The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-09-22
PRINCE NAPOLEON ON THE WAR.
HIS THIRD LETTE n.
Sketches and Descriptions OF the Generals
and Armies on Both Sides Importance OF
Yves. Point-Tbe Spirit North and South,
&ey &c, @es


wAsHIsoroS, August l6, 1851.
spoke In my last letter 81 tho governmental ele-
nent in the United States, which have found inf
ltey inferior 10 the important mission conGded to H.
sha speak today Of element differing essentially from
g. and to which The events ranspirng in America Mt this
moment have suddenly given very great rreponderaneo
mean the military element, Of which Generals Scott,
Mcclellan and Mcdowell In the Northern army, and
DeaurogRrd and Johnston in the Southern army are the
highest and complccst pcrsoni0caon. shall begin by
occupying myself with the lrst named generals.
GENERAL SCOTT.
General Scott is Of enormous height and corpu
lence aged about seventy I've years, ecuty, out
almost ended Ho is Lieutenant Gsncral, grade CORES
pondng that Of Marshal and to which attached tho
permanent command q the regular army time Of peace
well as in time OF In the United States there is
but Lieutenant General and he is in pefpcuiiy Com
mander Chief OF the army sort OF war Minister for
life, while the Cabinet officer who has the title OF Minister
Of War is specially charged with the military ad
mnistraton General Scott, therefore, directs all the
operations Of the present war, just us in France
the Minister 81 War directs the armies In the field
commanded by generals n.chier General Scott Is,
rather has been-for repeat he has the air
OF whose is onGed--a true
gentleman the of an English general well edu-
Gated, enlightened, and belonging well by his age
his manners TO quite different generation than tho pre-
sent He has never COMMANDED but the regular
army, in contrast to the militia. II at the head Of
the regular army that in lsI7 n made the splendid
pagn Mexico landed at Vera Cruz, marched the CAPT
tai which he seized after obstinate battle while Gene
raj Taylor the frontiers OF Texas, and at the head Of
American militia won Tho victory OF Buena Vista Gcre-
raj Scott who is very gallant man, has besides,
cessve self love; countrymcn have often compar
ed him to Napoleon that the arison has ended by
making some impression him, lie likes to recall the
fact that be has been defeated and lAat III
his military career tie enemy hus never taken from
him either detachment post.
GEN. MCCLELLAN.
General Mcclellan commapded some days ago In West.
ern Virginia, province half SUBJ ced and half revoct
Charged with the duty of pacifyng it, he acquitted him
self Of that mission with the greatest success or tie two
secessonist generals who opposed him taken
with his whole column, the other was killed and his
troops dispersed. These successes which American ex
aggeraton has transformed into great victories, have
given from day to day immense popularity McCcl-
Ian You see his name at New York placards, ON ban
Dcrs, in the newspaper headings, with tho phrase
"McClelan-two victories in one day.n Alter
the battle of Bull run, to which | shall again
refer, the President called Mcclellan to tho com
mand Of the conquered and demoraized army
He has, therefore, under his orders at this the
troops reassembed the Potomac from Hapers Ferry
to the He has the title OF General of Division Ma
jor Cenera-a position which corresponds TO that Of
General of Div ision, having commanded commanding
corps of the army There at present only officers
OF that grade in the United States-McClellan and
celebrated traveller known under the name Colonel
Fremont who has been candidate for tho Presi.
dency. He tho small eiera army which ope
rates against the secessonsts in the ssisspp valley
the State of Missouri around St Louis II is, there.
fore, in the hands of General Mcclellan that
the North has placed its military destlnes, and the
care of avengng tho shameful defeat of Bull run.
The connections of General Mcclellan with General Scott
are almost those Of general ct the army with Minis
ter of War. General Mcclellan, pupl OF West Point
Academy is man Of thirty five years age, very small
in stature with black hair aud moustaches, intelli.
gent open and most ag eeabe counienance, and simple
aud modest bearing. Should you him pass in the
street IN Paris you would certainly take him to be
trench oicer OF en- 5ineers or o.! artillery
GENERAL MIowELL.
