New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-08-02
CAPACITY 40 COMMAND.

conviction that the struggle in which we are en-
gagged for the preservation OF the COnsti-
tut!on and the Union. is no Holiday recreation,
but is hardly second in tie severity Of its or.
deals TO that which won our independence. Two
or three points stand out with q prominence
which challenges general attention. We VIII
briefly note them.
| The enemy with whom we are coHtcndiDg
| gives battle in mode 20 extraordinary TO
call for peculiar qualifications in our officers,
beth rcgilnental and line. We must seemingly
abandon the idea of engagement in the open
field, and prepare to encounter q zoe lying in
ambush behind masked batteries and ntrench.
ments, skulking amid woods and juogIes, bur-
rowing in rayines and ri1e-pits and never
yenturing into the open ground except as he fees
from one cover 10 another. THIS Indian style of
fighting makes it next to impossible to meet the
enemy in line. Of battle which shall embrace
under common lead even one brigade. Single
regiments must rely very much upon themselves.
This was empbatcaly the case at Bull Run. If
then, we are to allow Tie Rebels 10 select their
own ground, the exigency will demand the very
highest grade Of qualifications in tic officers Of
regiments. They must possess in extraordinary
degree COURAGE and coolncss, skill and sagacity,
dash aud daring. And those whose duty requires
them to play a conspicuous part in the fight
must, when they 60 out TO battle, take their lives
in their hands. The ranks Of the Rebels are
full Of sharpshoOtcrs experts with tie rifle trained
70 Workmanship while hunting game in the woods
Of the South West. Let oil who aspire to the
chief command in the regiments now being levied
remember that Of the fifty Colonies and Lieutcn-
ant Colonies of the twenty-five regiments that
bore the bTunt of the battle at Bull Run, sixteen
were killed or wOunded-a proportion which,
had il been extended to the rank and file Of
those regiments, would have svelled their loss in
killed and wounded to upward of 5000.
The modern inventions in firearms of all kinds
render them far more destructive than those Of
our fathers. The shot, shell, and bullets vonited
from the thrOats OF canAon, or sped from the
mnzzlcs Of rifles and Inuskets, nowadays inflict
most deadly wounds. In consequence, the very
highest type Of surgical skill is demanded on tie
battlefield. The most profound science and the
bardiest nerves will alone suffice TO qualify one
10 III the post Of surgeon in the national army.
Ordinary medical capacity, which would pass
current along the even tenor OF o respectable
village practice. may prove wholly insufficient to
cope with the bloody exigencjcs OF a battle,
which, in an hours time, piles heaps Of wrilbiDg
and Inuta,c1 men around hospital eAtew-
poTizcd under Struggling trees by the roadside,
ard within range Of a cruel cnsr1y's llungiDg
shot and shell. Science, skill, sel!-po.sessiOn,
steadiness of nerve, and humanity that you'd
be captured by the foe rathSr than abandon q
bleeding charge-these are qualities required BY
such heady fights as that which strcwed the
folds and woods in front of Manassas with men
crushed and lacerated by the remoTscless ms-
sjlcs Of modern warfare All honor to the faith
ful surgeons who, on that fatal Sabbath stood
boldly TO their work, and preferred to fall into
tie hands Of the Rebels rather than leave their
wounded brethren to the tender meTeies Of
the foe.
y Chaplains OF she right temper aad talent can
be- of immense service 10 our troops. not only 10 the
camp, but on the field OF battle. In the recent
engagement, more than one chaplain rendered in
valuable aid by the words Of hearty cheer he
gave to the weary men as they trudged along
toward the bloody grosnd. and even after the
CORY strife had commenced. "StaDd boldly up to
Z" the work, my brave boys" said one popular chap
lain, as the soldiers filed past him to form line
Of battle, TIE cause good one TO fight for and
g die for :" And the cheer for the chaplain which
rang out from the ranks Of the regiment, was
barely drowned BY the sharp rattle Of the mus
kerry, as " the boys opened FIRE. Some of
these men Illustrated the divinity Of their sacred
calling by rendering valuable service to the
wounded, by assuaging their pains with accents
Of encouragement, by cooling their fevered lips
with draughts Of water, while they poured sooth
ing words into the ears Of the dying and re.
eeiyed from their lips the last tender messages
to loved ones at home. Such are the duties Of
chaplains of the Federal army Those who can
rot perform them even on the crimson edges Of
the battlefield, ought not to go forth with our
toops 81. .f,
In demanding these high qualifications in regi-
mental officers Of oil grades and classes, We do
not seek to deter capacity, courage. and skill
from seeking commands; but we do insist that
those who are VIGOROUSLY destitute Of these quail
ties should try TO aid the loyal cause in some
| other mode than leading its armies. sapH
u Fl" ~ . T.. IA.