Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1849-09-24
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81
Inc incidents. which have just led TO so ahrupt a ter
inlnallon OF the Hungarian war, will probably be some
day %elucldated by that illustration which time brings l.,
such PORTIONS OF history. 1t is a fact, not without its
moral, that IN these days of enlightenment and lnlelII
gence, OF rapid communication and electrical diffusion of
opinion, The hrst movements Of the hostile bodies shoall
nave coinpl tty Isolated from the rest of Europe one of
lis finest countries.
PENDING, however. that calculation Of The Hungarian
campaigns, which will some day be nlvpu, we wish. al this
moment TO direct the readers attention 10 certain features
Oh lhe struggle, which have been extraordinary ennnuh
TO disturb all previous canons Of tactics and science
Ia lhe INST place, the resistance Offered by f5rlr,sses in
THIS war to %beselglrg armies of great Strength, and com
manders OF nneNampled patience, is without any PARALLEL
IN modern military history. 1t is, as we need hardly
mention, now usually laid down and accepted, that the
superiority OF the means Of attack over those of defence
mas Deen concIuslvely ascerlained. From the time that
me ski OF Nanban, aided by the resources of I5anis
AiN. hrst prevailed against the previously Improbable
towns OF The Low Countries, this opinion has steadily
gained ground and though it was for a moment impugn.
ed by the edicIs Of Napoleon and the theories of Garnet.
yet, since the exposure Of these fallacies. it has assumed
more tIlan ever The form OF an established truth, and
modern Engineers pretend 10 the power of calculating
10 a single hour the period at which a scientific defence
must inevitably yield to an equally scientific attack
bul ms opinion has been rudely shaken by the operations
OF the Hungarian war. komorn was, undoubtedly. a
place OF extraordinary strength; but, on the other hand.
IL is within easy reach of the central seat of Austrian
power, and was exposed to attacks directed by all the
skill uf experienced COMMANDERS, and seconded by all the
resources OF A State renowned for the excellence of lis
AftiIieTy. Yet, though left without any covering army
and wholly enveoped by hostile forces, il resolntely and
successfully held out against all the cannon and science
which could be brought to bear against its walls. Nor
l me credit OF such an exploit confined to The insurrect-
Ioilafy army. At lemesvar the Austrian garrison reap
ed equal glory for If it was exposed to less scientific at
TACK, II had lar fewer means of defence; and was besides
Invaded by Il worse enemy than either shot or she'll
rev oil our readers will have overlooked that paragraph
III our continental correspondence, which depiciured the
state oil The garrls1nat the period of lis relief. The forIi
lca'ions OF The place were in ruins. The troops had
lVed Tor 10 days upon hosetlesh, aud had lost 2.100 men
by lever and pflvations, though no more than 800 in the
direct operations of war. Take. in the next place, the
CELEBRITY and certainty with which large armies were NOV
ed over a country scarcely 10 be paraIlcled for its natural
"p9tacie oil rivers, woods, hogs, and swamps. The pre-,
else movements OF The opposing force are, it is true, not
yet adequately known, but we are at least certain that
IpP @o'oop or oo,OOJ strong were handled by BEN and
"eorSery alter a fashion without example even in
NapJleuh1s campaigns. We know that armies were
m"ltied as by magic from ltaab to Debreczin, from
, esIn 10 Afad; from the Bakonyer Wood to the heart of
'te pd!iis, ana from the frontiers Of Austria To the from
Ilers ID lfanaSyIvania. If we consider further that all
.leSe lorceS were respectfully supplied, clothed, and mid
nom the resources OF an extemp Jrised government. and
by tile organ zlllon OF a divided party, we shall admi,
mat some ne'c chapters in military hisioyy ,oiH be heyeI
trJorniShed by the Hungarian ardl.
We gfellly fear, however, :tlat the revival of barba
flsni VIII De iound nearly PioportIooaie 10 the development
ol genius IN these extraordinary scenes. What has been
really spent IN blood and treasure will never, perbaps. be
accurately known but we cannot be mistaken in con-
Guiding that Europe has seen no such wholesale slanpll-
ler since the campaigns Of Moscow aid Leipsic. Lutte
has been faithfully -tp,rted for not only were colnmu-
nicaiions virtually intercepted, but other nations have
be-" unt!ii4:ely too much occupied with their own at