The national Republican., 1862-10-22
Communicated.
A COMPARIBON.

("
The following extracts from Macauley's essay
on Lord Nugsnt's Memorials Of Hampden ap
pear to present more than one point of resem'
blanoe to matters which have transpired in our
own country; and the military errors Of Essex
seem not unlike the errors Of somo Of our gen.
erals.
The closing part, describing Rupert's preda.
tory expedition, is 90 nearly like the late raid
Of Stuart, rs to strike the most casual OBJ
server:
There was, in fact, for some time, no great
and connected system of operations on either
side. The war Of the two parties was like the
war of Armanes and Ormay des, neither Of
whom, according TO the Eastern theologians,
has any exclusive domain, who are equally
omnipresent, who equally pervade all space,
who carry on their eternal strife within every
particle Of matter.
There was = petty war In almost every coun.
ty. Atown furnished troops to the Parliament,
whilo the manor. house Of the neighboring peer
was gsrrisoned for the King. The combatants
were rarely disposed to march far from their
own homes. ...
It was reserved for Fairfax apd Cromwell to
terminate this desutory warfare, by moving
one orer ,nheintng force successfully against all
the scattered fragments Of the royal party.
1t ia n remarkable circumstance, that the
officers who had studied tactics in what were
considered the best shoos--under We're in the
Netherlands, and under Gustavus Adolphus In
Germany:-displayed far less skill than those
commanders whe had been bred to peaceful
empoyments, and who never saw even u skir-
mish ill the civil war broke out.
An unlearned person might hence be inclined
to suspect that the military art is no very pro
found mystery; that its principles are the prin.
eye, cool head, and stout heart will do more
10 make q general than all the diagrams OF
Jomini. This, however, is certain, that Hamp.
ton showed himself a. far better officer than
Essex, and Cromwell than Lesley.
Tho military errors Of Essex were probably,
in some degree, produced by political tinidity.
He was honestly, but not warmly, attached to
the cause of the Parliament; and, next to u
great defeat, he dreaded great piciory.
Hsmpdsn, on the other hand, was for vigorous
aud decisive measures. When he drew the
sword, as Clarendon has well said, he threw
away the scabbard. He had shown that he
knew better than any public man of his time
how to value and how to practice moderation.
But he knew that the essence Of war il VIC.
lsnoe, and that moderation in war Ia imbo.
o. several occasions, particularly during the
operations In the neighborhood OF Brenlford,
| he demonstrated earnestly with Essex. Where.
ever he commanded separately, the boldness
and rapidity Of his movements presented n
striking contrast to the slugsishness of his su-
perior.
In the early part Of ls43, the shirss lying in
the neigbborhood Of London, which were de-
voted TO the cause OF the Parliament, were in.
cessantly annoyed by Rupert and his cavalry.
Essex had extended his lines SO far, that almos,
every point was vulnerable.
The young prince who, though not a great gen
eral, was an active and enterprising partisan,
frequently surprised posts, burned villages
swept away cattle, and was again at Oxford
before force sufficient to encounter him could
be assembled.
10 the evening Of the l7th Of June, Ruper,
| darted out cf oxford with his cavalry on n pre-.
datory expedition. At three In the morning OF
the following day, he attacked and dispersed a
few parliamentary soldiers, who were quarter
cd at Pcstcombe. He then few 10 Chinnor
burned the village, killed or took all the troops
who were posted there, and prepared to hurry
back with his body and his prisoners 10 0xiorC,
Aampden had on the preceding day strongly
/ represented to Essex the danger to which this
part OF the line WAS exposed. As soon as he
| received intelligence Of Rupert's incursions
he sent OF horseman with message TO the
i general. The cavaliers, he said, could only
| return by Chiselhampton bridge. A force ought
| to be instantly dispatched In that direction for
| the purpose Of fintercepting them. In the met n
time. he resolved TO set out with all the cavalry
he could muster, for the purpose of impeding
the march of the enemy ill Essex could take
measures for cutting ff thefr retreat.
On The neld Of Chslgrove he came up with
Rupert. A fierce skirmish ensued. the firs,
| charge Hampden was struck In the shoulder
by two bullets, which broke the bone, and
lodged In his body. The troops nf the Parlia-
ment lost heart and gave way. Rupert, aftei
pursuing them for u short time, hastened tC
oross the bridge, and made his retreat "unmo
lested to Oxford.".