New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1862-10-29
Generals with TN Idea.
Of Ihs N. Y. Tribune,


BosTos, Oct. II, 1862.
friend Of mine who was graduated under Stone
wall Jackson, when he was professor at Lexing-
ton, Va, has given me account of bin which pos
ably little COMFORTS with the impression which his
dashing raids and movements have made upon the
popslar mind. The man who makes nearly bic forty
miles q day, who crossed the Potomac and swept
Niddlet ywn Valley Of cattle, without taking with
him single tent, except one to cover certain csaris
snd papers in case Of rain for such candid Rebel
prisoner in Washington declares to be The truth
WHO has even when meeting superior numbers met
wnh nothing which can be called deiest--siands
more chance certainly Of wiring hs name high upon
the lists of tlose TO whom the world has accorded
the praite OF military creatures than any man who
La, appeared on the arena Of this war
This man. NY friend informed me, was remark.
able al the College wherein he was Professor for
his aus:ese aud secluded life bis reserved manners,
ana his quiet and gentle ways. He was beloved by
the students above other Professors for bis Kindness
apG humility He was considered the most dsvout
seHgonst almost to the extent Of quietism; and was
slao ful Of the mild enthusiasm Of an unworldy al
..rsetionis.. lie was just such man 90 Napoleon
would have snubbsd az an - ideciogsE.' Such Is the
I1an VINO under The touch Of an emergency, looms
I'd before the world rs man full Of strength aud
Inspiration He is this day ovefshacowing many
man who in times psst has regarded him AZ very
urimporant visionary. No doubt bis vision IS
deluson, bis inspiration fanaticsm; but in their
strength be eutstrps Tie wondering practical inen
around him.
1t is strange that the world does not learn what
history is so constantly repeating that IN great
emergencies such are the only adequate men. The
startling warriors have been the great fanGtics Of
their time, Napoleon TO the contrary notwitlsand-
inc. The world has, know, taken lie cue from
Napoleon and is noisy in its contempt Of :" ideolo-
rists" Gen. Haleck, the other day, said "Confound
your pbilanthropists. | hate them. They did Inc
more mischief 81 CoTiDth than the Rebels." Super
fetal men think il Napoleonrc TO exclude ideas far
AZ passble from tie war, forgetting that 30 long
NAPOLEON was Tie representative Of ideas, 80 long
his banner was that Of the liberals Of Europe be
mcceeded; but 70 soon as bis eye was filed with
Crown instead Of Lberty--eo soon as he began TO
,b.,e TIE deoiogists, who annoycfhim 80 much %
tue Anti-slavery men Gid The suihorof Order NO .
20 soon did he begin % fer; aud at last his oea-
hess warr landed bin on 9 small rock IN the Meoier-
'anean 10 die al ignobe death. lie who bad aboi-
.hed tie Alps when they STOOD IN The way OF Ai1
idea, stumbled and fell over eweied bsubie which
~Prcfenicd only Sell. Alexander the Great and
Cesar were in thor day scholars; MClaumsd
AID Saaddin were yaionsIies Peter the Hermit
aud Cromwell were enthusiasts. Such men are al
most Irresistible. because swayed by the great IN
vihibe forces. The men who have remoded the
world from age TO age. and created epochs have not
tsen hose deemed practical aud cautious by their
soiemporaries, but generally those deemed fanatics
aud ysonsries.
Thefs thoughtsbaye occurred 10 me in reading ths
letters which have lately passed between Gen.
Pbeips and Gen. Butler, the commentary upon
winch is Tie accepted resignation Of Phelpe. Gen.
Butler has himself borne witness 10 tie admirable
''dieriy qualities Of Gen. Phelps. lie says lis sG-
perior can scarcely be found, and when some per-
'ons alluded TO the alleged insanity Of Gen. Phelps,
BuI" snd, His only insanity is that he is
1bohuonlsi some few months before you and me-
Now after having read carefully the first proclama
tionOf Gen Phelps, which created 80 nuchdlcussion,
and this long correspondence, il must be plain 70 all
thai Of Gen. Phelpss mind !. filed with a new and
higher social condition for the whole country which
be believes Is 10 emerge from tho fires Of civil war
which rage through the country. In this he resem-
ties sach fanatics ar Peter the Hermit, Mohammed
end Cromwell. And for tlis lie il ready 10 brave
G-eb ~ hey. For tile vision Le naked Ais CON-