New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1862-03-03


suits Of my mastery strategyw Thus it is thai
the retcent charlatan impresses casual Observes
with an idea Of bis profuudity, when, in truth. b.
is silent simply because he knows not what to say.
or, rather, because he has nothing whatever 70
say, bis head being as devoid Of thoughts as liz
mouth is Of words. 1t ia only those who piercs
through the husk to the kernel that will dispute
the pretensions Of professional men who put On
wise airs and keep close lips.
The art or trade of war is made up Of three els-
ments: first its mere drapory $50 to speak,, suck
az the manual exercise ia tho dri-room and ESQ.
lutions on the parade-ground; second, the con-
covering wide and diversified campaign; third
actual fighting in the field. Each is important
But history shows that the value of each is in 10
verse order to that in which we have stated them.
The world abounds with illustrations Of this truth.
Our recent victories, which ~ thrill loyal bcars
and, indeed, oil the successful battles Of this war
were won mainly b. troops who had experienced
littls or no drilling; whe, on tie other hand that
huge column of our army which has been drilled,
trained, disciplined, paraded aud reviewed The
longest and with tie most careful assiduity has
not struck single blow.
A General may be good drili-master, and not
possess the faculty essential to 80 combine 'crca
as to secure success, ard totally fail amid The
roar, smoke, and blood Of the battlefield. Apprr-
cating his own mental characteristics, but ei@'-
lating the fame of great commanders, he may de-
ceive popular scrutiny BY assiducus attention 70
matters Of detail relating to the camp aud the iar
nishnent Of his troops, and may even dazzle tho
public eye by brilliant displays Oh tho parade
ground, ard yet be quite incapable of making such
combinations upon large field oi operations NJ
will burl ponderous masses upon the foe Of the
right moment and in the right place, ard bsI
wholly deficient in that personal magnetism which
wins undoubting confidence on the eve Of battle,
and in actual conflict, inspires oil who follow ais
banner with the courage and yehemence OF Iona
In word, General may be merely good drill /
muster, and still, by concurrence Of icftntoasI
circumstances provided he will hold HE tonsusl
and avoid battle, get W quite reputation as sL
long-head,d strateQst
Among practical men, subtle strategy IN war;
has never filed 40 high place as hard fighting.
Daring and dash, coupled with good sense, bayet
often won where glow, calculating strategy ha1I
signsly failed. France Austria, and Raseia senti
against the Great Frederick the first strategst %
bis time. But how often were they beaten tJ
that hardeSt Of fighters, who never, amid the deeP1
es. mud aud SNOW, let slip IN opportunity for tall
ing upon his ioesl Among the leaders Of thd|
Napoconic armies, Grouchy stood in the front
rank "a strategist Yet, be let that toughest u
eager fighters, Old Blucber, get away from aim
and turn the tide Of battle at Waterloo. s,nts
Anna was repu;ed to be cue Of tho most niiy q
strategsts combining the lofty genius Of tie Cas-
titan with the secretiye cunning Of the Indiaai
But old Rough and Ready" bea. him al Buena
Vista. High military authority placed fasiersod
among the most prudent. cautious and saeac"nf
OF American Generals---slow but sure. Yet pho'
ston slipped through his fDgers, appeared suideni
ly at Manassas, aud drove Mcdowell FROM IN
field. Every student Of the annals Of var hBow
that Generals " 10 have made profound sirateE
rather than desperate fighting their sPecia f6ld
and have preferred TO circumyeut toe eoeniyb b
trick and artifce instead of beating him IN TN
open field. have not infrequeltiy shown tapH
faculty at letting their foes &c; away from ilieut
Napoleon never was so much in his element a
when dealing with great stra;egis., For be wal
sure to cut his columns TO pieces in detail, or slI)
through his very wise but rather clumsy ii fer4
and turn up just when aud where DC was lea,te I'd
pected and most dreaded. And, Of course, netl1
ing aroused his wrath so nuch as learning tha
one of his Marshals had allowed q coiumn, wlcy
he was set 70 watch, to escape out OF ms hai -
Among the greatest Of military crimes he pa
that OF letting an enemy get away from you. "o1
bitter were the curses he rained upon the head 4
Grouchy for this ofiense
The Napoeonic system Of taciics Was tie
one for achieving success. either ia 2 s.ng' ba'3
tie or protracted campaign. Strike tie Il
wherever you can reach him. Ii you dare Il
attack birn as whole, anDihiinte hin. in d-,-.j
column by column. Above all, never 1T him 81
cape out of Your hands.
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