Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1809-09-01
roR The ARGUS.


lowness of mind exhibited nv the ancient
Nestor TO the Greeks Indeed, the extra
ordinary experience of Col. Duane, rem
ders it almost presumptuous in any writer
| to take up subj CT upon which he has
touched. In recent Gazette of that gen.
! tleman, there has appeared an article en-
titled Z" Proshects on the Danube" from
the perusal of which, we have derived con-
siderable edificaton. In this article " a
newspaper writer" is severely, and we
| might almost say, justly dashed, in style
| truly satirical, for mis- boldness in utterIug
| conjecture, that "from the unusual and
"protracsed inactivity of the French EN-.
"peror. it would appear that he hal been
Gin some measure induce TO change the
"hLaa>o of the camfaign and the policy of
shts schemes"
For ourselves, we presu ne to be no great
Judges in these matters, and therefore, must
in some degree, give way to the opinions of
those VINO are better acquainted with the
| art OF war, and the various other arts con.
necsed herewith. Col Duane doubts |" svhe-
Tier there paS any sheciat hian zvha,ever."
! ln this scepticism, we should certainly &C
| quiesce, If, in the course Of our rea ling, we
had not found it asserted in the fourth bull.
letin of the French army of Spain, bearing
date /" Burgos. Nov. II, ,, that (" Nothing
/" can succeed IN rvar that is nor the result
"of q nell digested tian." It is possible.
however, that the French marshals and
J generals, who have for near twenty years,
been basily employed in fishsins, may not
have calmly considered the gu ,stioh, and
that their decision is no. so just in this par.
ticuiar as that of Col. Duane, who has evin-
(, ced muca undsturbed study of tactics.
{. Col. Duane further informs US, that "the
i "ho!icy of Bonaparte's schemes W rs to de-
"feat the Aus. rians." The m rtifarious
] avocations of the edtor of the Aurora have
doubtless prevented him from ref letting up
on the force of the words he has used. the
1" defeat of the Austrians," is the object of
Napoleon; the "hoiicy of his schemes" is
the uode Of oferation ny which he euIea-
vors to obtain that OBJECT. We are coni
dent that Col. Duane understands all this
better than we do, but. the alternate en-
ployment of his pen and his sword, prevents
him from entering into such minite dis
tinctions
We may be mistaken, but w: are of the
1, opinion that the OCCUPATION os he capital
OF Vienna, is no proof chat Austria is .scrush-
ed. Dresden, the cap al of Saxpny, and
Berlin, the capital OF Prussia, were occupi-
ed by different enemies during tne seven
years war ; yet neither Prussia nor Saxony
we're finally conquered Madrid was occu
ped by the French in the year 1903, yet
King Joseph was afterwards comp,'lsd to
81 IRON u and we are not to forget that
SPAN Is no, YET conquered.
Co. Dune certainly knows better than
we do; but comparisons drawn from the
compaigbs of ltaiy Gin 1916 and 1872 are
too antlQu,ted, to- Irrelevant in point of
circumstances, we spprehend, tn aft Drd
true parallel for the incidents of the Aus
= trian war of 1909 GeaeraL Bonaparte, Fl Sat-
!; ing merely tn gain an honorable peace for
France, in 1895 and 1897, is aos Emheror
bonaparte fispuny tor the supremacy over
all Eur Hpe in 1909 Che "retreat" of Ma.
polenn just before the battle Of Austerlits
was mere russo de !euerre, and there
, fore, when the Colonel adduces II as a Sc
rlous retreat, to support his opinions, " e
. must suppose he is jesting with his re aders
Il The delay of Boaaparte on the V,stula
, Col. Duane has only forgot the circutn
stance) not sin Feb. 1906" bat in 1906
{, was not according 20 his desire, or else h S
+ bulletins lied. Ii was the 7viHter, the bad
roads which impeded the movements of his
artillery, that caused him IN that Campaign
to remain quiet SO long.
n But, in truth, in main points, Col. Duane
Ia Dies not differ from us in opinion concern
d ing the new Austrian war. The "ncws-
e paper writer" to whom he alludes, merely
a suggested that Napoleon had changed hi
= plan ana pollcy. SJl duane sanctions tina
e suggestion, in the following passage.
l.. "While the Russians were fifteen day
lie "march from Vienna, the battle of Esslin
IS "was fought. Here there was first oh
"trosfect Of Glory before the Russi
IN " ans came uh, and had il 5een decisive
'e zoot.fd haUe directed the Russian marc
J. "into Hungary or Turkish MoraUia ha
"Bonaharte annihtia Ell Tire Ausf ian ar
:, tiny on the a2d May, tie Russians nee
y "not have fassei the CIrhathian Noun
"fdins, ard instead Of crossing Me Histui
$50 ahhrodch the Danube, they 7Vouid haU
"beeH on their m1rch for tie Neister, 10
On Z" A1ohiioh, Bender, Jasy, or Ismaei, an
e. "reoehed Constdnfin2h'e, by The DanuL
= (; "af IT'S mou.i by Siiesfria Or by Terna
en- This. with suitable Difference TO ttl
il CONCEPTIONS NJ genius" IS an acknowIedj
Sc ment OF +" a change in the hkaH of the can
ne paign :" for, as the Colonel says, ii Bon;
e pdrte had been victorious or the Dist ar
t. 22d of Nay, the Russians Guild have go
n IN diR;ren; direction he was not victor
US Gus, and they are marching to his aid tbs
lie OF course, is change of MAN" He wa
IN their coming and therefore, the policy
his schemes is altered His first M q