Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1861-06-21
Our Army 0Mcers.

The grcatsst dimculty W sns" W
PEELED to encounter In prosecuting the pres
an, war against southern traitors. will be
found in IN. great want Of mihiary talent
among our seld o6cers. ltisa fact ,ha,
cannot he denied. that some Of the most eI.
perienced army officers which We had in the
service. are found in the rebsl army. The
var with Mexico educated . few men for
field service. and were IL not for this we
should find ourselves almost entirely dessi'
,u,e Of efieieut material to ofhcsr the large
number Of men now In aud to be brought
into the FIELD. The school ct West Point
has annually turned out q class OF students
educated to military paruin: but coupar'
a,ivsly few Of them have remained In the
army. They have gone into other prOis'-
siops and other business
There will be no lack Of fshiinr men to
GIL the rdris Of our army. or OF Efficient
company officers. Thee, by the school OF
the dria, will be we'll fitted for tho service.
Mere politicians. Who enter the .er'ice to
advance their own personal intercst.-men
who know no more about military tactics
than a .chool.boy men who get promoted
to important command. by acts OF political
Ieserdemain, are Of oil men the mos, unfit
Tor the high responsibilities Of leading men
in the trying hour OF battle. They may
lead men ,n,o battle. but they will be pref
" sure never to get them out alive. We'd
not apply these remarks to Gen. Pierce. Who
commanded q, the fight at Great Bethel !;
but We only repeat What upon the lip'
Of everybody. that that battle was los,
by las utter incapaeity to command. lie
became apparently panic s,rieken-allowed
hi. mea TO be shot q. for an hour without
ordering an advance movement, and then,
when hi. gallant men in spite OF him 'ilene-
81 every ruu but one. and we're on the point
Of victory. he ordered retreat and retired
in disgrace. Who wants . son. or father.
or brother, or husband to Re compelled TO
serve under such an otheer.-led into battle
only TO he slaughtered. di.Sracei. AMI beat
en-? Ye, ~s fear. when We take into con.
alteration the fac, tina, great NUMBER OF
our Geld officers are mere rolheian'.-men
who have never seen single days Geld ser-
,ice.-mcu who have no military education.
,ha, the fi,h, a, Great Bethel is no, the lac,
one Of the kind ths, will be heard iron the
field Of conflict. Gen. Batter has thus FAY
done we'll. lie seem. TO possess an lntuilivc
military genius ,hs, supplies q defective
education /; and bis pa't connection With the
volunteer service IN Massachusetts, has made
him somewha, familiar with military oper.
atoms. Gen. Banks will make m Efficient
ofeer. lie /, an exception TO 'h' general
rule among men. lie will excel 10 any -.
.i,iOn in which he may b placed. The ap-
poin,ment OF Gen. fremOn, 10 grand one.
lie i,a man who has seeu service. and hard
service. too. in the military department. OF
the Government. There have been other ap'
pointners in the army sminen,ly " tit 70
be made" bu, We have no time TO person
ate. With few eminent men, like GenSr'
al. Scott and Wool q, the head Of our mill
,.ry department. may We no, hope that
wise discrimination will be made in assign
ing position. TO our field commanders; that
difscul, poet. will be assigned to competent
ohcrrs. 80 tha, our brave .Oldisry may not
b. dragged to the field Of battle aud ther'
lsft to perish under the lead Of panic 'iriek
en-, eo~ardly Oheers. who have neither ca
pseity to govern themselves. much lee. 4
corp. Of men upon the battle field.