New-York daily tribune., 1861-08-24


are instructive, and just now peculiarly in.e'''e'
az indicating his own cast OF inind' no P'
the French Engineers, and specially aPplauaS 'o
technical skill and patient courage e'inceu y
officers and men in pushing forward sach ehoehe''
ao,roaehss under most deadly fire." Ath great
erness Of labor and life, they pushed Their works
n within the Incredibly short distance OF 81 PAGES
of the counterscarp Of the terrible Malako, ere The
final assault of the eth Of September.
He do,s not think as highly of the English Engi-
peers. and says that in constructing their trenches
they systematically abandoned the excellent sSten
taught and perfected with 80 much care at Chat
ham," Down to the period of the lost lombard
ment, they had carried their approaches only 70
within 225 PAGES Of the Great kedan.
He euogizes in warm terms the skill, courage
and endurance, with which the Russian Engineers,
and the officers ard men Of oil arms, resisted the
protlactea and oittmes furious onslaught OF the
allied forces. His description of the horrible hilray
of the storming Of the Russian works is graphic,
but displays the cool hand of the scientific soldier
rather than the glowing pencil Of the artistic rheio-
rician.
have hardly LEFT room to hllude To that part
oi Gen. Mcclellan. work relating TO Cavairy
Hi. reports upon the cavalry OF Russia, Prussia.
Austria, France England, ard SARDINIA, coeer
I43 pages and embrace a large number OF
plates, diagrams, and figures. TBe report upon
the Cavalry of the Uoited States and its com
parison with that OF the other countries named,
aud his re1UlatiOns snd instructions Tor our
cavalry in toe Of war, covering 80 pages, and
Including many plates and diagrams, 's OF tae
highest importance t. Gll now connected WITH or
who tAilk Of entering that arm Of the service.
can note only few of its points.
Horses, he Gays, should be selected for their
activity, hardness, and endurance. Men, for
Their hghtness. sg lity, and intelligence. He gives
the most minute Instructions as TO riding, feed
ipg. stabing, pickctirg in the field, swioinins
riyers charging in hne aud in column, welding
tho saber, tho pistol, and the carbne, and in
fact every thing else necessary 10 make splendid
cavalry officer and soldier. lie condemns n dull
horse, duh man, and dull saber as utterly
valueless"; lays special stress upon tire neces-
eity OF the indsuidGGt instruction Of men aud
hor.es; prOn"u0ces the Cossocks the most efec-
tive irregular cavalry in toe world; thinks such
Indians az the D5lawares, Kinkupoos, and some
other Western tribes, might be disciplined into
partisan cayslry equal 10 the COs.acks OF the
Don; defines tho term dragon 10 mean, IN
Its original Specification, troops 9ho could act ot
| the same time both as cavalry aad Infantry;
believes in mounted riicmen who can fight both
on horseback and on foot, when II Is necessary tV
| combine rapidity Of movement with defensive
strength; seenls 20 look with complaceucy upOl
| that feature Of the Russian System which in-
creases the pay Of the solder with the enhanced
| perIs Of the special service, and enthusiastically
| recommends that there be inscribed On the coiors
Of each regiment the names Of The actions in
which it has borne sn honorable part, as tending
to inspire officers and men to deeds OF courage snd
| daring.
Many other points might be proftably noted,
| were there time and room. Suffice it TO cay,
these reports on the cavalry service Of European
nations and the Uni ed States are invaluable to
all who sre connected with or take an interest
in this corps Of tho army. They contain the
Outl mrs ard most Of the details for complete
system Of cavalry tactics.
The style Of Mcclellan is terse, clear, and
vigorous. As literary compositions those reports
reflect great credit upon his skill and taste a. a
mere writer,
It is a singular instance Of the freak, Of for.
tune and the mutablity of human alairs that the
cavalry Captain who compiled the work we have
been contemplating has recently risen 10 the
command Of the largest and most powerful army
ever marshaed on ths continent, whose object
ia to suppress on armed rebellion Of powerful
States against the supremacy OF tho Federal
| Government, the inspiring genius and guiding
| mind Of which il the man who, as Secretary Of
War, detailed him to this special service 10
Europe, and to whom he made his report On his
return to this country.