she accepted a challenge of
a ship of equal strength, and was crushed like a
feeble wasp, without even inflicting a sting. We
dare say Captain SEMITES thought it
‘
when he was pulled oat of the water by‘ twhoenfriendly
hand of an English sailor, and the Captain of the
Kearsage with " wonder" saw the signal of surren-
der go up, and his adversary go down, when under
the impression that the combat was but beginning.
A tone of political bias runs through the reviewer's
comments ;but,
making due allowance for the evi-
dent leaning of the writer, we consider the summary
to be tolerably fair.

SHREWSBURY AUTUMN MEETING.—Mr. Frail has
as usual obtained some splendid entries for Lis meeting.
The Carnival Nursery Handicap and the Cleveland Plato
have each closed with 49 subscribers, and there are 25
entries for the Stewards' Cup. On the second day there
aro no loss than 77 subscribers for the Shrewsbury Cup.
and 50 for the Battlefield Handicap ; on the third day, the
Column Handicap can boast of 82, and the Monkmoor
Handicap of GO subscribers ; and on the fourth day, the
Newport Gold Cup and the Hawkstone Welter Cup lowe
each 20, and the Copeland and Caldecot Nurseries have 46
and 44 nominations.
LORD LYON AND GLADIATEUR.—:fir. Sutton has
challenged to run Gladiateur a mile and a half, at 141 b, for
£lOOO a side, at the next meeting, where both horses aro
already engaged in the All-aged Stakes of 100 sovereigns
each (Bretby Stakes Course), at a difference of 9th only
In the absence of Count Lagrange, Jennings (who left
Newmarket on Thursday, to take charge of Gladiateur on
his arrival at London Bridge from Boulogne, yesterday)
was unable to give any reply to Mr. Sutton's offer, which
has been communicated to Count Laqange in Paris.—The
Sporting Gazette.

EAT RE ROYAL DRURY-LANE.
Sole Lessee and Manager, Mr. F. B. Chatterton.
THIS EV ENING will be performed shakspere's Tragedy
of MACBETH Mr. H. Talbot ; Messrs. binclair, T. J. eact,
W. 3l•lntyre, Henri Dr ,ytoa ; DiesdArnei Amy Sedgwick,
Jenny Bauer, Rebecca Isaacs, are
To conclude with T Lir; BLGGARS' OPERA. Captain
Macheath, Mr. W. Harrison.
Commence at Seven.

- - -
THEATRE ROYAL, H---------AYMARRE'r,
Sole Lessee and 31anager, Mr. Bucks,ene,
THIS T
EVENING, HE OVERL ROU rE. Messrs.
Charles Ma hews, Ruckstone, Comi,ton, Chippeqamte,Ro2"CrS,
Clark, Braid. Gordon, White, Sze. ; Mesdaul, s Alathews, Chip-
pendale, 11111, vi right, ,tc.
Atter which, tha BALLET DIVERTISSEMENT. The
Misses Healy.
To be tollowed by THE IVI .7. Me srs. C. Mathews,
Compton, l< °gen; ; Mrs. 3, i zwiiharn, Sze.
To conclude with 31Y 11156 BAND'S GHOST.
• Commence at Seven.

ItOYAL LYCEUM rrilE
Sole Lessee and Manager, Mr. Pechter.
THIS EVE..NING, Buurus ANU C.ESAR. Miss
ilenrade.
At a Quarter before 8, the new Drama, in Four Ae's, T II E
LoNti- STA;IhL, writt,m by Dion Boucicaait. The New
Scene yby Mr. 1. Greivea .d assistants. Mess.s. S Emery,
Wcomb, r itzpatrick, V. Evans, Anderson,
INew.mand Stanley. Lomas, Morehnd, Audrew3, Et.) mhos,
and J. C. Cowper.
To conclude with TWEEDLETON'S TAIL C)AT. Toby
Tweedleton, Mr. 11. Widdicomb; and Miss bratton
Acting 31anager, Mr. H. Barney. Stage Manager, Mr. W
West.