Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1861-05-08
Our Generals.

Among the Generals of the South, while expee-
tation embraces goodly number, men begin al
rearly to luok with fuith TO two: BEAUREGARD
of Louisiana, and LEE, Of Virginia. The qualii-
cations Of both these gcneruls are attcstcd by
actual service aud by the common verdict OF all
the military men of tho Confederate and the
United States. President DAVIS, whose acuinen
in this Us in other matters is almost unerrnS, has
placed tho stump Of his appreciation upon the
former of these officers by his prompt appoint
mcnt TO the first position Of active leadership IN
the Southern army. WINFIELD SCOTT did tue
same BIZ an act of marked confidence in the Mex
icun war, and has given an equally emphatic
voucher of the military abilities of General LEE
by advising President LIScoLSto call him, before
all others. into the war council at Washington.
Wki;e it is true that the times may give birth TO
gercras of high merit in every Souther. State, it's
yot cause of grutulntion that we have these two
chiefs to begin with both Of them eodicrs by
education as well us by naturc,-eithcr Of them
.hc equal, if not the superior, Of any man IN the
ranks Of the enemy, whether in point Of scientific
skill Of experience, or personal abilities There
are others who have had equal experience and are
equally brave and trustworthy. We only speak
Of BgAuREcARp and LEE as at present the most
prominent c1poncnts of Southern gcneralship.
That their chosen vocation has been that OF
arms, and this too from carly youth, is n supcrad-
led cause for looking to them with hope and trust.
All generals have exhibited their military ten
denotes in this way wherever they could The
man endowed with the elements Of military sue
cess will be sure to seek actual service wherever
he can find it,-in the ordinary peace service OF
his cnuntry's army, if no more inviting field pre-
sonts itself. It was scarcely ever otherwise in the
history Of the really great captains Of any age.
The common impression that WAsHISGToS was
raised FROM the plow to the command OF the armies
of his country, has begotcn an idea that in great
emergencies We are to look for our leader where
perhaps least expected. There never was more
erroneous conclusion. 1t was far from being true
ercn of WASHINGTON. in the service Of Virginia
he began to display his military bent long before
| maturity From that time until the opening OF
:he revolutionary war he was always IN actual
serrice when opportunity offered; And to his in
"cssant ard laborious experience in the Freach
ard Indian war; not forgetting his participation
in such scenes as the terrible field Of Bradock's
defeat may be traced the real clue to that gencr.
| alshp which saved The colonies from British sub
ju.atior. The chief additional requisite to the
,ruly military man who knows what actual service
is by participation and by hard blows il that his
"uarsics sc comparatively young and uncAhauscd
II a also necessary that his whole SOUL 60 with
Tho cause for which he fights ;-and to this end il
IS well hat his cause, rs WAS that of WAsniSGToN.
bc The cause of truth and justice against assault
an,i oppression. It is in these points Of view thut
Generals ScorT and Wool, whatever their science
and experience, will be but as men Of straw before
hc onward march Of Il BEAuREcARD or LEE al
The heal of cur Southern armies.