New-York daily tribune., 1861-08-13
THE war FOR THE UNION.
FEOaI WASHINGTON.
Character of the yroops Assembling M Wash'
iug,ou-Our New Brigadiers.
From sn Occasional Correspondent


From sn occa.onal Correspondent
WASHINGTON, Aug. IL, 1851
The troops which daily arrive IN th'S ci'y arc
fully equal in evesy particular to their Preo''''
sors. and. in naDy respects, they are super'o' -
the most of those that hied hither a' ''0
hreak of hostltes. This remark apples 10 lnoi'
physical qualities, to their dseiphn'' :" IN.
arms and uniforms, TO their muhilooS'
IN the important items of baggage ana h'sP."-
v,cons and 70 their clear aPpreciau'n vi 'N'
,-,,;,,aa of the task they have undertaken
IT, SAVING fiat the troops now here ana oany
- ;n are in many particulars, bet'er
,daptrd TO endure the tolls oil Tue camp Oh.
trials of the campaign than the oo"! u
three months men, it is not lhtenoeu W VIE,
- ,bs potriotism that inspired the 'o,oVo
A. = ,ho field at the call of their country.
TT, hs,orv of the world hardly furnishes par
,r,l 70 the al,crity with which onr citizen sol
Arr rssnopded to that call. But it still remains
t,us that the troops that first assembled here,
beicc largely made up of militia e,iments and
co,upsnies already organized, embraced many in-
different, inefficient, and inca labe oihcerS ana
men. Tben, too, being mustered into service lor
only a limited period, It was natural that so
soon as they began to feel the rlgors Of camp
life. they should commence To count the days
that were 10 intervene ere they could taste the
joys of bome.
The heroi N aud devotion TO country OF those
troous WHO helped to tight the battle before Ma
nassas the day after, and the very day and the
day before, their terms of service expired, have
never been surpassed. But the historian who snail
hereafter ascribe the panic wh'ch lost us 'hht
field partly to this cause viii not widely d.
verge from the line Of truth. 1t needs but slight
stud, of the philosophy that goveros the human
mind 10 know that war can te best carried on
by troops who have enlisted for the whole period
Of that war.
The care cvinced in the appointment OF the
now Bricadrr Generals might be properly emu
hated nv the privates in the choice OF their
company officers, and by these latter IN Tue Sc
lection of their regimeDtal commanders. "neh
be;h these classes come to feel that tney are
npttug Their lives into the keeping OF those
whom they elect to lead them. they viii discard
inefrcieucy and Incompetence with an lnexorao'e
hand. A close inspection OF our reg'mental ana
line officers VIII lead straight TO the convection
that the proposed Board Of Examiners IS impera-
tiyely needed, and cannot be instituted and set
In motion q day too soon.
7 have spoken Of the character OF the new
Brigadiers. II is believed that those already ap-
pointed from New-YoTk viii justify the conh-
5ence reposed in them. Col. Behker 10 every
inch soldier He has seen important service
abroad. The regiment he brought to this city
the German Rifles, is admitted to be one ot the
best in the field. His selection is deserved
compliment {, the TeutoDic element which s SO
generously infused through our army-a race
whose history is rendered lustrous by its strug
ples on mauy field, and in varied cimes, in
defense of civil and religious freedom.
Col. SlOcum of Syracuse, recently the Trea'
surer of Ononda9a County has received a regl-
lar military education. His capacity for COM
mand was shown by the skill and courage with
which be led his regiment into the thickest Of
the fight at Bull Run, where he was severely
wounded. Major Peck, also Of Syracuse, and
cashier of one Of the banks Of that city, discharged
oDerous duties the field, and acquitted hun
sell with honor, during the late war with
Mexico. Mr.. MsrtiDdale, one Of the ablest and
most eloquent lawyers at the Rochester bar, is
o graduate of West Point. Those who know
him best believe be Will be as accomplished and
spirited leader in his new field of exertion as
he has proved himself to be in the old.
Major WadswOrth has already won his silver
star Few know how constant and valuable
have been the services ne has rendered the 10y al
cause from the very commencement of the war.
His suggestions to the military authorities here
have been of the highest importance. His clear
head and entire selfpossession were of great
value to Gen. Mcdowell on the field before
Manassas, where be was in the hottest of the
fire. And, after the battle was lost, and his ex-
ortions to arrest our panic-driSen troops were
unavaing, be remained near the field to look
after the wounded and minister to their wants,
and was among the last of our officers and men
who reached the Potomac.