Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1861-09-26

ur, in regard TO literatate, sciences Rndl
military art, in the culture OF the great
European modes. So he is a stranger TO
that narrow and mistaken patriotism, that
puerile vanity. which concentrates ali the
ideas, the studies and admiration of
Americans upon America. The study of
pure science aud abstract mathematics in
spires him with a taste for disinterested
speculation; and the military profession
which he embraces, without sitting his
liberal instincts, imprints on him ideas Of
order, of rank, of respect for social or
moral superiorities, little known to the
rest of his countrymen. To a strangers
eye these fundamental differences are in
terpreted BY an absolute contrast 10 man.
ners. The West Point pnpi is polished.
reserved. He knows generally the art of
appearing modest, and making himself es
teemel by n skillfui simplicity. Heknows
how to conform to the usages and HABITS
of the stranger with whom he comes in
contact: practises Hll the rules of the most
scrnpnlous urbanitY, with certain adj
mixture of republican iboldness, which
lacks neither charm nor distinction IL
rcq0ires the test of civil war, of govern
mental anarchy, and of the bumiliating
position in which the people of the Unitcl#
States find themselves nt this moment iu
the face of the rest of the world, to show
rising to the first RINK quite pleiad o I.
new men formed by West Point, some be-
longing to theregular army, others hnying
belonged toit, all fashioned on An almost
Uniform type. is, at frst, on The mititdtg
stage that Mey appear, but eDery one feels
that they lOiH not be long IN pdssiag on 10 'tts
political one.
JEFFERSON DAVIS. sa
The South has already chosen West
Point man, Jefferson Davis, for President;
for West Point is divided like the rest OF
the nation, and furnishes chiefs to botll
parties! Generals Beaureghrd and john
son are at the head of the secession move
ments; Mcclellan and Mcdowell are the
Union heroes, and their names take til,
place in every. ones mouth of those politi-
clans whose weakness aud incapacity have
brought the United States to the brink of
an abyss.
The war appears to be between comrades.
In Western Virginia Mcclellan has had to
operate against two West Point compan-
ions, one of whom, as have said, was
killed, the other made prisoner.
Beauregard and Mcclellan, military lead
ers of the two opposing parties, were not
only companions, but intimate friends
When Beauregard went to the North he
went to no other house than McGlellan's,
and when Mcclellan went South he stayed
with no one but Beauregatd. One side
and the other are acquainted in the most
intimate manner, and sentiments ofchiv-
alrous esteem are found almost everywhere
in both camps, for former friends are now
become implacable enemies.
Such are the men whom the force of cir
cumstances calls to direct the great revo-
luton which this moment upturns the
United States, and which will probably
end in reforming them.
At first sight an ida may be formed of
the secession soldiers exterior The ques-
ton of uniform, not fully solved in the
North, is not thought of at all at the
South. 1t would seem that the attempts
at uniform have not got beyond the dis
Iribution among some corps of q kind of
Jacket of heavy gray cloth, manufac-
tured in Virginia. The clothes, whether
of regular uniform or fancy, are all in II
very bad condition; the soldier, neverthe-
less, preserves beneath bis rags an aspect
sufficiently martial, and perfect order
reigns in, the camp and at the posts.