The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-05-30
lO2

military mind could not be better displayed than b.
,hs infantry officer who, being charged by cavalry
retired 10 the ckapparel, and placing tho backs o
his men against the thcket, firmly received, with al
undiminished front, their charge, and finally re
pulsed them.
ticuary Lieut. Sackett that class denomlnated al
''supernumerariesn the Junior breyet second lieu
tenant Of his regiment, and who, therefore, accord
ing to the opinion of some here had no right 10 re-
main in the army, lost, In the charge OF the second
dragons his horse and, by the fall, his sword, al
so; a Mexican officer attacked him under these cir
cunstances; he disarmed and endorsed his assail
ant and on the horse and with the sword of his en-
envy, made his way TO his company, and again
Joined in the charge.
If gallsntry be all that gentlemen desire, the in
stances Of daring arc numerous enough 10 satisfy
them if they will learn the history Of any OF our
campaigns. But, sir, think there is an uniortu'
nate disposition to underyaue everything which
does not exhibit personal daring. 1t should be re-
membered that battles are mainly won by that arm
which seldom comes into personal conflict The
artillery.
The success Of a campaign depends much upon
the ability of the general, eyinced in his marches
and his camps; and no courage, either OF himself or
troops compensate for errors made In either, II
he has before him skilful foe. Ii is the position
of General Taylors camps that constitutes a great
portion Of their strength. II was the preparation
and skilful Of the artillery, which rendered il so
misunderstanding terror into the heart of the enc
my. For these purposes gallantry alone would not
suffice.
Few will believe that the light artillery Of the la
monted Rnggold could have been dispensed with
and no one can suppose that uneducated officer
would be able to command efficiently arm in the
use Of which so much science is involved.
Who're is the parallel to be found for Prince Mo
rat as a cavalry leader, the man who rendered him.
self conspicuous by his gaudy dress, who Away,
nad ytfh
blood and yet never received wound; but il wa,
not these charges brilliant, dazzling, miraculous al
they appear, which gave Napoleon victories II twas
the deep military science Of the emperor, his re.
msrkable attachments engineer and art
erst which sat the presiding genius his
paigns Need | say that others might be equally
instructed yet not be worthy to command, or will
any one infer save the gentleman before me, thai
because | believe a military education TO be neces
sary, that suppose this 10 oil which is required
There are exceptions, men who succeed without
education, and others who fail with it, as in every
pursuit of life.
Mr.. Chairman, | expected the gentleman from
Ohio would be relieved from his dstrust when the
evidence Of success, so brilliant, was before him
but no, he shuts out light and knowledge he hug,
the error closely, and | leave him to enjoy III,
embrace. l regret, sir, that a sense of iustic,
does not prompt him to withdraw the state
ments made by him, even though they hay,
been printed, now that he must feel they
were incorrect, but he refuses Then / think hi,
readers will generally correct those statements fo
him. IL he sees not, the people Of the country gen.
orally will see, in what has been done, what j,
doing, and to be done, the fruits of professions
skill which could not have been produced by the
knowledge men acquire in the ordinary avocaton'
of life. 1t is this combination Of the skill of the sol
der with the courage and patriotism common Il
our people, to which invited attention; and tina
mind must have been obtuse indeed which coulc
not draw the distinction between ignorance of 1
particular pursuit, and the inability to learn it
No one can be more sensible than myself of the YER
sanlity, the convertibity of the American mind
we are ever changing our pursuits, and instances
constantly occurring Of high success by those who
have entered late upon particular profession; but
will any one therefore infer that early education
for the profession, thus late adopted would have
been disadvantage Again, sir, | assert my con-
hdence in our army; wherever their country needs
their personal exposure, feel 1t will be encountered
with the same alacrity they showed at Palo Alto
and now, when those white gloves which have been
the ground Of objection to our officers, have been
90 deeply died in the blood of the enemy, | trus
that justice, generosity, and patriotic sympathy
will unite to give these resolutions an unanimous
support