Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1859-07-19

TUESDAY MORNING., JULY 10, 1859

GEN. ScoTr IN NEW FIEID.-THE BATTLE
We are pleased to learn that many of the
newspapers of this country have engaged the
services of Lieut-Gen. WINFIELD SCOTT as
Military E.litor. He entered upon the dis
charge of his duties soon after the first battle
was fought on the plains of Lombardy. This
ENTERPRISE on the part OF our contemporaries.
giving as it does encouragement to most
worthy gentleman, cannot be too highly COM
mended.
We say we learn that this has been done:
this is, perhaps, upon the whole, not exactly
the proper term to use. We simply take IL for
GRANTED that Gen. ScoTT has been thus en-
ployed, from the fact that the papers in ques-
ton have criticised the tactics "breathed into
vogue" las "Old Gan" would say by LOUIS
NAPOLEON, VICTOR EMANUEL, and FRANCIS
JOSEPH at all their battles from the first gun
at Montebello 10 the last thrust of the Zou-
ave's bayonet on the bloody field of Solferino,
and have pointed out their blunders. and
shown them where they have repeatedly made
asses of themselves-ail in so clear, forclble,
and mastery a manner, that every reader
sees at glance that it is the work of no less
skilIful tactician than the old hero of
Chippewa and Lundy's Lane himself.
We had at one time seriously entertained
the idea of giving the General the position of
Military Editor of the PATRIOT; but finally
determined 10 undeIta the labors Of the post
ourself.
We have been much surprised at, not to
say disguised with, the utter want Of ability
SO glaringly exhibited by LOUIS NAPOLEON
and his Generals al the battle of Solferino.
While the French were approaching the Min
clio, it was our intention to write hasty ar
ticle in these columns for the guidance of Ma
POLEoN at the battle then soon to be fought;
but, unfortunately for him, we neglected to
do so. Had that article fallen into the hands
of that war-like individual before be began
the battle of the oath OF June, that trench
dous conflict would have been one hundred
and thrty-three and third per cent. more
tremendous than it was. We clearly foresaw
(as did also Gen. ScorT through the Buston.
New York and Philadelphia papers, months
when they reached the Mincio, and had not Ma
PoIEoN 20 recklessly disregarded the advice
we intended to give him, we venture 20 say
there would not have been an Austrian left
after the battle to tell the tale. But there
are men SO wrapped up in their own selfcon-
ceit that they will not hcarken to the wise
counsels of the spectator who stands OFF aud
views the march of events and armies coolly,
calmly and dispassionately.
When the battle of Solferino began on the
morning of Friday, June oath, the opposing
forces extended 10 distance of about twelve
miles. The two armies combined numbered,
according to the London Times and the Liver
pool Courier, $4,000 men. This estimate,
however, is manfestly erroneous, there being.
according to a carefully prepared estimate of
our own, but 349, 999 troops, the other hav-
ing been placed hors du combat by severe at
tack of cholera morbus the night before.
On approaching the Austrians, NAPOLEON,
on arriving within three hundred yards OF
their position. should, by all means, have
thrown the main body of his regular troops,
consisting of, say, so 900 men. into what may
technically be called an immense wedge
From the upper eEd ofths wedge, two wings,
in the shape of the letter l., consisting of So
900 Zouaves each, should have extened, the
ends of the wings impinging upon the large
or major extremity of the wedge, with the
Austrians Immediately in front, the point OF
the wedge being directed TO their centre.
The following diagram will more fully Illus
trate our meaning: