The national Republican., 1861-08-31

untury, hutnot an inch further. Oftho excellent
arrangement of forces in our rear, which was
ncsses nothing at all. Taken from his particu.
lar standpoint, his descriptions certainly may |
be correct; but, as n truthful or accurate |
representation of our situation generally at six |
O'Clock on the evening Of the 2lst of July, 1861
his story Is entitled to very little credit. As a
general history of the entire engagement. his
letter makes no pretension whatever Mr.. Rus.
sell saw nothing of the hard Gghting which took
place on our right between the hours of eleven.
and four o'clock, and which several of our men
who had seen good service in both India and
the Crimea, assured me was fully equal to any. |
thing they ever saw in their lives for obstinate
determi ination. Mr.. Russell Just advanced as
'ar rs that famous stone bridge, Of which we
have already heard so much; saw u bOmb.shell
lred there by the ConGederates, and although,
doubtless, his appetite to gather scraps OF IN.
formation, so as to produce good laughase
letter for the benefit Of his English readers.
was sufficiently keen, yet when It came t, the
stick ing point, he did not prove more courage
GUS than anybody else. The bomb shell caused
him to turn his head the wrong way, so he
wisely concluded, with honest Jack Falstalf,
" that the better part of valor was discretion
and accordingly shaped his course homeward.
Like his own iiluStrous Irishman, he had still
n lingering desire of " rctraitin " n Washing.
ton, If It only was for the " convaniancy" of
writing.
But to return To the retiring officer whom we
have taken as our text on this occasions: the
| reader will naturally inquire, did such shameful
things rs these really take place? To this ques.
| ton we will caudidly and boldly answer-thoy
did. In every case Of the kind, however, which
| | witnessed, the delinquent was no representa-.
| tive Of the hardHSted, hardworking men of the
North. who compose the great majority of our
army, but WAS either an old potbellied alder.
man or else some gawsy green horn or other,
nursed up among the luXures of II plentiful
home, who probably fanced that II little flrta.
ton with ladies, and a display of gold lace in
| tl,p ct # Wuch pufn pHn nj
| brighten JEFF. Davis, and save that blessed Union
for which we are all ready to die. But here let
IN? relate an anocdote which think exactly in
point. Aswe were coming back from Bull Run,
and had approached within few hundred yards
Of the small wooden bridge which is situated
about half way between Centrevi'le and Study
Springs, we noticed big, fat, lazy looking lieu.
| tenant, who had Il few months previous thanks
to political influence AT Washington, obtained
an appointment, among tho regulars Tho
| lieutcn, Mt was mounted on Il dapplGd gray
horse, raw.boned and thin, that had the end of
his tail entirely cut of by cannon ball. As Mr..
- approached, we noticed that he had laid in
a reasonable share of creature comforts, for the
leg ofa chicken and big ham bone was plain
ly visible in the valise attached to his saddle.
Where he got this proVender, we could not dis.
cover; but one of our men ventured to acceSt
him, and ask how company X Jared during the
recent corflict.
"Ob," said the officer, "we're whipped we're
whipped, we're entirely whipped; but If had
|
LOgansport, and another leg, of chicken,
think I'd feel quite comfortable"
The glass ofnegus and leg ofa chicken caused
Il good laugh among the men; but just at this
ries happened to fall within few yards of u.s.
This new danger inspired tho lieutenant with
fresh terror.
"Oh, my goodness, boys" he exclaimed
" that's awful. These rascas will have no mer
cy on us. Let us halt here for II minute, and
send in 4 flag Of truce
And with this pjous eXhortation, the gallant
commander put spurs to his charger, dashed
over tho bridge, and was out of sight in an in
l slant
|, The truth Of the matter seems to be, tha
/ while the seed Of courage, like other fruit, Il
pretty evenly distributed among men, yet there
are circumstances which favor its growth II
one situation moro than in another. Like othe
mental endOwments, personal bravery can bt
! cultivated. Things being equal, Il man wht
= has chosen the military profession as his legt
innate calling, who Is bound to II by old assO
Citations, and who is animated by an esprit d
corps, will naturally have the superiority ovel
i an untutored pdrren", who is sure to get ex
!, cited on the first appearance of danger.
. the matter. Then what is the natural infer
cnce from these premises? Why, it simply II
q this, that 1t must be very bad policy on the par
. of our Government to intrust so many respon
, sible positions to the care of inexperienced
men, who have not yet learned the A B C o
y their professional duties. Political influence Il
all very well in its way but for our part, w
are rather opposed to the appointment of ST
n many bcardlesS lieutenants and captains as W,
see take from cvllife and thrust among usp poo
n regulars to the evident prejudice of our hum
: : BILE claims for promotion. True, we are toll
by these aSpirantS, in eXtenuaton of their pro
. found ignorance, that Napoleon was only twen
ty-siX years of age when he beat the Austrian
n in Italy, and that Alexander was but thirtytw
!, when he conquered the whole world, just as
e all these fellows were embryo Emperorss of tn
r French or existent Kings of Macedon. No, m
n dear sirs, that story won't do. The militar,
!, calling has now assumed the proportions Of
J. profound science, and it besides requires som
. little knowledge of human nature, as well as a
o acquaintance with quartermaser's forms, pre-
d vision returns, muster rolls, &c, to govern me
q in the field and see that their wants are prop
: ery supplied In short, if we have not enoug
q of regularly educated officers to supply tn
wan wants of The seryGe let US pEHoure the 6es
/, will be found in the rank and file of the arm
proper ITSELF OF our gallant companions /
= arms. who have long borne the burden and hea
!, of the day, we will say this much, that It is po:
!, sible their scientific attainments are not YER
A. profound, and that some of them even may ne
q be entirely az fat in matters of etiquette; yc
!, as Il body, we believe them 10 be honest in thei
d intentions, faithful to the flag they follow, an
n thoroughly acquainted with the details of tn
IA service, and that, as n necessary consequence
a they are entitled to the confidence OF the couI
r. try Even AS to their literary attainments, W
" UcneNe they are luly eQudl 10 lne CTOWuS I
!, aspirants who now beg and crave for seconC
20 leutenances, n class who, rs the celebrate
% Dr.. Pangloss says, are somewhat remarkable fC
" their " "keklOtogy.' AS regards the army, til
n great object to promote its efficiency is for Cal
~ tains to pay due attention to good conduct IN
NJ talent among their men when they select thc
a non commissioned officers. These Yankee Su
Id hvan heroes should be kept in their prope
ID place. and then we are certain to have prope
ID candidates taken from the ranks and presente
i. before the military board for examination
Of Where there are such Il large numlnE of mo
to choosc from, Il fair amount Of tai shoul
q. certainly be secured, provided only the pril
at cple of selection be iudciously applied in tn
III first instance by company commanders. Con
# missions were not intended for ignorant " re
re- bustlous, periwig. pated fellows;' nor is
e, proper that any such should receive them.
20 And now, in conclusion, let us address Il fe
t, words to my gallant comrades of the rank an
r. file. The present moment is IN important on
of in the annals of American history, for on II
bn Of thnt