The national Republican., 1861-06-13

is birthright gift. Thus it will happen, that
of the generals who are to lead our troops
to victory, many will be appointed from civil life.
But it does not follow, that because man is a
successful politician, he will make good gen.
eral. We know militia generals and colonels,
in numbers sufficient for whole army, good
withal at caususes and county conventions,
who are ct for nothing more than decent prt
Yates in disciplined host.
Whatever of sharp comment recent events
in the face of the enemy may throw upon the
foregoing text, it is proper to remark that the
officers who to-day are the subject Of as much
blame as has ever been visited upon military
msnin this country, do not hold their commands
by Washington appointment. General Pierce
is brigadier general in the Massachusetts, line.
The colonels are of State appointment, in most
instances selfelected. When we shall get at
the exact truth Of the affair near Fortress Mon
roe, we may know who are incompetent, and
who have refused to do their duty. At present
the accounts Of the engagement, whatever their
accuracy may be, present lamentable min.
Cling Of incompetency and characterization. A
force, not large, but yet five or six regiments
strong, comes upon fortified position, much
stronger than there was reason to believe it to
be. The general in command, who seems to
have been brave even to desperation, dashes at
it with half his forces, and is repulsed. That is
bad enough, but it is not half as bad as that
other melancholy story to the effect that "the
colonels Of the other regiments refused to order
their men TO march up to the battery, declaring
that such was their want Of confidence in Gen.
'eral Pierce, that they would not run the risk Of
'imperiling their lives, preferring rather to be
court martialed than do so' We think they
should be treated to q court.msrtial, and that
speedily. II there was not capacity enough
among all those colonies to fnd their way into
al, ordinary battery, they deserve q court.mar-
tial If they had sufficient capacity, and there
were overpowsring reasons why they should
not then exercise it, they should have oppor.
tunity, in courtmsrtial, to explain the default.
While these occurrences are fresh enough to
be in the mouths Of all, we may recur to An
event which happened some ten days, since.
Without pretending to any knowledge from
headquarters, We have reason to believe that
Lieut.. Tompkins's "dash at Fairfax Court.
house-a movement for which we believe there
were no orders from this city-led to important
results on both the opposing lines, deranging
plans at headquarters here. The rebel fugi.
tives from that affair, flying pell.mell into the
lines at Manassas Junction, gave the impress.
sion that the United States troops were moving
in force in that direction. Manassas Junction
is but four hours distance, by rail, from Rich.
mond, now the headquarters of the army Of the
Confederate States. The immediate effect was
that Manassas junction, already strong, was
still further strengthened. The movement from
Washington upon that post was suspended
movement which, commenced on the Sd in.
slant, we doubt not would have been success.
ful, and that important point, commanding
Virginia, would at this moment have been
ours. Instead of this, it is now in the hands
of the enemy-strong, impregnable, threaten.
ing Washington, and compelling us to watch
the capital, and to spare no considerable body
of troops out of the lines which defend it.
This, we are led to think, comes Of the " dash y
at Fairfax ourthouse, the incidents Of which
are pretty enough as newspaper paragraphs,
but Of no sort Of consequence, except as they
might embarrass important moves in a war
like that which the country is now waging.
We have INDUCED in these remarks from no
desire to make reflections on individuals, either
in the line or in Departments; and we have
used names only to give point TO comments
and warnings conceived in the kindliest spirit
to the aervice. At the same time, some kind.
ness is due to the men whom these officers are
to lead, and to the country whom they are to
serve. Let not this insane passion for news
paper notoriety, for cheap fame, betray our Of
ficers into risks and perils This is not war
as a great general recently remarked, against
Mexicans or Indians. 1t is a stern, unfalter
ing contest against brave men, well led, and il
to be won only through subordination, dsci
pline, patience.
SARATOGA SPRINGS. - Notwithstanding the
arrangement in business affairs caused by the
war, we apprehend that the great watering
places Of the country will receive their quota o
visiters this summer, as usual though perhaps
in somewhat diminished numbers. Among
them oil, Saratoga Springs will still be foremos
as the leading place Of resort for sensible peo
pie, who 90 there to recover, in its pleasant so
ciety and through its efficient waters, that whole
some tone of body and mind which is disturbe,
by unremitting attention to the cares of bust
ness and of life. We observe that Union Hall
which we regard as the pleasantest, ss it is tn
most capacious of all the hotels in the coun
try, is to be opened (like the gun.boat bids) OIL
the 18th instant. This hotel is, as formerly