The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1847-10-06

To The Editor Of the Union:
SIR Were we not prone 10 undervalue the talent
which exists in our immediate neghborhood, the mill
tary sagacity of the editor of the Baltimore American
would entitle him to high rank among the officers
missoned at Washington.
The wing editors generally, feeling doubtless some
uncertainty to their exact knowledge OF the way in
which a campaign should be conducted, have conened
themselves with expressions of Indignation and contempt
towards the administration for its imbece manner, of
carrying the Occasionally, when particular
misfortune seemed to threaten the American arms they
have ventured TO remark that it would not have occurred
if things had not been left they were; and when the
apparent difficulty removed by the gallantry OF the
forces supposed to be in peril 1t has been iavorte topic
with them to argue that wise government would rely
upon chances unavorable to
But the editor of the American, feeling, doubtless,
of that ntuve conception of military affairs which
enabled the great Carnot the privacy of his closet
to conquer hostile armies with the scale and compasses,
has with dasing pen, portrayed the scheme by which
the administration might have avoided the serious
charges of faulty and "insany" which he has
brought against It,
In the profound peace of the country for many years.
the study of military strategy has been neglected Now
that we are involved in war which educates SO many
in the school of practical discipline, il is delightful
to find that those who remain home not to be alto
gether excluded from knowledge. They have had to
learn in the noise and smoke of battle from men old
in campaigning and SCARED with wounds; but ge chap
pier LOTT sit comfortably by our fresdes, and
have excellent dscouses upon seges and strategy doed
out to us each morning, without once having our feel
ngs unnecessarily excited by the idea that the know
edge of lecturer has been purchased al the price OF
the blood and suffering of his fellow creatures
Now and them even those who used to sit at the feet
of Plato venured to ask from their eloquent master
explanation OF what appeared to their weaker I'M
derstandngs incomprehenslbe than usual And 50
We who have not yet exactly attained that central
point in the lofty regions OF divine philosophy from
which are seen radatng all the lines of human know
edge venture to inquire OF our happier teachers some
explanation OF the curious that they have the
good fortune to observe.
Memory is deceitful blessing but il seems to our
fused mind that we eeollect something like Indignation
expressed the idea that Gen Scott about to put
IN command of large part of Tayos army, prior to the
battle of Buena Vista The doctrine of suggestions IS the
avorte one OF the day SuPposng that the admmslra
ton had not reinforced Scott, and that he had failed be-
fore Vera Cruz, at Cerro Gordo: which would have
had the effect upon the spirits of the country
this Tayors resgnng the aures of the victory to the
camer glory of maintaining with his diminished army,
fortified town in the face of the hostile force? 1t
pretty intellectual puzzle-we propose it for solution
If the forces of Gen Taylor had advanced after the
battle of Buena VISTA after leaving competent number
to garrison the posts taken from the enemy, how many
men beside MAJOR Bliss would he have been able to carry
with him? We not in position to answer, are
novices in the trade of war. But we now and then
hear that the wing papers are abusing the administration
for not leaving Gen. Taylor men enough to secure the
| Rio Grande.
In what particular part of the country are the armies
collected which the government is to rely to keep the
guerilla parties from annoying the provision trans are
not all the men employed that the government mad any
authority to raise And not these forces conceded
with nlggardly reucance' Surprising that the provision
trans are made strong TO set the enemy at defiance
| what - to become of the army
When the French were in SPAIN despite all their care
anu storage OF provisions and forage in fortified towns,
the guerlllas there, less numerous and formidable than
they have proved to be in Mexico, cost them painful
marches and frequent loss yet they brought to the
ct armies whose numbers depended on the requirement
of one man, whose military schemes were conducted
without opposition from any power at home that could
! sfectualy control bis supplies LQWNDES,