Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1861-10-18
1IIpstratIon frOn, The Life of the E,Iron
Duke ~

minish.
1,,ystralion frOn, The Life of the s.Iron
Duke"
4 correspondent Of the Charleston Courier pre-.
ssnts the following forcible illustration, from the
lift, Of the Duke of WELLINGTON in vlndication of
the nolicy of our Generals on the Potomac. The
case may not be exactly parallel to the situation of
the two armies on the Potomac. But the policy
adopted bv WELLINGTON was mastery, and deserves
consideration in the eyes Of those who are dispo-
m to censure severely the defensive attitude of our
armies. It may be urged with. great force, that
our leaders are menIO consummate ability that thew
have more exact information, to the purposes of
the enemy and as to his strength and position. than
their critics. that their military genius education
and habits are pre-emimenf and that they have
studied more deeply the question involved than
others who have not been in special charge of our
armies With this impartial view of the facts, the
illustration have referred to, msy be fairly,ap-
preciated:
d" After the battle Of Talavera in 1909, he CWEL
IrSGro0 found himself surrounded on all sides by
superior forces of French. He resolved to retire
into Portugal, there to carry out the policy on
which he had by this time determined. 1t was to
organic Portuguese army under British officers,
and to teach them to act in combination with his
own troops in the meantime avoiding the peril of
defeat by declining all engagements. He would
thus he conceived destroy the morale of the French
who could not exist without victories and when his
army was ripe for action and the enemy democrat
lied he would then fall upon them with all his might
With this fixed determination he retired behind the
lines of Torres Vedras, where he held firmly to his
purpose, and rested there, Though never idle for
moment for the space of too gears.
None bit a man Of iron l0iA could hare stood the
talmts end abuse which were heaped upon him
during that period by the British Parliament and
the British Press The folly of thus attempting to
make head against the gigantic power of NArOLEON
was ridiculed; and It was even said he afraid
to meet the enemy. 4 member of the British
Government, in his fear of the Parliamentary op-
position, wrote TO him urging that something must
be done, anything, providing blood was split
WELLINGTON. in his adherence of so detestable a
policy administered a severe rebuke to the Minis
ter in reply. and from that day ceased all further
freddy intercourse with him. Marshsl MAsSENA
tainted bim, TOO in his proclsmations; endesvOred
to excite the jealousy and hostility Of the Spsniards
agalnet the Ecglish General But WELLI> GToN was
not to be pI evoked into action until It suited him
self. lie knew that a victory az that time would
have settled nc,hirg, whereas q defeat might have
lost him everything. lie stood firm as a rock be-
hind Lis entrenched lines, organizing his conmissa-
Hlt s,sa- to the supply CT horses foii Ter training
his nsn ssh0 S,J by the t1Dlts o0ijch id not touch
him bee I1s eager for action al al and eU:rV risk Bat
he he'd item as grsyhosuads IN The lash. Stranng to
start
A. length the policy, which WELLTNGTON had
stu b5ornly held begun - tell, and its first result
WA the retreat Of MAssENA's army across the Per
tugue.e frontier il frighHuI distress. Passing the
fcointleg early in January, 1872 willie &ARao>T
lGy quietly q writer quarter, hs invested and caF
ricd Guided Rodrigo bp:Orc HARGONF could come to
lJs relief Two moatis lsle, be deceived SoULT and
ca. tared EaI5j IS after Z terrible result. lie NV
hell the keys # Spain; and within four months
f,.ra .ha. time haJbs4ten the French AZ Salamanca
occupied Madrid, raised the Sc ge Of Cadih. snd
compelled NaraLll SoULr to evacuats the Southern
provinces OF Spain
His policy of waiting had been successful; tie
French armies heretofore successful throughout
Europe 7, Ceved their first great check the hands
Of NfIRGTos, IN SFaih--aiterH ards rspea ed by
Russia ard the lion Duke twice entered Paris as
c0uquerOr.'