New-York daily tribune., 1861-11-13
THE MORALE OF THE ARMY.


men, no perfection Of drill or steadiness OF Dis
cipline can altogether free it from the laws
which control human action. The influence
which combines and inspires its elements OF
strength with irresistible force is impossible to
be defined or completely accounted for, nor has
our language a word of its own to express 1t,
but borrows morale from the French. Uncer-
tain in origin and evanescent in life, its origin
needs to be sought, and the conditions OF its
existence supplied with untiring zeal.
The feeling has more or less generally pre-
vailed that e.s confidence could be put in the
army because of its inexperience, and because
it has boen the subject Of panic. No feeling
could be more groundess. The highest au.
thority may be summoned against it. AT
" Waterloo said Wellington '' many OF my
q" troops were new, but the new fight well,
- though they maneuver ILL.," In that " battle
f" of giants" raw troops were matched with
veterans; for Wellington declared that Ma
poleon then had the finest army he ever COM
mandei; while between the Union and Rebel
forces, in the matter Of experience, there is
little or nothing to choose. As for the effect
Of u panic, it caunot be wholly charged to the
ine1perience of troops; nor is the army which
now swarms on the Potomac the same which
once suffered defeat Tho nature Of panic has
been pretty widely discussed, but a we'll
informed witness may still be quoted. "lR all
" battles" says Napoleon, q moment occurs
swhen the brayest troops, after having made
a. the greatest eilorts, feel inclined to run.
" That terror proceeds from want of conf
a. dence In their own courage, aud it only re.
quires slight opportunity, pretense, to
" restore confidence 20 thon. The art Is 10
" give rise to the opportunity and to invent
- the prctense. At ArcOla, L won tho battle
" With twenty-five hor5emeu. seized that
" moment of lasstude, gave every man
4" trumpet, and gained the day with this hand.
{" hl You see that two armies are two
bodies which meet and endsayor 70 friehtcn
" each other; a moment of panic occurs and
4" that moment must be turned to advantage" )"
Ine1perencc, therefore, being no reason why
the army should lack confidence IN ITSELF it is
obvious that its spirit will dePecd greatly on
II, condition and its officers. There ought TO
be no reed at this hour to insist that troops
.hsI be well fed, and armed, and clothed, and
that officers shall be- able to command respect,
for their personal character aud military compe-
tence. 1t can never be too strongly impressed
on officers themselves that other lives than
their own are in their hands, dependent on
their knowledge, discretion, aud courage.
Nothing could be more heartless than the an-
aver We knew TO have been made in one
case, when the appointment Of colonel was
resisted on the ground OF notorious, admitted
incapacity, and the rcmonstrant was sienced
with the plea that il was only fair to give him
a chance--a chance 10 sacrifice thousand
nIen On such spirit as that, the Bull Run
disaster furnished comment enough. That re-
verse, let us hope, was IA beneficial IA ii was
disgraceful. No doubt, the average of ability
among the officers is higher than before The
tone of the letters sent us from the different
ever. But mere ability is not everything, nor
does acknowledge Of drill and military routine
comprise all of their duty. Some familiarity
with tactics, we have at lust come to under
stand i, essential to fitness for command, and
the Examining Board at Washington will do
much to insure it. Good sense, Judgment and
humanity. ought 10 be no less peremptory de-
manded; but who shall constitute board of
! examiners into these requisites Yet the want
of them may destroy the confidence and re-
spect Of the soldier, render him insubordlnate,
careless of duty, and hopeless of success, and
80 lose us battle.
The famous procept Of yalorius, that " sol.
diers ought to fear their commander more
4" than the enemy if true to q certain extent
was never meant TO include subordinate officers
in our army. Most Of them are brought into
immediate contact with the soldiers. They are
men for the most part unused to command,
suddenly intrusted with arbitrary authority.
| Ii it be true, as has been huinorously said,
! than an American receives an order az sug.
gcstion rather than ~ command. it is also
true that his officer is apt to forget that pri-
yate does not cease to be citizen and man
when he becomes soldier. ImperiOus and
| impatient manners will not command respect,
and are sure to ALLEVIATE the regard which
might have been cOncatcd. IL is observed
that officers Of the regular army are far less
naughty in bearing aud punctlious ia forms
than those OF tho volunteers. Kindness, care
for the comfort of the men, interest in their
welfare, are no bndrance to the exactness OF
discipline. but will help to promote it. Indeed,