Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1813-07-15
THE CONDUCT OF THE WAR

asDecuine, IS our readers will have seen
subject ot animadl ersion OH the floor of
TIC House OF Representatives How far the.
TIME and manner oi the notice it has there
received were polite or eXpedient, is a
question which the House has decided, and
as we think CORRECTLY. With every respec,
OR the character and motives Of the gentle
man who originated The discussion, we cam
not but think that II was i'll judged and p, e
mature.
J That there have been failures Of our mil
itary enterprises IN one or two instances, 10
100 true. The war commenced with one.
not only moro dlsgraceful than any that has
Since happened, but uorc so than could have
been imagined before it occurred. But on
this case, independent of the fact that a
military investigation respecting it la. been
delayed only from the inability of tine so
'ernnent to institute it, pubic opinion calls
for no Legislative eHquiry. The question
is at rest. AS 20 the other events of the war
like all other wars, 1t has been character
sed b. alternate reverse and success. If
there have becn failures OH the one hand,
there have bscn victories moro brilliant than
the failures have been lamentable. And
considering the unniiiltary character of the
nation at the time this war was declared
considering that. in the lapse Of time, the
skill and science acquired in the Revolution
had mouldeIed away, or descended with
its posse sors to the tomb that, at the COM
mencenent of the war, our armies were
moi oniy 10 be organized, but nine tenths of
our officers had yet 10 learn the simplcstru -
dments of the military art On setting down
coolly to reflect on these things, we are not
surprised ;hat VIC have sometimes been un-
successful. But i'll every battle which has
been fought, IN every rencontre with the
enemy, it our brave soldiers have not com
manced success, they have at least dcser-
we'd IT. When was war wagcd with unya-
ried success To refer 10 no Older history,
the events CT the glorious rev olution should
teach us the disadvantage at which raw
troops face a disciplined f5e and that the
most conclusive and brilliant success NAV
follow on tho heel of the most dishcaiten
ing and Illuminating defeats. We feel assur
ed, 6eyoud doubt, that the Clouds are e
ven now dssipaling which have Tor a mo
ment obscured the horizon, and before the
campaign closes, We confidently predict that
our arms will glisten III the sun Of yictu-
~.
Although we are neither competent nor
willing 10 undertake the task of pointing cut
the particular circumstances which have
led to the reyerSes of our arms, of which SO
much has been said, one cause obtrudc, it
self so torcbly On our attention;that we can
not over look it. That is, the unreasonable
mpatiencc OF some men, some of the very
best men i'll the nation TOO, for active war
fare. Our generals are urged Oh to battle,
driven. precipiJately and unprepared in the
face Of the foe. by the mere inability TO with
stand the imputations of Icthargy or inacti.
witty, inccnsiderately aud sometimes irrat ou
ally heapedup them. We look upon MIR
Bradiey's proposition as aA illustration OF
this general remark. as the fruit of pre-
vaiiing disposition, with which we candillly
Confess ourselves TO have been UNIV arii,- IN
itcted, TO decide on matters on which We
cannot pos, ib.. lave the means Of Judging
and are wholly unqualified to decide. The
Course OF wisdom, it appears TO US, would
be, for the present at least, TO submit these
matters to the Judgment of those who are
constltutioDa!iy set over theln-ia the full
assurance, on which we confidently RELY
that they will perform their duties in such a
| nauner as shall best serve the interests d
the nation, aid command Tie general appro
baton oftheir countrymen.
Nat. Int.