Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1861-03-27
MILITARY sNNT AND GENIUS OF THE
SOUTH.


Major D. q. Hill, IF the North Carolina Military
Institute, in Aiscleguent ESSAY on Military Edu-
cation, delivered At Wilmington North Carolina, be-
fore the State Educational Convention" thus illus
traes the military spirit and genius of the Southern
people:
"The armies If the Revolution were commanded
by Washington, . Southern General. The officers,
who distinguished themselves in an especial manner
in the warlof 1sla, were Southern.born and South
era-bred gstssea, Coffee Harrison Scott and Gains
The commanding Generals in the Mexican war. Scott
and Taylor, were both Of Virginia. The Chief of
Ordnance under Gen. Scott, and the next most i'm
portant officer was Huger, of South-Carolina. The
Chief of Engineers was Lee, Of Virginia the only
man the Army acknowledges to he fit to be the sue
cessor to Gsn. Scott The chief leaders in skirmish
ing were Lane, of North Carolina, and Hays, of
Tennessee The light batteries of Artillery which
did such wonderful execution at Palo Alto, Resaca
de Ia Palma, Monterey, Buena Vista, and in the
Valley Of Mexico, were generally under the COM
Washington, Steptoe and Magruder. The heavy
ordnance was under the control of Huger, of s. c.,
and Laidley, Of Virginia. The battery of Mountain
Howitzers was directed by Reno of Virginia. The
dashing charge of cavalry at Resaca de la Palma
which has worldwide reputation, was made by
May, of Washington city. A far more brilliant at.
fair was witnessed by ten thousand American SOL
OiSio uiSWh Udttic array OIL Tue OedCn at vera
Cruz, and by English, French and Spanish vessels
of war in the harbor. A little steamer armed with
two heavy pieces of ordnance and manned by some
20 sailors, pushed up under the very walls Of Vera
Crux, with its 400 pieces of artillery and within
easy range Of the formidable Castle of San Juan
DUlloa, and from that position bombarded the CITY
for half an hour. Projectiles of enormous weight
and size fell thick halfstones around the little
vessel, any one of which must have sunk her. The
Init fnff hoc u
but the very insgnlcance of the steamer proved an
efficient protection; she was too small mark to be
hit and as she came back bearing her gallant crew,
al dressed in their red jackets the very earth shook
With the cheers of the ten thousand exulting voices
On the beach, The officer in command was Tattnall,
OF Georgia the same who at the risk of his COM
mission and his fe interposed last year and rescued
the defeated British at the Peiho Forts in China
During the siege of Fort Brown the pulley of the
flag got deranged, so that it could not be raised
An officer climbed the staff, and in the midst of
terrible tempest of shot and shell calmly and DELHI.
eratey arranged the halyards, righted the pulley,
and hosted the flag The exploit Of Jasper at Fort
Aouitre was As nothing in comparison, with this
daring deed. The officer was Hanson of Washing.
ton city, descendant of John Hanson. of Mary
land, President Of the First Congress, and of Col.
John Hanson Harrison, one of the most distinguish
ed of Washington's aids Years before the siege of
Fort Brown, General Worth had pronounced him
the bravest man in the army. He was gentle and
modest as gir kind and courteous to all, de-
voted and enthusiastic Christian, gentleman in the
highest acceptation Of the word Just after the
battle of Contreras rude litter, with dead officer
on it. was borne by. Sergeant, what officer il
that" Capt Hanson, of the 7th Infantry, sir p
The soldier had fallen on the field of honor Two
gallant brothers, Capt Wcightman K. Hanson 9TH
1aay Ine most enterPrising young officer Of the
both also fell in the service of their country Santa
Anna made the fatal mistake, at Cerro Gordo Of
leaving Telegraph Hill unfortifed Gen. Scott dis.
covered it, and sent upa young officer, with some
20 men, to seize it An immense force of Mexicans
came to disiodge him. He threw his men behind
rocks and trees, and sent for succor The Rifle
Regiment came up and found themselves hotly
presses, and would have been driven back but for
timely arrival of the I'd Infantry During all this
.me; Mas ga'ant Lieutenant held his position, and
had hs iost' fse battle Of Cerro Gordo never would
have beea woa: That intrepid Young man was
Gardner Of n ashington city. The storminp column
against the main work on Cerro Gordo Hill w.s led
by that tried veteran Harvey. Of Georo;. y Nv
Ms5or Hal adds that The South he ~. ,,..,,,
evinced military spirit On the field bnt in .uthoy
ship The books in use on inlaatry tactics were mo
pared BY Scott Of Virgini. aaa Harder. Of Geora;s
The Manual Of Artillery Tactics In use il nv Ms;o,
Anderson. of Kentucky. The only works in Iii
country On the Science of Artillery, written n ~,
English language, are by Kingsbury and G;bbon
q North-Caroina, and the only books On N;i;t.r,
Lngtneering. by Nahan, Of Virginia The putl,she!
al our information of the strength Of eunuovdc
ana o. cannon, and the proper tests fo- their tra
r., IA TN