Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1861-08-26
ARMIES AND THEIR LEADERS.
From the Philadelphia Inouirer.1


From the Philadelphia Inquirerl
Since the battle of Bull Run the spokesmen
OF the South have gone Of into eulogiums on
the courage of the rebel troops, more forid
and bombastic than ordinary. Forgetful, too,
OF the time -honored maxim, "Comparisons are
odious," they have passed no fattering judg-
ment on the comparative courage Of the forces
them all the comfort which they can derive
from this source; they will need IL all and
much more Of a better quality before the con-
fict closes. And We can cheerfully leave 1t for
disinterested contemporaries and for an i'm
partial posterity to decide which showed the
most unfinching courage, the men that stood
at the breech, or those who rushed up to the
muzIles Of the guns in the masked batteries
at Bull Run. Every calm observer knows full
we'll that the question of the relative courage
OF the parties in this contest is one Of mere
secondary Importance. Courage in q soldier
is all very well in its way. We do not by any
means undervalue it, but it by no means de-
cides the fate Of campaigns, unless backed up
by other and more important qualities. There
is warning for the boastful spirits of the South,
and instruction for the true friends Of the gov
ernment, In the opening Of the wars Of the
French revolution. The allied forces, no
doubt, hooted at the soldiers of revolutionary
France as arrant towards, from their conduct
in the hrst movements of the campaign of 1892.
Biron marched, with ten thousand men, to the
capture OF Mons On his way his army came
in sight Of the Austrian forces. Two regi-
ments OF dragons were seized with panic,
and before a single gun was fred the whole
army was in fight. leaving all their camp
equipage behind. Dillon advanced from Lille
to Tournsy, and at the first fash of the Aus
trian guns his troops gave way and fed in wild
confusion, leaving all their baggage and am
munition to the enemy. But they were not,
therefore, incapable Of making good soldiers.
There was in them the stuff for making for
midable army-an army that stsod unflinch-
ing on many hard fought field and bore of
thence the palm of victory.
These same men who, in the earlier months
of 1892, under Rochambeau, Lafayette and
Luckner, had opened the campaign so disas-
trously and disgracefully to France, in few
short months, under Dumouriez and Keller
mann, stood up at Valmy against the united
armies OF Prussia and Austria, led by the vet
eran Brunswick, and by the firm stand they
made changed the whole history of France
and Europe. 1t was their want of confidence
IN their leaders and their insubOrdination that
caused their first disgraceful retreat; and when
these defsiencies were supplied they were pre-
pared for a career of conques such as no mere
courage could ever have Secured
The condition of the French army at that
epoch resembled that of the United States at
the commencement of the present contest
The revolution had already driven out large
proportion Of the nobility, who had been long
accustomed to furnish the leaders Of the royal
armies. Superior and subaltern officers had
left their positions, and were now enrolled in
the service of the enemy. Fifteen thousand of
these emlgrants were serving under the Duke
OF Brunswick, when he was confronted by Du-
mourieZ. The ranks, also, from various causes,
had been seriously reduced in that period of
fearful commotion. The army of the monar-
ohy had wasted away to mere skeleton. 1t
ls true that, when war was proclaimed, revolu-
tionary levies poured rapidly in, and the ranks
were rehlled by artizans, tradesmen, mechan-
les, burghers and peasants. But il was easier
70 fill the ranks than to furnish suitably quail
fed officers. These new levies, filled with re-
volutionary enthusiasm and impatient of con-
troll, were led by officers whom they did not
know, and consequently could not trust-ofi-
GERS who, In many cases, did not know enough
Of their duties to be worthy of being trusted.
DumOurieE, however, was man born to CON-
mand. His first review Of the army, on assu-
ming the command, assured the men that thew
had one for q leader whom they might safely
follow. Subsequent bold and vigorous acts
taught them that their General was one who
could not be trihed with, who would be obeyed.
kellerrnan, also, was every inch a soldier; he
speedily won the entire confidence of bis men,
while be made his own authority everywhere
felt and respected His men soon came nobly
up, in emulation Of the high qualities of their
leader. At Valmy he boldly flung one of his
columns upon the veteran Prussian hosts, and
when compelled to fall back by the heavy fire
of masked battery, he rallied them on the
brow Of the hill from which they had descend
ed. There they stood, and sent up shout that
rolled from rank to rank, rising high above the
roar OF srtillery-a shout that made the Duke
Of Brunswick pause, recall his advancing forces
and sound the retreat. 80.
When the French troops looked from the
plateau Of Valmy upon their retreating enc
mics, they had already wiped out their former
disgrace, and were now ready for all that
career Of triumph which opened before them
under the auspices Of Napoleon and his Mar
shals. They had gained confidence in their
leaders, they had learned to yield with mill
tary alacrity TO their authority, and had begun
TO feel a soldiers Just and sober confidence in
themselves These were the elements of vic
tory; and victory for long years thereafter was
wont to perch upon their banners.
We have the elements of as noble and brave
an army as ever trod the battlefield on the
way to victory. Our brave troops won a victory
on their FIRST bloody field. They only needed
to make that victory complete, a full and hear
ty confidence in their leaders, and habits of
prompt obedience to their authority The first
Of these-thanks to that painful lessen-they
are likely soon to have; for on their next ad-
vance they will have leaders werthy of their
confidence. The second Is seldom wanting in
an army. led by men who understand an Of
feer's duty and aim 10 perform it we'll. With
courage, confidence, and subordination in our
army, We look for results worthy of themselves
and the cause and country which they serve.
n