The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1862-07-11
IN FRONT OF RICHMOND.
LETTER FROM FAIR OAKS BAT
TIE FIELD.


TIE FIELD.
The letters from the correspondent of
the Cincinnati Commercial, in our opinion
are decidedly the best that come from Me-
Clellan's army, and if our space permitted,
we should publish them at length. From
letter dated the Oath ult., we make the
following extracts:
OMNIBUS HOURS PRECEDING CONFLICT.
Old professional soIdiers-have
too much self-con6dence to deny that such
periods stir up their very souls. Vclun.
teers not Injured to arms, not fitted to the
habits which form the soldier, are victims
OF keener mental anguish. l suspect that
the trying moments which precede battle,
surprises the martial novice to brave inter
nal struggle to overcome his physical re-
pugnance to the perils of deadly combat.
Those who conquer themselves are brave
those who finch the ordeal fly the field. 1t
is vain for men to invent arti6ces to mask
such resolute emotions. While the conflict
RACES in their minds they may vainly affect
unconcern, but their sympathetic comrades
comprehend. Martial ardor asserts itself
while the first volley is rolling along the
line. 1t begins to glow when the combat
thickens, and burns with steady fame until
the end. Sense of duty and self respect
are the immediate inspiration of the soldier,
and discipline the adjutant which aids him
to resist the appeals of cowardly flesh.
The most dearly bought victory of the bat
tie field is the triumph which man wins over
himself. Nature would be kinder if she
would permit one such achievement to s1f.
fee.
The medical corps of armies comprehend
the influence of those mental and physical
agitations growing out of alarms on the ex-
terror of the camp. They are scarcely less
affecting than the great struggle preceding
battle. Every true soldier will frankly
confess that the night-ripg of hostile rifles
will make bold hearts futter and that it
will blanch the cheeks of gallant men,
though their eyes may glow with the fame
OF battle, and their voices may ciang the
martial order to "falI in, fall 10 !" clearly
and firmly as trumpet tone, l have seen.
Constant excitement like this, moving ma
ture to her very foundations, is most afflct-
ing. 1t preys Ikea devouripg fire upon the
vital energies of the system. And thus the
surgeons report that it is the predominant
element affecting destructively the sanitary
condition of armies 1t has sent many
brave men OF this army to the couch of
sickness.
You suggest that habit makes men in
sensible to danger. Well, no, not where
peril menaces life. The brave soldier loves
lite not less because he risks it often with
apparent indifference. Habit and discipline
enable him to govern bis emotions, but his
love OF life is not diminished and his mind
does not become callous to danger. If be
is necessarily subject to keepest sense of
peril, night and day, during weeks, it frets
him and together with his vigils, bis bard
ships and his privatiops, it finally wears
him out. The testimony of army surgeons
upon this score is most interesting. There
is no psychological mystery in it, Oh, the
weary, weary weeks through which we have
wrestled. Oh, the weary, weary, weeks,
through which our brave army must vet
wear before the heavy burden is torn from
their hearts.
am here reminded of the gross injustice
of the United States Senate to one of the
ablest officers in the army. Brigadier Gen
eral w. F. Smith, who was SO fouly Sian.
dered in connection with the affair at Lees
Mills, before Yorktown, and who was nomi-
mated 'Brigadier General during the early
period of the war, has not been confirmed.
do no injustice in saying that bis division
is distinguished as the "star" division of the
Army of the Potomac. His relative posi-
ton in the scale of military ability generally
assigned him by officers, is as follows: Nc
Clellan first, Franklin second, "Baldy"
Smith third. know DO reason why the
Senate neglects him. Should it adjourn
without confirming him, the army will lose
the services O. one of its best Generals. /
have heretofore alluded to similar neglect
of Brigadier General Marcy, chief of Gems
eral McClellan's staff. have heard but
one reason assigned for his non confirmation,
to wit: be is General McCle!lan's father To-
law. General Marcy has been constantly
10 service for thirty years, and is in the
prime of manhood. His military worth is
undisputed. He was not nominated at the
suggestion OF General Mcclellan, for rea,
son which will strike any reader whose sense
OF propriety is not obtuse.
AS some complaint has been made that
General Mcclellan is partial to some Gen.
erals, it may interest you to know that be
does seem to prefer Generals Franklin, Fitz
John Porter, Smith, Sedswick, Hancock
aud a few Others, whose merits are so freely
confessed by their comrades il arms, that |
don't see how be can avoid preference for
them. II commanding officers generally,
and the Government particularly, exhibited
such intelligent Partially, the country
would be better administered.
Our honest President, it seems, continues
the exercise of his wise patriotism by nomi
mating civil Brigadier Generals. Gustavus
Augustus Adolphus Scrcggs, the great In.
conan of X. N'ism in New York, is about
the latest involuntary star emission. What
heroism in battle has Brigadier General
Gustavus Augustus Adolphus Scroggs dis
played, pray? What have the fifty or more