Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1861-08-06
The Rear Of the Army.

The Rear Of the Army.
The calamities which beiel the Federal
forces al the battle of Bnll's Run, art, on all
hands, chiefly attributed to a groundless pan
ic among persons attached to, and composing
a part at least of the rear of our army
The want of suitable precsutiou, and effect
i've discipline in that part of the military
service, has very often, in the history of an
cieut and modern campaigns, been the source
OF mortityirg defeat and general dissster.--
We do not know to what extent in our
army, this danger was provided against or
how much discipline and order is enforced
and secured among those who have charge
of transportation, hospital arrangements
&c. As a matter Of course, we suppose it
is under some regulation Of the service
considered well adapted and sufficient
TO secure its purposes. While we have
neither the facts, nor the inclination, to
Justify US in attempting any criticism, or
prououncing any censure in the matter,
we are led to suspect, from the general con-
duct and mortifying results of the Manassas
campaign, that the rear Of our army was
not at the time Of the battle, under such
supervision and control as it should have
been under wise and skillful generalship Of
our forces. We think the signs Of these facts
were observed BY some who were present as
spectators merely of these acts of the day.
The remark of DR.. Russell the correspond
ent Of the London Times, who is acknowl-
edged to be a keen and profound observer and
critic, in military matters, that the battle
was won 'ff no misbap overtakes the rear Of
the Federal forces Indicates that he seems
to have anticipated, from some cause, disas-
ter to the rear. What he saw particularly,
that led him to make this remark, we Of
course do not know, but suspect it was some
. irregularity or excitement il that mixed
multitude of spectators, camp followers, and
baggage train, which ultima.ely ripeEed
into panic and lisgraceful Eight
Such a coucOurse of humsn beings
exposed to the dangers of a rsvezse to the
engaging army, without organization or
preparation for their defence within them
selves, and having the means of rapid fight
at hand, would naturally become the vic
tins of their own fears under slight provo
cation, unless subject to some very efficient
control and discipline. Such has been no
uncommon disaster in the history of battles.
At Waterloo, the rear of Wellington's army
had fallen into hopeless disorder during the
conflict, and was only saved from panic
and disastrous fight by the timely intel
Iipence that Blucher had arrived upon the
field with fresh forces to decide the fortune time
suit which, under Napoleon, was always
pushed with terrible celebrity and energy,
caused several stamPedes among the en-
gaging forces Of his enemies during the Con-
tinental war. The French Emperor, who
saw everything, anticipated everything, and
prepared for every emergency in battlt or
campaign, was so impressed with the fact
that there should be thorough discipline and
self control in every branch of the army,
that be organized his whole transport train
into a regular force, armed, uniformed and
disciplined for their appropriate duties-thus
elevating the teamster, the muleteer, and the
groom to the position of soldier OF the
grand army of IKE Empire. This measured is
said to have had a wonderful effect upon the
efficiency and general character of that arm
of the service. twas the creation Of a new
force out ofmaterials which had been previ-
ously, in many respects, burdensome and
dangerous to the discipline and success of
the army. Such teamsters, accustomed to
discipline, and having a definite rank and re-
sponsibility in the service, with means to de-
fend themselves and the property entrusted to
their care. could not well bestampeded over
the country by sudden alarm, or the pro-
miscuous charge of body of horse upon
them. They would make barricades Of their
wagons, and do effective service in repelling
anything, but artillery perhaps, or over
poweriag num5ers. But man without ef-
fective arms, without discipline, or military
instruction, if attacked in the absence OF his
appointed defenders, must run . save his
own life and the Government property in his
possession. ARd this be is very likely to do
on a slight alarm unless watched and con-
trolled by bis superiers.
had our team-ters Of the Grand Army
been soldiers, armed, uniformed, differed and
disciplined for their ewn defence and the
safety of the army stores, they probably
would not have been the cause Of our defeat
at the battle of Bulls Run.