The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1861-10-04
A French Correspondent OH the War.

A third letter on American affairs has
appeared in the Opinione Nationole of Paris,
which was probably written by member
OF the suite of Prince Napoleon, and may,
to some extent, reflect his views. 1t is made
up chiefly of descriptions of the leading
officers, and the appearance of the armies in
and near Washington. General Scott is
referred to as one who "has the air Of man
whose career is ended" Grneral Mcclellan
is said to closely resemble French officer
ofengineers or artillery" and General Nc
Dowell, we are told, looks very much " like
chief of battalion OF foot Chasseurs.' o.
Beauregard, the writer says that " face,
physiognomy, tongue, accent, everything
about him is French" and that he is q
man OF uncommon ardor. ceaseless activity,
and indomitable power of WILL"
In comparing the Northern and South
ern armies, the former is spoken of as com.
posed of volunteers whose military bear.
ing is very Indifferent" and whose equip
ments are not as complete as they should be.
Of the latter the writer pointedly says that
'the question of uniform not fully solved il
the North, is not. thought of at all il the
South" The following general opinions are
expressed
1t is incontestable that there Is much
more passion and ardcr among the officers
of the Southern than among those of the
Northern army. 1t is insisted 10 the Sc.
cession camp that this ardor, this disinter-
ested devotion to the common cause. are
shared by the soldiers that in the South
they serve through honor and conviction
that among the Federals the soldier knows
no other alurement than pay, no other i'm
pulse than that of want-tbe best recruiting
officer among the population OF the large
cities.
Certainly it is going too far to general
ize fact which may be true to some extent.
Individual bravery is ncontestable superior
in the Confederate camp; but the Union
army makes up for this disadvantage by
more advanced military organization ard
knowledge, at least among the soldiers; SO
that matters being almost equally balanced,
it is difficult enough to ioresee towards
which side the fortune of war will incline.
1t is true the victory of Bull Run is of
a nature to excite the highest pitch the cou-
fdence and enthusiasm of the Southern
men; but find it impossible to see in the
result of that battle one of those solemn
judgments, without appeal, which condemn
one side to bow the head beneath the ire
sistible ascendency of the victor. These
men, after all, are nearly of the same race,
or the same mixed races, and despite The
divergence of opinions, they have common
fund of ideas, manners, and feelings, which
does not permit line to be drawn through
the thirtieth degree of latitude, and to have
it said: All that is north of this line is in
feriOr to all that is south OF it.
To estimate the event of July 81,
must leave wide margin for the local ip.
cidents, the chance and unexpected encoun.
tiers on the field of battle, the unforeseen
events which take hold of the imaginations
of the masses-all secondary causes which
operate on the war by so much the more as
the armies have less experience, discipline,
or knowledge.