Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1861-06-16
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tFrom the N. Y. Evening Post. !
Army AppOlnIm en- e,

The telegraph informs us every day that the
Honorable Mr.. This, or the we'll known Mr.
That, has been appointed to distinguished and
responsible post in the army. IL seems to Vi
that this practice of taking untried men from
civil lie and comforting upon them high mill
lary commands over the heads of excellent and
accomplished officers has gone quite far enough
It is almost unknown TO the service Of any other
nation, and cannot In our case be defended upon
grounds of public necessity or expediency. War
fare 10 becoming with every year more COM
pletely science. We have amongst US body
of officers who have made the sciences of wal
the epecial study of their lives, and who are ad.
mtted to be, as class at leaot as able, as brave
and as thoroughly acquainted with their profes.
sion as those of any other service.
The West Point Military Academy was es
tabished and has been fostered by the national
government for this very purpose OF preparing
In the best manner, and BY the most thorough
training, corps Of officers accomplished in the
art of war, and who shall stand ready to lead
our armies against every enemy who shall as
sail the Union.
The Government ought, on every principle Of
sound policy, as we'll as of justice to faithful
servants, to select from amongst these tried
and experienced officers those who are to receive
important military commands. This is tho pol.
ICY pursued by the Rebels. They have in every
inetance appointed to lead their armies their
ablest and most thoroughly trained soldiers.
Beauregard, Lee, the two Johnsons, Twiggs,
Migruder, and others they have called to con-
spicuous and leading positions. And this of
itself goes very far to justify the tribute foreign
authorities have paid to the superior sagacity
and executive ability Of the rebels
Our army 10 full OF talent; but our best men
are those who are still, or were till lately, scat
tered on the outposs and foreign frontier stations
and not those who have advanced attendance
upon the authorities at Washington. It ia the
young officers who have served under Fauntle
roy in New Mexico, under Harvey in the Far
West, under Twiggs In Texas, under A. 8. John
son on the Pacific coast, who are best adapted by
their experience TO be leaders in our present
campaign. Itis the activity, dash, wary watchful.
ness and promptness which they have learned
In their campaigns against the Indians which our
forces most stand in need OF now. 1t is from
these, the tried soldiers Of our army, that the
Government should make promotions. They
have by long and faithful, but obscure service,
earned the right to the opportunity which now
presents itself of gaining that honorable dis
tinction, the hope of which Is one of the prom
inent motives In the soldiers breast. They
nave every advantage OF theoretical ana practi
cal knoWledge, and even leaving out Of mind
the justice the nation owes to them, 1t Is very
certain that regiment OF raw troops, led by an
experienced and tried officer, cannot but march
into battle with ten times the confidence Of one
commanded by an officer who may be as brave
as a lion, but who knows necessarily no more of
actual warfare than his men.
The public thinks itstrange to see the best
officers, such men as Capt Doubleday, Capt.
Shepherd and others, holding subordinate posi-
tons, where their talent, their military knowl-
edge, and their experience of many years is al
most entirely lost to the nation and TO the army,
while untried men, doubtless brave, but with
necessarily the slightest knowledge of military
affairs, are called to command regiments, brig
ades, and even departments. Persistence In
such course Is running criminal risk, and fol
the attainment of no object but the qualification
of private ambition.
We are glad to see, by the promotions Of
Col. rSyes and Capt. Shepherd, announced
since this article was written, that the Govern
ment is awakening to the Importance of placing
tried and experienced men in responsible places,
where their talents may be of use to the nation.