The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1861-07-05
THE PILOT.
Incompetent Officers.

lhe most careless reader ot occurrences
at the seat Of war during the past few
weeks cann9, bu. have observed the utter
incapacity of men placed at the head OF
our army, and the several and fatal results
To our troops in consequence thereof We
have but to mention the disastrous affairs
By which Col. ELLSWORTH lost his life at
Alexandria, the slaughtering Of our OWE
men by our own troops at Little Bethel,
the sad mistake made by Gen. ScuEScK,
at Vienna, AMI the one or two repulses to
our soldiers, the particulars of which will
be found in to~day's papers. All parties
agree that these disasters were caused by
inexperienced olficers-men appointed by
Government more as a reward for their
pas. political services, or prospects Of fu-
ture assistance to National and State Ad-
mlnlstrations, than to their ability and ex-
perience on the battlefield. Why are
Generals SHIELDS and CUSHING, and hun.
dreds Of others Of brave men, who distin
tpguished themselves in Mexico, left one
side to give way to BANKS, PIERCE, and
other men who never were nearer war than
a Massachusetts general muster. where the
uniform was paper hats, and the arms
wooden bayonets. General JAMES SHIELDS
than whom brayer soldier never lived,
and whose ability as an officer was testified
70 by bis brilliant success on the battlefelds
of that country-he whose blood was split
IN defence Of his adopted country at Cerro
Gordo and Chepultepec-is entirely for
gotten by the po sers that be, and some
country pedagogue or pettiNgger-some
one who can control dozen votes at the
next Republican caucus--appointed to a
position over hundreds of men, each Of
whom is probably more capable to COM
nand than the new tledged officer. We
have but TO mention the officers Of many
Of our own Wisconsin Regiments to sus-
tain our argument.
In speaking Of General SHIELDS, the
New York Irish american expresses the
opin on that his services would be cheer
fully given now, as heretofore, to defend
the cause of bis adopted country, and does
not doubt that his appointment to the
command of Division Of Irish American
volunteers would receive the cordial appro>
baton Of the community. 1t saysit knows
that these volunteers would feel il an
especial mark of honor to be placed under
the control Of such a tried and trusted
leader He is bone of their bone and flesh
of their flesh. His name is already dis
tinguished in the military annals of the
United States, an an officer of sterling
patriotism, invincible courage, and rare
ability. Is 1t right to permit the sword
of such man to rust in its scabbard when
it is at the disposal ot the government? {?
Would it not revive the inspiring memo~
ries of tie Irish Brigades of other lands,
and stimulate our armed countrymen in
the ranks Of the Union hosts, to rival the
deeds which history has immortalized, to
give TO our loyal Celtic volunteers the in,
spring leadership of their own SHIELDS p
The same able paper truthfuly remarks
that "the press and people of the coun-
try are now unanimous and enthusiastic in
praise of the gallant" New York 69th
and other Irish regiments, who were the
first to come to the rescue Of the Union,
and says "the government has it in its
power to give to the countrymen of that
splendid corps an evidence Of its appre-
citation Of the loyal devotion of Irish-Am-
orleans to the cause of their adopted
country. Is there any objection to the re-
call of Gen. SHIELDS to the service of the
United States, to the defence of its institu-
tions and the enforcement of its laws Is
there any reason why the tens of thou
sands of our armed Irishmen, who are
marching to meet the foes of the Republic,
should not be led by an Irish American
chieftain of established reputation as a
soldier, and of undoubted loyalty as a cit
izen:"