The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1861-08-09

, Auc I6uoion00 ouu vanity OI Iotter writ.
ers the dippancy and presumption Of street
takers, and the inconsiderateness of news
paper editors, daily and hourly astonish the
country with voldble comments on our late
engagement, that it has "no parallel in his.
tory -" nothing like it found in the records
OF time," &C., &C., to the tediousand wearied
end Of rambling and useless speculations.
We encounter in history, Sir, thousand
parallels before the invention Of fire arms,
where even inferior forces have put to rout
immense armies by stratagem, or where
accidental causes have produced alarm and
panic. Any school boy can recite on
abundance of these parallels" from Greek
and Roman history! And when we reach
the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries the
parallels become still more prominent. AS
an instance, take the following from Span
ish History, where the "Great Captain"
Gonsalvo leads the Spanish, and the Duke
De Nemours the French. The battle was
fought near the fields of Canne, where
100 years before, the pride Of Rome was
humbled by the victorious arms of Hanni-
bal. To sustain himself in the country
Gonsalvo was forced to court battle, pro-
vided he could find the enemy sufficiently
rash or unwise to meet him as he wished.
The weather was intensely hot, and his ar-
my suffered from privations almost beyond
endurance. Considerably in advance of his
encampment, in the direction of the French
army the natural swell of the ground made
it favorable for masked batteries. By an
adroit management, be succeed in making
this point very strong and secure, though he
mounted but thirteen guns. Then leaving
his encampment, he marched forward bis
army as with the intention of coming upon
the French. Instantly the whole French
force, greatly superior 10 numbers, marched
forward certain of victory. Gonsalvo had
reached his own ground, and the enemy was
ignorant of his concealed strength. The
Duke De Nemours appears to have had his
misgivlngs, as be desired to delay the combat
until the Spanish position was thoroughly
reconnoitered; but the rashness of bis officers,
insinuating want of courage on the part
of the commander, so exasperated the Duke
that be exclaimed, "We will fight to night,
and those who vaunt the loudest, will be
found to trust more to their spears, than
their swords"
The French advanced rapidly and boldly,
the van under Nemours, when their course
was suddenly arrested by deep trench, of
whose existence they were unapprised. 1t
was at this juncture that the Spanish bat
teries and arquebusiers poured in the most
destructive volleys. The Duke fell wound
ed from his horse Chandler rushed in with
reinforcements, but in an instant was life.
less in the ditch. The Spaniards now wild
with excitement, leaped their intrenchments,
and fell with fury upon the disordered col
umns of their foes, who we're seized with
such panic, that they fed, Offering but
little or no resistance. The slaughter was
terrific, and the Spanish victory complete.
1 think this looks like ''parallel in hiss
tory"
The Duke de Nemours fought Gonsalvo
against his judgment,-forced into it by tie
clamor of mere bair-braned hot-spurs, ams
bilious only for distinction.
General Scott fought Beauregard against
bis convictions of right, based upon large
military experience,-forced into it by the
pestilential crew of meddlesome politicians.
Nemours fought against concealed enc,
mics, of whose strength he was ignorant,
and which displayed itself in most disas-
trous manner.
General Mcdowell did the same.
GonsaIvo's masked batteries broke the
Charge of the French infantry, and threw
the army into disorder. Beauregard's bat
teres had the same effect upon the Union
forces.
Gonsalvo's forces, particularly his re-
serve, leaped the intrenchments and pur-
sued the foe with desperate slaughter. The
cautious Beauregard was afraid to risk an
open handed field encounter with the brave
spirits of the North.
1 believe, sir, that just as soon as the I'M
mitigated contempt of the people drives the
dastardly demagogues, in and out of Con-
gress, who have undertaken to manage this
war; in silence back to their dirty kennels,
the President, his Cabinet, and Gen.
Scott, will set at defiance all their "masked
batteries" Notifications and armies, as COM
pletely as did the Duke of Marlborough
those of continental Europe. L. L. M.
PRIZE OFFERED FOR FLAX CoTToN.--The
Rhode Island Society for the encouragement
Of Domestic Industry, has offered apremium