Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1836-06-09
M I 5 @ = Z L A NJ z.
From Walsh,s Didaciics

| "AShlNofoN.-lt strikes us partlc-
ulariy, that Washington has not been
duly rated as military commander.
His final success in the war ofour re-
volutIon, seems to us not less miracle
OF intellectual and moral capacity. than
his temperament, or ensemble, was a
prodigy ofsupreme & complete worth.
We look back, through the authentic
relations OF mighty campaigns and mi
lltary enterprise, and we find no where
evidence of SO much having been &C.
complished with means so precarious
and disproportionate, and over impedi-
ments SO numerous and formidable, as
in the war of our independence. To
judge rightly of the case, attention
must be given to the extent of the
sphere of the American leaders, duties,
operation, cases and jurisdiction the
comprehensiveness and minuteness of
his views and plans; the deficiencies
and disadvantages, in the nature of the
military array, and general circum-
stances which he had to WELD and con.
troll; the immensely of the business
which he personally transacted; his
uniform sagacity in defeating, and FIRE.
quent success in battling the designs of
a powerful and widely spread foe his
discrimination in the choice Of officers,
coadjutors, and agents of every des.
cription; his fertility and ingenuity in
expedents his invariable fortitude q
restorative energy under adverse for
tune, unexpected reverses, and impen
ding utter ruin; his steadfast sublime
zeal and hope amid all difficulties and
disasters, and at all periods and his
circumspcct doubt, and precautional
wisdom, down to the absolute certain
ty of consummate triumph, and Sc.
cure peace.
lnferiority ofnumbers, in almost ev-
cry instance; raw and unclad militia;
half trained regulars, with short enlist.
ments; ragged and INDECENT officers
pennyless Congress impoverished
and unmanageable States the utmost
seventies Of climate to be undergone
the most rugged and cherries regions
to be traversed; endless embarrass-
ments and mishaps, distant and near
perpetual remonstrances, entreaties &
counsels to all civil and political autho-
rites; dangerous discontents in camp,
constantly recurring, to be allayed or
beguiled; dependency every where,
to be raised or fattered; diplomatic re
lations to be studied and managed in
the tent; radical evils of system, er-
rors Of civil management, to be expo
sed instructions to be furnished to all
functionaries a correspondence of
letters sufficient to engross almost any
miEd-these form still imperfect sum-
mary ofwhat Washington had to en-
counter and compass, in the execution
of his main duty and aim, as general
issimo. Brilliant campaigns, or exten
sive conquests, with well appointed ar.
mics, dwindlc and fade in our views
when compared with such complica-
ton Of obstacles and tolls, and the final
mastery, and happy issue. To under
stand the magnitude and diversity Of
his powers, and the superiority of the
warrior, in any parallel with the most
renowned in arms, we must investigate
all the details of our revolutionary sit.
uaton, contest and triumph, as they
are extant in the revised work of Mar
shall.
There is no difficulty in distinguish
ing between the real Washington, the
paragon and benefactor of his country,
and any pseudo, created and worship
ped by PARTY, or magnified in glare
of false glory and inordinate power
between the sun, the golden sun Of Hea-
ven, & any parheHon, or mock lumina-
ry, born ofthe vapours ofearth. TO RI
val Washington, it is indispensable not
merely to have been the most patriotic,
laborious, judicious, efficient, disinter-
ested, immaculate Of statesmen and
generals, but to have led private life
entirely consentaneous without an ir
regular habit, an immoral act, loose
act ofany kind; maintaining perfect
dignity in every detail, commanding
every where universal reverence OBJ
serving invariably the laws of truth,
reason, self respect and benevolence.
Besides having studied his biography
anew, we lately read his official cor
respondence, and most of the other
productions of his pen, which are ex.
tant in print it is impossible to doubt
that they are all his own the illusions
OF his own mind-And what mental
powers they display what intelligent
zeal what indefatigable toll ! how
masculine and elevated spirit how
strong, clear, ready, and terse style!
the man, the statesman, the command
er, the writer, were all complete for