General Mcdowell commands all the troops the right
bank of the Potomac. He IS Of forty two years,
tall and large His face is no, particularly fine, but
remarkably open asd sympathetic, through It's air of
Frankness and kindness.
If Mcclellan mbl,s of engineer officers, ale
Dowel resembles one Of cur infantry officers. Did not
dread reducing to puere shades the search for reem
bances and assmilacns, should say that Mcdowell has
the type Of chief OF battalion OF foot chssseurs.
conversation. his character and his principles st
superior to his appearance, favorable as that He
one Of the honestest, trues, smpes; men that you
meet. He sustained terrible check at Bull run, hc
speaks OF without bitterness, without recrmination,
with accent of sincerity and elevation of
that do him the greatest honor. Deprived Of the
he has Mcclellan his fellow student at West Point
younger than himself by several years. inherit his
nonors, MS position and his growing popularity.
has taken without complaint and without murinur an
inferior place under him whose mission repair
misfortune attached to his name Well, doubts
that Mcdowell will be tho most submissive, devoted
of McCelans lieutenants. Mcdowell has, besides n
reputation in the army of being sort Of stole philo
sopher-a reputation sought after and or less
deserved by certain number Of West Point pupils. Ho
drinks neither wine tea nor coffee does not smoke and
has habits Of sobrety and self denial quite in keeping
with his Puritan principles.
WEST POINT ACADEMY.
have already referred several times to West Point
M tba pr,A aosf b.I pttnl
pies position between military school OF ST. Cyr
our Polytechnic school, 1t mprcsses those formed by
distinct character which makes OF them separate
class in the midst of the three great American divisions
the Yankees, the virgnians and the Western The
West Point pupil speaks foreign languages, French prn-
cpay he has been brought up in regard TO literature
science and military art in the culture Of the great
pean models So he stranger to that and mis-
taken patrotism that puerile vanity which
all the ideas, the studies aud the admiration Amcr
cans upon America.
The study Of pure sciences and abstract mathematics
inspires him with taste for disinerested speculation
and the military profession which he embraces without
sitting his liberal instincts imprnts him ideas of or
der Of rank Of respect for social superiorte
little known to the rest Of his countymen To stran
gers eye these fundamental differences are interpreted
by an absolute contrast In manners. The West Point
pupil is polished reserved He knows generally the art
of appearing modest and Of making himself esteemed by
skilful simplicity. He knows how TO conform TO tho
usages and habits Of the strangers with whom he comes
In contact practices all the rules Of scrupu
tous urbanity, with certain admixture Of republi.
can boldness which lacks neither charm distinction
required the test Of civil war Of governmental an.
ARMY the position IN which the
pie OF the United States find themsevesat THE moment in
OF the rest of the world to show rising first
rank quite plead Of men formed by West Point
fonc belonging to the regular army others having be.
ionged 10 IT. all fashioned on almost uniform type
~ gra on he n'i,tay sage that they appear it ersry
one feels that hey 'oN not e long passing on 10 he poii
cal one.
JEFFERSON DAVIS.
The South has already chosen West Point man Ierer
son Davis for President for West Point Is divided ike
the rest Of the nation and furnishes chiefs to both par
ties Generals Beauregard and Johnston are a, the head
OF the secession movement Mcclellan and Mcdowell are
the Union heroes and their take Tie piacs IN ery
ones mouth Of those politicians phose weakness and inca
pdety haze brought the United States 10 ne brink of an
dtySs " Wv
The war appears TO be between comrades In Western
virginia Nc, elan has had operate against two West
Point companions, Of whom. "a I have sa,l was
killed aud the other made prisoner w.
Beaurcgard and Mcclellan, military leaders of the two
opposing parties were not only companions but
friends when Beauregard went the North nc went TO
no other house than McCIelans, and when Mcclellan
went south he stayed with bu, Beaureeard onc
eide and the other are acquainted In the most Intimate
manner, and sentments OF chvarous esteem are found
Ia hot ror