Litchfield enquirer., 1861-10-31
YOuNG BLOOD

The Evening Post, in an article on "Young Blood" says that too many grave misfortunes have occurred in our own and other nations his- toryfromEhe employment of generals in whom the the fire and energy of youth had burned out to permit us, in the present emergency to hazard victory in this way. Many of NapOleon's most overwhelming successes were obtained when he
 was opposed by such men as Beaulieu, who was then eighty years of age, Wurmser, an octoger- arian, and Alvinsi, who was over seventy, in the the campaign of l796. These men had all dis | tinguished themselves in early life but they had
 now lost that youthful promptitude and activity which are absolutely essential for military com manders. It is curious to follow up this list little further. In 1900 the Austrans had for commander-in-chief, Melas, an old general of the Seven Years War, who had been fifty years in the army, and no longer able or efficient. In 1905 the French were opposed by Mack, then fifty three, and Kutusoff sixty. The plan of op- erations were drawn up by council of generals more aged still, who took no active part in the campaign. In 1906 Napoleon beat the Duke of Brunswick, then seventy-one, Hohenlohe, aged sixty, and Moltendorn, and Mossenbach, generals who had served under Frederick the Great ;men says Jomini, "exhumed from the Seven Years War, whose faculties were frozen by age." In 1907 the Allies still sent against Napoleon and his young and vigorous officers such men as kamenski aged eighty Bnningsen, sixty and army was led by thu young aud energetic Aach- duke Charles, and though he was fettered and thwarted by the foolish projects of the old gen. erals of the Aulic Councils this campaign proved the most glorlons in the Austrian annals of the wars of the Revolution.
 In subsequent campaigns the Allies were led by younger men, who proved themselves more nearly match for Napoleon. Alexander of Russia was only thirty five when he headed his army in 1872 he then surrounded himself with young officers and placed as commanders of his divisions such men as the Archduke Constan- tine. then thirty-hree, and Shouvaloff, thity five
 The Austrans were led by Schwartzenberg then thirty; the Prussians,by York, Bulow, and by Butcher, who though himself advanced in life had the wit to surround himself with young and energetic aids, to whose enterprise he gave full rein. Wellington was of the same age as Ma poleon, and in the last campaign of the Emperor it is well known that most of Wellingtons off, cers were younger men than Napoleon's who says military writer, exhibited in this cam paign less than in former ones the ardent energy and restless activity which had characterized their younger days,' The same authority con- tinues; "Never were Napoleons plans better conceived, neuer did his troops fight with great. CT bravery; but the dilatory movements of his gener Is enabled his active enemies to parry the blow intended for their destruction" Most of our disasters in the war of 1872 we owed to the inefhciency of such old veterans of the Revolu- tion fs Hull, Armstrong, Winchester, Dearborn and Wilkinson men who had once done good service but were now deficient in everything but the desire to take the field once rore. It was not till they were set aside, such men as Scott, Wool, Jackson, Harrison and others appointed, that our armies achieved victories. Scott him self was Major-General at twenty eight, and it is noticeable that in the present war the eyes of the people are turned with most hope upon such as Mcclellan, Fremont, Banks. and Rosecrans, men who are yet in the vigor of their days.