Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1855-09-28
r,,e Fallen Chiefs.


In few DAYS, saws the London Tines, Sir f. Eng
land will set foot on the soil of his native country,
and the last of the old Generals of Division who en-
loved the festivities of Constantinope, suffered from
the fevers of Varna and shared the gores and hard
ships of last autumns' campaign, will have quilted
his command Too great exertlon. the weakness or
timidiy of advancing age, the WEAKNESS engendered
by long and tedious warfare, may all have had their
share, with wounds and sickness in inducing so many
to abandon the high position and brilliant prospects
which belong to the successful warrior; but the tact
singular one and worthy of attention, that after
eleven months of active the Commander-in-C Chief
all the Generals of Division, and small number OF
the Brgaders, have quilted the scene and left their
places TO others, if not 10 younger and more sKl1ul
men. But not alone in our own army have those
who year ago were in the mouths OF ALL past away,
so that their names ere little more than a remins
cence; each of the contending hosts has lost lis
chief, in every case of mark and celebrity
1t is fresh in the memory OF all, how, with The news
of Alma still ringing in our ears, there came The not
unexpected tidngs that the French Commander had
sunk under disease, anxiety. and tatlgue' ana lay
dead at the little haven of Baaklava, then strange
name-now how familiar, and how mixed up with
recollecons of glory, guilty negligence, and long
term of disaster The remains of the dead General
entering the Bosphorus amid the crowd OF vessels
which bore these wounded in that brilliant victory,
of which he had Just shared the renown the stately
honors paid by the sultan and ambassadors. the still
more impressive funeral rites, celebrated in Paris to
Marshal of France,-these things are like events
of yesterday and yet ST. Arnaud was the first to fall
the first great victim in the holocaust which three
nations are offering up TO the Spirit of War.
Next comes darker and sterner figure; figure
invested by popular belief, with almost fabulous at
tributes of pride and imperIousness; Menschikof-
the tanatical noble, the arrogant ambassador the
stubborn if not capable commander, surrounding TO
wounds, age and anxiety but few days before his
Imperial master was struck down. In retirement he
now watches the desperate struggle in which his
country engaged and has leisure to regret the IN
fatuation OF the Prince who sent him on his fatal
mission, and the gratuitous and unbidden arrogance
which he superadded to his masters Instructions.
Yet his career has not ended in unmixed calumny
AT Sebastopol he prepared what must have seemed a
desperate defence after crushing defeat. He sunk
the fleet which had long been his peculiar care, and,
if he did not plan the new and unexampled works
which have deted attack so long. he at least chose
the men who were capable of such designs He re-
NAMED to see his resolution rewarded and the de-
fence of Sebastopol successful and famous. The
Crimea will have saved his reputation from the fail
ure of Constantinople. pompous and arrogant
diplomatst, he seen through and guaged at once
by the wary representatives of the European Powers
and failed even to impress the Turks themselves
Before he left he thoroughly cowed; his shrewd
wit died his lips, and is threats, kept for
the pashas and the ropulace, changed for
conciliatory overtures towards those who really
WELD the deslines of the Sultans empire. At Sc
genius as he possessed could do him service, and he
has ended long career in manner which enc
mics must allow 10 be not inglorlous The last few
weeks have taken away the third of the Comman-
ders-n- Chief who have foug bit around this modern
Troy The loss is too recent and the fallen General
too we'll known among us for criticism 10 be either
appropriate necessary Praise and blame he re-
ceived in abundance during his lifetime; both are
now useless except they may excite emulation or
hold out warning But the British army has lost
much in Lord Raglan. He had high military rank.
long experience of mankind, and manners which gave
him an influence with our allies beyond what any
other General is likely to possess. He above
petty jeaousies and petty intrgues, and kept his
way uninfuenced by what would have affected the
course of many man.
With Lord Rag lan almost all the general officers OF
our army have quilted the scene--some who enjoyed
the esteem and trust of those who served under
them; more who inspired confidence only in the en-
envy. The same fatality has overhung the armies OF
the enemy and our allies Omar Pasha indeed has
from the earliest days of the war been before the
world; and now the last hopes of success in ASH,
rest on him. But his opponent, Paskiewitsch, has
passed away and exchanged the labors ard disasters
OF the Danube for a nominal command in Poland
Canrobert and Bizon, veteran Burgoyne, Dan
nenberg, the defeated of 1nkerlnann, and now the
young and gifted Todeben, have all been sacrificed
TO wounds, sickness or the dspeasure of superiors
1t may be that the losses of the French in general
officers have not been above the average of former
wars; but ourselves and the Russians have suffered
severed y-the enemy in the actual conflict we from
the age, the weakness, and the liability to disease
those who were first appointed to high commands in
the army. 1t is with our own affairs that we ale
chiefly concerned, and the moral to be extracted
from the terrible drama of the last tweIvemonth
must be pointed to direct our own course in the
great enterprise before
The Maine EIecfIon.