, 1861-01-31
tFrOm BlackwOOdS MagAslne.l
The Courtesies Of War.

The CoureesieS OF War.
In making use Of the trite phrase Of !" the hor
rors Of war;" none except soldiers are fully
aware Of what Is comprised In that category
nor Ii it the object Of the writer Of this artcl,
to dwell up,n This part Of the question; but OF
| the contrary, to show by few anecdotes how
these horrors may be, In some degree, alleviatet
by practices Of courtesy among the bellleerents
which are adopted BY the armies Of civilized
nations during continuous campaigns, partly
from innate chlvalrOus feelings. anu partly fOI
their mutual advantage.
The true principle, which Is one worthy oI
the fullest recognition on all sides, Is to do q
little harm TO one another as possible, consistent
with the real object Of the contending armies.
In battle, each party must knock over n
many Of the enemy as possible, individuals a
well as masses, in order 10 subdue or drive him
from the field; but even then, II the man Is dis
abled, the object Is gained as well as if be were
killed, and therefore no iberal-minded soldier
would wish to do more. In the ordinary course
Of the campaign, however, Of what advantage Is
it to kill, wound, or make prisoner, an unfor
tunate individual or two, who may happen to be
in your powerG With armies Of very many
thousand men, what real injury Is done by the
loss Of few men in that desultory manner
Besides, the same system will acted upon by
both sides, so that its advantages, IL any exist
will be counterbalanccd BY the reprisals Of the
opposite arty.
Therefore, we would say, apply ali such cour-
tesies as can reasonably be used to the enemy; I;
respect one another; let your proceedings be
as sharp, but as polished as your sword"
There Is an extraordinary story, impossible as
told, but probably based on some foundation, Of
the conduct Of the French and E elish corps Of
Royal Guards, accidentally opposed to each
other at the battle Of Fontenoy-t the British
politely called out, "Tirez, Messieurs les Gardes
Francaises." The others replied, " The Fnrneh
Guard never FIRE first;" upon which their Oppo.
nents, having given them the option, put an end
70 the chivalruus contest by opening their fire
o. d annihilaiing their adversaries.
There Is certainly somewhat Of the extreme
and absurd in this story; but at the same time,
many true anecdotes may be told Of the cour-
teUus behavior 0i the sUIiiers O civilized nations
towards one another In more recent days, and
especially during the prOtractsd campaigns In
the Peninsula.
The French Emperor In 1907, taking advan
tsge Of the imbecility Of the Courts and Govern
ments Of Spain and Portugal, toUk abrupt pos.
session Of those countries, and, BY military lex-
actions and overbeaTing conduct, drove the ma
tons to general and formidable outbreak against
him. The British Government sent out expe-
uNoa.y "Iees " sSPPo's en's ...,s
enaea ~ conunusc w.FaI1 ~ uno.s s0sn...s99 a.s9
uhul tne peace IN IoIA Dur'ng uns PstS1'
tne ordlnary circumstances o. WI wise ~
9le' ny relieved ~ acts Q, LssPec. ~ c'elsssy'
between Ine Erencn ana p,l.'sa uoops walcn
came 70 the knowledge oL ne MIneI, wno MAs
present througnoutt ewnois o. tnoss eahpAlgnA
Ine nrstlanding was oy tne small ~ losce % Uni
Well sley) in MOndrgo Bay, which led @ the
ny mat conVenuon, the EIsncr saII'sou " AZ
mcda wast De emoarkeo ~ VPoI.o! snI cen-
Seyed % Fsance va eccSu,PI. ce .a.sn utIlIs
tne mafcn oy smAn oooy =. D.'usn " as ..voss.
On arrival near the nODnlOna CifV OI ODOftOs the