Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1861-07-13

SpfE1k u Us
wo bavo q b,sb estimate OF tho Importance
| of military science, and at tho same tune We
profess no acquaintance with it Such opinions
as we NAV at any time arrive at, therefore,
resnec.;ne our army movements, organization,
and policy, are formed with much Difference
ond # expressed at all, expressed with what
&c intended TO be o becoming reserve.
There are some views, however, which even
q, nnprofessioral man may form and express
| without presumption er immodesty. Our army
IS peculiarly constituted. Il consists not Of
h;Ied bands, but Of citizen soldiers; not OF ner'
~osnaries who fight as a profession and for the
pay, and by a sort Of campulsior, an" enquire
not and care not for wha. or against whom;
but of intelligent citizens who love peaceful
pursuits, but who leave their homes because q
holy duty calls, and 90 where patriotism
leads the way.
II is mp ,rtant to bear this distinction III
mind. The commander who would win o bat
! lie, must understand his own men as well as
! his enemy. Braddock lost bis army and his
| life, because ne would not adapt his tactics to
his enemy, at the advice Of the Virginia Buck
skin" ltiscqaally necessary for 4 General to
suit his policy to his wv men. By so doing,
| Gen. Morgan won the battle OF tine Cowpens'
IF he had fought it according to the bucks, ne
would have lest IT.
Volunteer soldiers have their good points
aud their weak cncs To manage them &C
curding to all the formula and the tactics ap,
| p-opria,e 10 regulars aud lifetime soldiers, is
20 lose the benefit Of their good qualities and
| 20 encounter the evils Of their weaknesses. 4
| good General viii avoid Ibis. lie will not
wear down the enthusiasm and destroy the im-
petuous dash which IL, rk the volunteer By
prolonged hardships and %inac,!on.
4 volunteer sse!Gisr wants to do his work
and 20 hens 10 his business. Lilo will fight
oravelv, and eight to win. Adap. the plan of
| campaign ard Of battle 10 his pecuiiarities as
.uucl, as possible; alicw him all convenient
Individuality: and Whatever heroisn and in.
igencc can accomplish he will dc, See how
0 lr volunteers fought in Mexico! What reg.
u'srs have ever done better? But p course which
destroys their ardor and which at best would
3niy succeed in turning a good volunteer into
a poor regular, is to be carefully guarded
against
We do nc. uaderrate the Importance Of uil-
i!arv tactics On the contrary the movements
necessary 10 an ARMED corps should be so well
understood that like the movements Of a mau's
ersoa, they can be made almost iEstiDc;iveiy.
When o commander wishes to change tho form
1r position of lis men, he and they should be
.b.e to r;ake the movement not onlv without
confusion or mistake, but without occupying
!1eir thoughts, which may be required By the
duties ard Incidents Of battle.
But drill ai,ne cannot make an officer or
even 3 s,!dier. liz who is perfect IL the man
,s,, aud in eyolueions, and can teach others.
sill, undoubtedly, make e good !uglemen, or
: good drill muster; but it by no means fellows
that no is fitted for q commander. For that
position additional and far higher and moro i'm
portant qualities az. needed. The Off ;er who
CAD wheel his men % the right or 10 the left,
with exqIisitc g.sce ard precision, may, never.
thelsss, not know nhcn 70 wheel them or mhere
to march them.
10 fact, TINT much larded and jet much de-
spised quality called common :ense, is as much
wanted 10 the camp and the 6eld Is anywhere
else. Nag, it IS difficult to Imagine where it IS
50 much needed. 4 mind quick to see AZ I'D
vantage or a t~?anger-icriilc III cxpecicnts-
prompt and pliable il adapting means to ends
open 10 ne% ideas, aal 10 he teachings q
new circunS.ances,-Who can estimate the su'
~periority OF oce tbIs endowed and thus guild.
I'd, ever that autonator OF routine which the
books make when practical ssnse does not pre-
side end control?
We ihiSk that volunteers are too apt TO 10.
derra!ue the importance Of tactical instruction;
and we believe that the professiona! soldier
and officer are prone to attach to it { conse.
qaence far too exclusive. To regard it as the
only, or indeed az the ehicf qualification ior
command, !s = terrible m;StaGe.
The officer who is in command Of volunteers,
and yet ignores iheic characteristics, does not
understand or wilfully disrcgards his duty
lie should curb their inpetuosity, withcut
destroying their ardcr. lie should not demon
alize them by movements, such as might not,
indeed, affect careless End stoical regulars,
fshiing professionally Ind fc- q life time, and
therefore in no hu7!y, ana feeling no special
concern in the aspect O. affairs, out calculated
to dcpress ci,izen soldiers. alire to nj! the keen
sensibili:iss Of aa anxious patriotism.
1t is . very possible thing in military opera
tions to have leo much strategy and too little
audacity-too much book science and too little
o%'l;-ins gepias-too may appeals to caution
and too few to courage. To come to Tie or
cumssances Of the present war: Il would not
do for the defenders OF their homes always to
give way to superior numbers; ifso. we are
beaten before We hssin, because the enemy
are more nul,erous than &c. We must coun;
largely on o moro determined and unconq1 era
bic courage than theirs; and it will not
fail US! See how the gallant soldier;
of Magraaer chased four times theil
number f.cu the leld Ct Bethel, wher
4 boolish pruGrnce might have told bin
! 70 retreat! See how the impetuous Ashby:
and their hero band, slew nearly twice then
own number, and drove f1c times as many
more h~esdlons from the dcld. Mere book prr'
dsncc and scientific drill would have pronounc
Q their g~al!an: onse: but fooiishness and mad
MSS. In short, i. will never DO to deprive
ourselves Of the benefit Of the noble enthus!
assn ara dasting courage Of cur volunteers, b.
applying rules surh rs our condition will nc
permit, and suited cniy TO auothtr quality o
soldiers.