Arkansas true Democrat., 1861-08-08
Military Maxims of Napo1ean.


 Military Maxims of Napolean.
 Tents are injurious to health. It is much better for the soldier to bivouac, be- cause he then sleeps with his feet to the fire, which quickly dries the ground on which he lies. A few boards or little straw shelter him from the wind. Tents, however, are necessary for the leaders, who have to write and consult the man. They should be given, therefore, to the superior officers, who should be order- ed never to lodge in house.
 Tents attrack the observation of the en- emy's staff, and make known your mum. bers and the position you occupy. But of an army bivouacing in two or three lines, nothing is perceived at distance except the smoke, which the enemy confounds with the mist of the atmosphere He can not count the fires.
 Nothing is more important in war than unity in command. When, therefore, you are carrying on hostilities against single power only, you should have but one army, acting on one line and led by one comman- der.
 The effect of discussing, making show of talent and calling councils of war, will be what the effect of these things has been in every age; they will end in the adoption of the most pusillanimous, or Gf the ex- presson be preferred) the most prudent measures, which in war, are almost uni formly the worst that can be adopted. True wisdom, so far as a general is con- cerned, consists in energetic determination. There are certain things in war of which the commander alone comprehends the i'm portance. Nothing but his superior firm ness and ability can subdue and surmount all difficulties
 To authorize generals and officers to lay down their arms by virtue of a special equalization, under any other circumstances that when they constitute the garrison ofa fortified place, would unquestionably be at tended with dangerous consequences. To open this door to towards, to men wanting in energy, or even to misguided brave men, is to destroy the military spirit of the na- tion. An extraordinary situation requires extraordinary resolution. The more obsti- nate the resistance of an armed body, the more chances it will have of being succored or of forcing passage. How many things apparently impossible, have never theless been performed by resolute men who had no alternative but death! No sovereign, no people, no general, can be secure, if the officers are permitted to copitulate on the field and lay down their arms by virtue of an agreement favorable to themselves and to the troops under their command, but opposed to the interest of of the remainder of the army To with draw from peril themselvs, and thus ren- der the position of their comrades more dangerous, is manifestily an act of baseness. Snch conduct ought to be pro- scribed, pronounced infamous, and punish able with death. The generals, officers and soldiers who in battle have saved their lives by capitulating, ought to be decima- ted. He who commands the arms to be surrendered, and they who obey him, are alike traitors, and deserve capital punish ment.
 There is but one honorable way of being made prisoner of war; that is, by being taken separately, and when you can no longer make use of your arms. Then there are no conditions-for there can be none, consistently with honor-but you are compelled to surrender by absolute ne cessty
 To be familiar with the geography and topography of the country; to be skillful in making reconnaissance; to be attentive to the dispatch of orders; to be capable of exhibiting with simplicity the most com plicated movements of an army-these are the qualifications that should distinguish the officer called to the station of chief of the staff.
 A general of artillery should be acquaint- ed with all the operations of the army, as he is obliged to supply the different divis- ions of which 1t is composed with arms and ammunition. His communication with the artillery officers at the advanced posts should keep him informed of all the move ments of the troops, and the management of his great park must be regulated by this information.
 To reconnotre rapidly defles and lords; to obtain guides that can be relied upon; to interrogate the clergyman and the post master; to establish speedily an understand ing with the inhabitants; to send out spies to seize the letters in the mails, translate and make an abstract of their contents; in short, to answer all the inquiries of the general-in on his arrival with the whole army; such are the duties which come within the sphere of good general ofan advanced post.
 Commanders-in-c chief are to be guided by their own experience or genious.- Tactics, evolutions, the science of the en- gineer and the artillery officers, may be learned from treaties, but generalship Is acquired only by experience and the study of the campaigns of all great captains Gustavus Adolphus, Turenne Frederick, as also Alexander, Hannibal and Caesar, have all acted on the same principles. To keep your forces united, to be vulnerable at no point, to bear down with rapidity at inn portant points these are the principles which insure victory.
 It is by the fear which the reputation of your arms inspires, that you maintain the the fidelity of your allies and the obedl- ence of conquered nations.
 E,o,, w W,suYNcToN Washington, July