New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-12-14
A COMMUNICATING.


limits of human powers and endurance. We
have an illustration of this in the position pre-
pared for our young Commander, whose most
capacities and energies are in a
manner paralyzed by our servile adherence to
routine and, as far as it concerns military or
ganization, to a routine of the worst kind
that which governs in England. That is tho
only country, except this where-besde the
Chief Ruler and the Secretary Of War-there
exists a General-n.Chief Of the whole army.
who is now the Duke of Cambridge.
The Governments of Europe wherein mill
tary organization is carried to perfection--as
France, Prussia, and Russa-haye no such grade
in their respective military hierarchies. The
Constable of old France disappeared more than
two centuries ago; the Marshals commanded
corps or armies acting on given theater OF
war; but none Of them ever commanded or
commands the whole French army. Some
times, during the NapoleOnic wars, Marshal
had in the army under his command other
Marsbals-as Massena, in bis campaign in
Portugal, had under him soult and Ncy; but
another army at the same time operating in
Spain was wholly independent OF him. 1t can
be said that Napoleon himself never directed
or combined the operations of an army OF
500, 600 men on distant fields of war. 10 1909
his Italian army, under Eugene, co0perated
and unanswered toward the same point as the
army of Germany under the immediate COM
msnd q Napoleon; this aim was Vienna, or
at least, tie central provinces of Austria; bit
both the armies scarcely reached 3CO,OOO men.
When Napoleon invaded Russia he directed the
operations of the Russian armyi the Marshais
operating in Spain communicated with him
through the Secretary Of War. The army OF
the Allies in l3I3-A was under the orders Of
Schwartzenberg, for this purpose created
Generalissimo; but the Allies had only one
army opposed to them, that OF Napoleon, and
this on theater less extensive than Is that
from Fortress Monroe TO the frontiers OF Chio
and Kentucky.
Pashkewitch, in military and civil power,
was next to the Gar, wac Vice-KiDs OF Po-
land. and commander OF the first Russian army,
situated in the western part OF the empire
He had nothing to do with the second army
ON the Turkish frontier, or in Caucasus, or
with Independent corps Ike the Guards, or the
corps of Grenadiers. For oil questions Of mill
tary administration, organization, &C., Pash-
kewitch depended the Secretary OF War,
as in France do to-day the various Marshals st
the head of corps. For war or peace France
has now no General-in-C hief and organizer Of
tbe whole army. She would not have such
one. should she be forced simultaneously t.
carry on war on the Rhine, on the Alps and
on the Pyrenees, while Louis Napoleon were
obliged 10 remain in Paris.
To direct the operations of an army OF from
$50. 600 TO 200, 600 men-such probably IL thaf
eucircling to-day Yirginia-taSes the utmost
mental. intellectual, and physical capacities
and forces of any man, were he alexander
Cesar. or Napoleon. Besides, Alexander and
Caesar never had such numbers under COM
mand. Perhaps no living general in Europe
could satisfactorily fulfill such gigantic task
os nevertheless, our worship of routine has
b,oned on our Young commander, compelling
him IN take the direction of the various mill
tary departments into which the country -
divided. After all the number Of hours IN the
dav for work and activity is limited Gen.
Mcclellan must daily attend to The business
and staff of the Army OF the Potomac.
then to the staff of the General Army
1850 600 men), then TO the Adjutant-Genersl'
office. Where is the man whose intellectual
uovers would not be shiyered b. thus cutting
np his time and distracting the intensity OIL
attention so absolutely needed for directing the
operations OF the Army on the Potomac
These multifarious occupations crowded upon
the head Of our Chief must retard the lmpe'-'
of bis intellect; they are as ieaoep' Ho'''
weights upon an eagle whose ASPIRATIONS SIC
wide and high. They prevent the COMMANDER
from living in the camp, among Tie ac'.'''
army: from being every minute "na'r '"0
magnetic and inspiring influences OF inc e'n
u;ne active. military, and camp llie fea'
-, Tho Great was not exclusively educate"
cor soldier; nav, his youth was raIher ar-
voted TO wholly different pursuits ~ "'s "
tho camp. in the field, among bis soo'er'' ,ua'
NJ. military genius was revealed to INN o"u 81
-, ,orld IN bis immortal seven years war.
The atmosphere the fnme OF the Oi,O"1 m.,.,;h.,
ana ;nsomed the military genius oil 'i''"'"'
49, uor0ndsr a Caesar and Napoleon
-.u-ss-zr,s-s~a.1