Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1861-07-30

CESAR THE PATTERN OF THE MILITARY ART.
1t is said OF many great leaders, that they
had certain books in particular esteem, as AL
exander the Great had Homer Scipio Africa.
nus, Xenophon; Marcus Brutus, Polybius !;
Charles the Fifth, Phillip de Confines, and
tits said that in our times Machiavel is else
where in repute. But the late Marshal Stroz
ri. who took Caesar for his man, doubtless
made the best choice for that book ought to
be the breviary Of every great soldier, as be-
ing the true and sovereign pattern OF the mill
tary art and, moreover, God knows with
what grace and beauty he has embellished
that rich matter with so pure, delicate, and
perfect expression, that in my opinion there
are no writings in the world comparable to
his, as to that. l will set down some rare and
peculiar passages Of his wars that remain in
myfmemory.
HIS ARTICLES.
His army being in some CONSERVATION upon
the rumor that was spread of the great forces
that King Juba was leading against him, in
steal of abating the notion that his soldiers
had conceived at the news, and OF lessening
the forces Of the enemy, having called them
all together to encourage and reassure them,
he took a quite contrary way to what we
are used to do, for he told them that they need.
ed no more to trouble themselves with inqur-
ing after the enemy's forces, for that he was
certainly informed thereof and then told them
of number much SURPRISING the truth, and
the report that was rumored in the army; fol-
lowing the advice of Xenophon for as much
as the imposture is not of so great Importance
to find an enemy weaker than we expected, as
to find him really strong, after having been
made to believe he was weak.
1t was also his use to arcustom his soldiers
simply TO obey, without taking upon them to
control, or so much as TO speak of their cap
tain's designs-whch he never communicated
to them but upon the point Of execution; and
took delight, if they discovered anything of
what he intended, Immediately to change his
ORDERS TO deceive them; and to that purpose
would often, when he had assigned his quar-.
tiers in place, pass forward and lengthen his
days march, especially if it was foul weather.
The Swiss, in the beginning of his wars in
Gaui, having sent to him to demand free
passage over the Roman territories, though re-
solved to hinder them by force, he neverthe-
less spoke kindly to the messengers, and took
some days pite to return an answer, TO
make use of that time for calling his army TO.
gether. These poor people did not know how
good husband lie was of his time; for he Of
ten repeated that it is the best part of cap.
tain to know how to make use of occasions,
and his diligence in his exploits is in truth
unparalleled and incredible.
HIS ESTIMATE OF vALoR.
If he was not very conscientious in taking
advantage of an army under color of treaty
of agreement, he was as little in this, that he
required no other virtue in a soldier, but valor
only, and seldom punished any other fault but
mutiny and disobedience. He would often,
after his victories, turn them loose to all sorts
of license, dispensing them, for some time,
from the rules Of military discipline witbal, for
he had soldiers so well trained up that, pow
dered and perfumed, they would run furiously
to the fight. In truth, he loved to have them
richly armed, and made them wear engraved,
gil6ed, and damasked armor, to the end that
the care Of saving this might engage them to
more obstinate defence. Speaking to them,
he called them by the name of "fellow sol
diers,' which we yet use; which his successor,
Augustus, reformed supposng he had only
done ii upon necessi > .