New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-07-14
CIVIL. CRITICISM OF MILITARY
AFFAIRS.

The Bosios DAILY hdreytiser-in the main an
excellent newspaper-hss been persuaded by .
" ccntl man in Washington, Of very high reputa-
ton. and, although not now in military lite, II
" graduate Of We.t Point INTO publishing the
following:
Tss effort. nov u,iis, di,par.s, the oov-r--ut and
tho hsh,a, rin,ry .u'Oiii slam zoe as ,s.. '- az
r-eHs sed r.y ,sss .'', is.fhns. V =.
10 Judge u uinss u which be has no tsow'ecto'
1t hAs always seemed " u.s. nor have We
changed our opinion, that, admitting tho possi
blity Of such toing ss military Encouragement
mind we are not 80 bold Of u say that such
q III NJ is possible-it is exceedingly proper Tor
somebody TO dtnounco it in tbs newspapers 1t
has further seemed 10 as always presnmlsg the
possibility Aforrc,id, that oensure aud criticism,
considering the dangers Of courts martial and Of
casbicring, can hardly be expected from gonne-
men OF the army. la tbo third place, unLees our
memory is at fault, some ct the finest military
criticisms which tbs world posaessea, have como
from writers who, although they knew something
Of " the division Of o battle" did "ncver set
"a squadron in the field" In the fourth place,
we think that even Brigadier-G Of the
newest creation, is quite wiling to DO praised
BY the newspapers, however waspi'h be may be
when blamed. 10 the fifth place. we think that
oDe journsl.t 10 quite as likely 10 understand
something Of tho matter es snotSer-that We
are quito rs likely, nov that Gen. Webb has left
it. to be right az the late unlucky Cosries 0Hd
IGqn!rer.
When an unfortunate soldier 10 out at the
eloowf, and Of other important points Of bis per.
son--wben he 10 half-st,rv,d upon pes-cofoe,
rusty pork and s1amsutine bread-wheD be is
scut upon perilous journey without ammunition
or srms--when he is he'd directly upon battery
m.skin, death-we do not see that il requires
10 see that some things sre out Of joint. Such,
at least, 10 apt To DO the opnlon OF The hns fci-
lows VINO curry musaets and have not reached
the altitndnous dignity of saddles. That solder
lnust eat, must DO clothed-head. foot and back
must have frelock, ball and powder. will, Ne
think be- conceded. Butchers, bakers, Porkpackers,
tailors, shoemakers, may have ~ toIerabie no.
ton OF the wants Of an army ar they have OF the
wants of their customers in private and peaceful
Life. Every commsslry is not. "a c6cio, Cato
Of public honesty; nor is every contractor two
legged compendium Of the cardinal virtues.
There may DO q good many dirty little Jobs going
On simultaneously and connected with patriotic
war; but We do not perceive how the property
of the war insurcs the good reputation Of pccu-
lators and swindlers, nor how q man becomes
the foe of his country because he hates 10 it,
resources squsndercd to no good end.
Take another illustration Here il . Briga-
der General who has MI his lile kept country
store, aud has sold +" notions" TO the vicinage.
His military services have been limited 10 twelve
hours eyolutions, annually upon tho mildest Of
uustcr folds. What 10 there about this gentle
man after hs has been mustered into the service
of the United Statos--admitting the fact that be-
wears his epsalette every day, which we candid.
" concede-what IL there In the fact that 10
has attained \ postion m which he may Do
deal Of mischief, which should strike the 10.
ee, ting msd with awe, and should prevent tiis
Newspaper, or any other newspaper IRON Char.
art,r,zipg his blunders wherever no oonnits
them Suppose that this hand which bow holds
the pen and sheds the pacific ink, had ior
twenty years guided the destinie' OF rural
regimeati Would it Laxs kssa better htsed TO
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