New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-09-26
MILITARY FAILURES.

TRIBUNE among the Journals which nave uo''cu
in what it terms the unanimous conoemua'i"n VI
Gen. Fremont by our City Press we are not
doinO much in tbs line If Military criticism ~
present. but. if we were, we should insist on
frat ascertaining the material facts In the case
before passing q judgment Of condemnation Oh
the commander of an important Military depart
ment IA vet. we do not know why Gen. Stur-
gis only few miles north of Lexington with
several thousand men, nor Gen. Lane OF Kansas,
who Yves but forty miles west Of Lexington at
the head Of 1900 at least four days previous to
the surrender Of Col. Muligan, Dor Gen. Pope,
who was not far east of Lexington with 5000
just after the fall Of that place, did not afford
any relief 10 the heroic band c0Oped up In their
iutrenc1ments by ten times their number OF reb-
els with no drunk for two days but three barrels
of vinegar. We know that Gen. Fremont dis
patched by steamboats, from st. Louis large re-.
endorsements to Col. Mugan on Monday the
10th, that they we're expected 70 reach their
destination $3.50 miles) on or before Friday
morning the Goth, aud that Col. Mulhgan did
not surrender til Friday afternoon. So much
We are pretty sure Of; but whether rebel bate
ries commanding the MIssOuri. or low water
grounding the oyerladen boats or some other
obstruction, caused the failure to arrive in sea
son, we do not know. Nor do We propose to
pass sentence Of condemnation" on Gen. Lane,
OF Gen. Sturges, or Gen. Pope, any more than
on Gen. Fremont. We only urge that the whole
matter be made o subject Of careful and rgor-
Gus inquiry BY coupetent Military tribunal,
and that tbe proper judgment be- passed By 'ha''
and not by THE TRIBUNE nor enc unanimous
Press. whether of the City or OF the whole
country
The World seems to thiOk Court Of Inquiry
presupp)srs some fault on tho part of Gen. Ere
mont. BY no means. 1t ID simply means oil
fixing the blame where it justly belongs, and
that is as essential 10 the vlndlcatiOn OF good
officers as 10 the Reproduction OF bad ores, HAD
such a court been held after the Great Bethel
stupidity, it might have hurt somebody's feelings,
but it would have done immense good to tue
uublic service. SO after the Bull Run disgrace:
had every officer who therein proved himself
utterly unfit for the position into which be had
thrust himself been brought summary before
Court Martial and treated according to the laws
of war the Nation would have been insured
against further humlliatIoDs and disasters IN the
field from like cause with this one. Some tem-
porary Inconvenience was avoided BY letting the
culprts run aud saddlIng the results Of their ill.,
competency and cowardice on Members Of Con
eress aud the Newspapers; but tho eIpedient
was hardly less shameful than the miscOL duct it
screened, and is certain 10 bear evil fruit
Throughout the campaign.
Az we urged IN the outset have urged on
occasion ever since, 30 we urge with reference
to the Lexington misfortune Let there be q
prompt and rigia inquiry into its causes and
circuulstSaces b, q competent Military tribunal,
and let Giere be- no hesitation, no delicncy, III
fixing thu blame Just where it belongs. II Gen.
Fremont be ia suit, let him be censured aud
suuerssdlJ. w, do not wish him screened st
the exp ase Of liusiice and the public good II
either of tile sutk rdInste commanders in Western
Missouri ought gave relieved Col. Muligan, and
failed TO 30 go, 1t him shoulder hs own load.
IL Gen. Egeno,k's reenfUrcements failed season
ably TO s,sch X xngtOn through any ones lack
Of energy IF COG age or Of ability, let that fact
be es,abl SIZED az proclaimed. II Gen. Fremont
has (ns VI. are essured) been hitherto crippled
BY the ws.t Of Srms aud Of munitions, and by
| the repeSxa wiflrawal VI his best regiments TO
| strengthes The "A ion armies in Eastern or in
Western runf let that fact be made mani
feat. Bg$yA not fag like this is Gas usually 10 DO
| done. aus so Ire 70 have only newspaper
instead y,E>iti L. Courts Martial, we insist th.t
they sha,,, Rsi Ele receipt of the material facts
| bsfore csssne judgments Of condemnation and
| depssitier$t TIL kno@ledge that "sOme one has
bla5lere@s IS ~ sufficient to condemn and dis
grsc, The G.sdm Ter of the mlitary district in
uL!ci A fsy.rse q been encountered. Let ne
have he =. ca L. and judam aiterward.