Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1855-10-18

:: ri An nu.npported colonel fights the
battle. We have a glimpse ct a genera VI VI
vision. but Il j. only n hewillered aud irfe-"u'e.
and telling his subordinate that, III they were III
any USE he. might TAX" the Royals. but we
| viii enter no further into this shameful history.
r,,mol.. Of beroism were not wanting, and TINT
| they may have their reward we earnestly hope.
| Hni Ia Gen. simpsons opinions ct indviduni
| merit the public will attach little Importance lie
will of course be unable sufficiently Ia express
hi. ar probation of all generals ct DIVISION while
| hi. warmp,t thanks will be due Ia every member
| IF hi. own staff But the men who died on that
fatal day. or will bring home wounds aud mutila-
tian. ms A sore remembrance of it. must be honor
edby their country through Information from
other sources
There can be no tnnb. of the discomfort and
anger which rcgnrd among til" troopS. Oheers
mud men have lost all confidence III their chief.
and the only difference j.. that the private pro-
claim. his opinion with more open vehemence.-
The incapable commander who has brought on
ENGLAND this last disaster canunt force his sol
dirrs to look with envy on those gallant deeds of
their ally to which their own defeat serves aS
foil. but he can cypress them with feelings of
deep humiliation. of bittei resentment of hope
less dependency. Ashmg as he shall lend them,
there will be the conviction that the day OF bat
tie is likely to be anything but the day OF Veto
ry Now. too. are approaching those operations
in .he field which the test of generalship.-.
Will the man whn could not attack with common
skill position with which he had been for months
ac1uoinfed he capable Of combinations and ina
nnuvrcs on new and evrrcbanging ground!
The conclusion is not difficult. 1t Is the duty
of government to make arrangements for relev-
ing General Simpson of the the post he holds
1t is generally understood that the present Com
mander in Chief accepted his appointment with
reluctance. This does not, indeed, excuse him
from all responsibility for subsequent failure, for
no solicitations Of Minister ought to overcome
the resistance which j. honestly founded on
sense of incapacity. But the knowledge that
his only the minor fault of an lrresolute re.
fusal must soften the judgement Of the country.
Any honor or reward which his services may
claim, or the position in which he has been placed
renders secmly, viii be grudged by no one but
let him no longer command our troops IN chief
A French Commanders in chief. under somewhat
similar circumstances, has benin this very cam
paign superseded, and he retained with true de-
voton and an admirable spirit to the command
of his division.
We will not suggest any course to General
Simpson or his advisers, but the nation must I'M
mediateIy look to the government to provide the
army in the East with general who commands
its confidence and is likely to retain it.
1t cannot be two often repeated that our army
requires Younger man. statesman in either
house, n lawyer on the bench. even admiral
in his comfortable first rate, may preserve his
efficiency until an advanced age, for he is not
under the necessity of bodily fatigue. But the
commander of army in the field must have
physical strength not only for sedcntary toll.
but for riding, walking bearing wind, rain and
cold, together with all the personal discom.orts
of the camp and the march.
These qualities not possessed by men of
the age of the British commander-in chief, who
sits in ditch mufiled up in n cloak when whole
army rushes to the assault. Marshal P"lisSier
wants, we believe, one or two years of 90, and
yet his activity is looked upon as extraordinary
by his countrymen He brought up the reserve
in person when General Bosquet was wounded
The great body of the French generals are far
below this age. Canrobert is As, Bosquet is IL
years old about the age of Eyrie and Markham
What is there to prevent the adoption of SINH
lar system in England Nothing but the tmd-
ty of the government the sympathy Of certain
military authorities at home for old acquantan-
ces and the superstitious reverence for those
who have served during youth in the campaigns
OF past generation.
If the nation is to preserve its rank in Europe
there must be delay in giving greater etlicien-
cy to the army by placing over it men of adequate
capacity. Englishmen hardly appreciate how
much their military reputation has suffered In
the eyes of the world even in this triumphant cam
pagn. Their fame for personal CO urage is as high
as ever, but how their government should select
| such men for high commands, and how the frceBri
tish people should acquiesco in the choce,are the
wonder of Foreigners. The Russians sag ,cs are
an army oftioas led on by asses. If the country
is To end this with the reputation of forty year
since ii must be content with the chivalry of cap.
talns and ieutenants, or the stubborn Highlands
and Counaugh. We have no wish to rival our al
lies in the number of their troops we are content
to admit that in all joint operations their share in
the tolls and glorios Of the must be the greu-
ter. But what the British army has to do it should
be enabled to do well Little is gained by placing
an aged officer of high standing over our troops
aud keeping up an affection of perfect equaiity,f
the French from superior numbers do nearly all
the work of the 81 tge; while the small part allot
ted to the English is married 10y the ncapaeity Of
| their commander. We know not whether after
| appealing to the public by their duty to their
country, it may not be Il descent to ask them to
consider the private ties which unite individual
families to the brave men whose lives depend on
generals Judgment. But tits an appeal to which
human nature will give, perhaps reader
answer by all that they owe to the army, which
has fought SO long and So well,bv their sympathy
tor those left bereaved and destitute through the
recent slaughter,as we'll as by their love of coun
| try and honor, we conurc Englishmen to brock
no delay in placing at the head of their small but
chiyalrous army man who can make its vaor
productive of something more than am honorable
disaster,