The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1861-10-05
For th" Richin"nd Dispatch.i
CONDUCT OF THE WAR---EDCCATEO
AND iMPROVISED OFFICERS.
RY GH0RGE FiTZuJGH.

ltisa common complaint that there are TOO
n.any West Point graduates iii our army, and
that these oincers are unacquamted with the
feelings, preladces, and cupacitipS of yoluu-
teers. Both branches Of the complaint are
unfound.d Not fourth. we presume, of our
officer, ever graduated of West Poiut. All Of
those who have been put In high offices have
seen service with volunteers. or commanded
them in our Indian and Mexican wars Ga
the other hand, hundreds Of our officers ap-
pointed from civil life, never saw. or were en- =
gagged IN military service of any kind, either
with regulars or volunteers. Despite of the ir
ineAperieEce, they have behaved admirably,
and no doubt, most of them, have acq uirpd
much valuable military knowledge in
the last SIX mouths Of active hostilities
but this knowledge has been chiefly
acquired from serving with or uuder. -du l.
Gated and experienced officers. The school
At West Point WAS one OF the best Military
Institutes IN the world; and its graduates,
who have added experience in war, to science
learned within its walls are, generally, the
httest men 10 plan and prosecute campaigns,
and 10 drill and discipline our troops There
are no Inartineis among them, no men whose
lives have been spent exclusively IA camp,
and who mistake The regular army for the
world. Daring peace they have ben station
Ell In small bodies, and have held continual
intercourse In the civil world around them,
and during war they have served with or
commanded, volunteers ire sh from the doInes-
tic hearth, and from the pursuits of peaceful
life. They eombine experience aud practical
Il
of the outside world with a knowledge Of mp
life
Bobaparte was depiorable Instance u the
too exclusive habituation To military affairs
and camp life. Soldiers were the only mitn
kind with hil.,. and Waf, prosecu ted without
deiinite aim or object, the only Respectable
human pur.Ii.. He knew little Of a mora
worth, because there is no moral worth In a
caup of Regulars, and nothing of iaorat ot
religious motives or forces, as both religion
aud nlorality wera iguored 10y French sclioo l.
aud French armies; aud therefore he trusted
enhrelS 10 superior amounts OF money, men
and guapoeaer. Hence, Ls said, Prov
dence aiwaS. takes sides with the heas ie.
artillery The Cossaeks proved 10 him iha'
he Was mistaken wesn, however, IL was
| 800 late 10 retrieve his error.
bonAparte, II not great man, was Ger.
tainty helgreaieat Of martiusts. He was,
whiist successful, the scourge Of Europe. aud
when his rashuess and ignorance Of moral
worth brought about his NIL, he equally dis
| graeed himself and his country.
NstrattoD to shew that VIZ despiss rs m uch
! ;is ANY one the mere professional soldier and
I coueur wi IN those who think that our om1eers
/ should b. acquainted with etvtf ttfe, yet faSs
| deem IL ,auoh more iHpsrt3nt that t4sy
1 shp,tld be familiar with the aSt ey war Nj
/ do nor emp:vy rOr oar kaWyer fhs pah.t " pS
! psv9r stadlpd lAw, sh: trust our livts y kSs
| Ws srs, alex IA ihs bsndf Of 4 man who asSsl
| s:adlA Esdlcint,., NAY. ~ would Npt Stt
man 20 MAKE " > pAtf af tkEes NsR suklAl
| RleA ~ Nxt, sRG sNEdly * y 4s cay III al i,
- &tis 0e ,kN4sa NJ ~ Se6abaAnd a& Afiek..
We taat lnals&NSeA ~ kh4osnAk nM0sb LEI
v~@ We aapsvtiss hS 0ltoS. Ttet& y y
M~sk " kNSa n ~ tts1sA6ist y ssenA =