The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1861-11-08
Gallantry Of our Troops.
From the Chicago Post.

From the Chicago Post.
A statement which we have seen in some
OF the papers, that of large number-we
think more than one hundred--Of priyates
in the regular service who have been raised
by commissions signed by the President to
Lieutenants, only two OF them have resigned
their commissions on account of sympathy
with the rebellion, reminds US of a passage
In the Presidents message to Congress, to
the effect that every private in the army
was loyal, and hundreds of them as we'll
lifted to be President and Cabinet Minis.
tiers as the present occupants of those ex-
allied places. This was at the time by some
rather sneeriDgly conceded as probably true.
BY most persons, however, it was thought
to be highly extravagant. Many Of the
earlier Observation-Disclosures the cam
paign against the rebels did not serve to
raise our soldiers in the popular sentiment.
1t must be granted that the most, and
most fatal, of these disasters we're caused
by inefficiency or cowardice in the officers.
When the officers run away, the men lose
their courage, and will not fight. But it is
certain, Notwithstanding, that when part
OF an army proves recreant and covardly,
the other part will nine times out of ten be
driven to commit some folly, and all to.
gether fall under the gravest stigma in.
yolved. Ii the men in epauletts and tinsel
fall short of their duty, all fall short.
Gradually the officers have heen improved;
and In the latest engagements our soldiers
have shown the courage and steadiness of
veterans. President Lincolns seemingly
byperbolical alusion to our soldiers in bis
MESSAGE may not have been hyperbole after
all. Our ranks are composed of thousands
of the very best men in the land.
We have not attempted to explain away
into nothiDgness the discouraging and anger
moving reverse to our arms the other day
at Edwards Ferry. There has nothing hap
pened in the course of this war one half so
discouraging, or in which one half OF the
guilt of some officer or officers is IN
volved, as the bloody disaster at this
point. We promptly stigmatized the
rash proceeding in partially adequate
terms-though we were, and are at all times
willing to apologize for any blunder or
error that may be committed by our officers
and since then we have read nothing, and
heard nothing, that could change the judg
ment of the most willing mind upon the
facts. The percentage of loss was greater
than In any engagement yet, greater than
at Bull Run by far, and greater than at
Springfield, and there was no occasion for
the move, and no excuse for it. Who is
responsible.for it, we do not pretend to say.
Ii it were not for the gallant conduct of
our soldiers at Edwards Ferry, there would
be absolutely no bright streak in the cloud
of the national dependency. But the men
heroically standing under the most CALLING
fire, and enduring the most unwonted hard.
ships, redeems the lustre of our arms. Ev-
cry advantage of the contest was evs
identity from the outset in favor of the
rebels-and this ought to have been seen
by the officers who gave the fatal order
but had they behaved with the same cool
bravery of the men, the case would have
been much better. All that can be
said of the officers is, that they betrayed
q criminal weakness in being tempted
into the trap of the enemy, and that, after
they were entrapped, their presence of mind
failed them. All that can be said of our
men is, that though mostly what are called
raw volunteers, they obeyed the original
order with alacrity and intelligence--fought
like veterans--and when overpowered, APP
peared not in the least panic-stricken or
alarmed and this is praise that the vete-
rams of the English and French armies
would be proud to have given to them. So
the American people may have still--do
have still-hope that it will all come out
right in the end, and that hope is in the
noble bravery of our men.