New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-08-05

stated that Wellington IePo''DN'' =, .,,,l;D,,
from the field which had suffered SsFe'e!' ~
them temporarily with others rom ulo sI ~, Tho
siu'iai 0O"- o,, - the late battle. They lad, Ii Is
-, ;,,mense superiority Of numbers Whoh ea"'
true 81 INC nm new forces incessantlyi but so,
orr rort tlere was large reserve, some par -
,-bch IN ,bt to have been put in the places o. 'no
,.oor;e5 and fainng regiments that had gone earnest
into action. 49,, ,.,. Tho
Tve victory which Hannibal obtained over inc
1orans ut Inc Trebia is chiefly attributed to s',
gem By which the latter were enrced into aeon N''
fbe idea that it was ony skruish, before they nao
talep anv refreghment-tho Carthaginians having oe'
foreband been carefully provided with substantial 4'o'
II We NAV learn much even from ms'ahes ana
disasters. The chief danger in acquiring Alo"''Ose
nv ercb an ordeal is the mp4iIing OF the commence oi
4he men in their commanding officers Whci '1oy us
cover segious errors Of strategy
The most pressny evil in the state OF the army has
So I'd s,;il Is the appointment Of men to the highest
oficcs who have had little On no experience ID War'
MI !; il true is in part ehargeable to State auhori-
-. opd so far as we have TO depend upon militia we
30 70 take such officers as happen TO be in command
are appoined by the Safe. But as understand 1t,
the War Department have the entire control IN The
designation OF officers for specific duties. Militia
officers NAV take mnbrage if enc who is subordinate IN
rank is placed over them and yet there may be emer
pncies where the sdeiy and honor Of the country
require that should he done. Was there not such
emergency when that important division of the amy
was to be brought into Virginia through Mariinsburgf
Ybs! PERL we have incurred we do not fully realize
but the disgrace we have suffered by the imbecihy of
Gen. Patterson assisted though no was by another
militia general Of stl higher rank from this city, is
Gagrant and has made the checks Of the brave and
patriotic throughout the country TO Jingle with shame
The War Department has however itself made
appointments which are subject TO the exception |
have specified. Without dispaagement to the eXecu-
tive ability Of any of the gentlemen who have been
taken from civil life to fin bgh posts in the army, may
It not be said with TRUTH that whatever their ability
may be- the want of military experience is n fatal
drawback / know that in a of long continuance,
il may be expected that without previous military
education Will by their own experience and natural
genius rise to high POSITIONS; but this must be by
service in subordinate stations l hold il impossible
that snv man can understand the Of as TO be
ST 70 command an army who is not thoroughly vcTsed
Ia all the details Of military discipline even to the
mechanical drill of a company of sodieIs. AS well
might we expect the vast calculations Of Newton with
out the preliminary preparation OF schooboy studies
/ hone il will not be deemed dlsrtspecuul # | say
that it is hardly ercdabo to the good sense OF
these gentlemen to accept appointments requiring
knowledge and experience which they have moi, than
itis 10 the dsnteTt sted Judgment Of the War Depart
-1neut in Offering them.
1; is said in excuse however, that there were COM
parayely few loyal officers lef in the army when the
war commenced, and that appointments of civilians
were necessary Admit this, and sill don't perceive
why it was necessary to appont them at once to the
highest posts should suggest with all due Difference
that Colonels in the regular army who have been nc
customed TO military life. must have better qualica
tons for Immediate service in higher posts than those
who have had no experience; and if there were none
of that class who deserved the highest appointments
permanently, could they Dot have served BY breyet
tin the ability Of others more deserving should be de-
veloped in the progress of the wars.
Ofthe officers appointed by Congress in our Revou'
caary war all Of them had been in actual service
had exhibited military qualities in organizing forces at
tlo commencement Of The war. Greene was al FIST
private soldier; Wayne a Colonel Of regiment
which he had raised; Sullivan a Major in another
regiment which he had assisted to raise. On the
other hand the few appointments made without such
fest of competency, resaed in disappontments Arte-
mus Ward, who received commission as LIST Major
General rendered important service to the country
III. 1t may perhaps be deemed by many paradox
Fl SET down among faUoraJie auspices the battle
which has been fought disastrous as it has Teen sup
poeed 10 be- A little reelection will, think, materially
modify the estimate which has been rather hastily
formed respecting 1t.
can hut partially glance At some important results.
The first is the brilliant proof which has been given of
the intrepdiy and mpotuous bravery OF our Northern
sodiery The panic that was at first reported seems
70 have been limited 70 tesmsters, camp followers
members Of Congress, and other civilians, and some Of
the regiments in the rear. The main part Of the army
retained ar good order could be expected IN hasy
retreat from the eldof battle; and the retreat it
Is now demonstrated unnecessary, at least need
not have been 20 sudden, and all oes Of artillery, &C.,
could have been avoided rad Gen. Mcdowell had the
presence Of mind to order the reserve to advance at the
critical time.
Again. we have learned more than we knew, or
would have known, without this experiment Of the
strength Of the enemy. We are now apprsed OF what
we have to meet. and our preparation viii be more
careful and complete than it would otherwise have
been.
Lastly the vast magnitude of the Rebel forces, the
.xbaustless quantity Of artillery and other NUM-
tons which they seem TO possess, and tie fierce
spirit with which they prosecute the war, instead
Of striking dismay INFO tue Northern mind, have
only roused more nvineible determination to resist
this unholy aggression upon onr national integrity 1t
Is no longer an insurreelOn which may be put down
by a sudden eIort-t is a war which has been long iu
preparation and now bursts upon in truly formld
able aspect.
What choice is now left to us The contest is not
for the mere preservation Of a constitutional union Of