Daily union appeal. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1862-186?, 1862-08-20
rsAGEs OF clyILIzED NATIONS


recent Or0eEB.
Correspondence Of the Philadelphia Press
WAsHISGToS, Aug. 1l.-It is related that
during Bonsparte's first campaign in Italy,
revolt took place among the people of Milan
and the country surrounding. Having won
the battle Of Lodi, and, in his OWE graphic
words, having crushed like q torrent from the
top of the Appenines," overthrowing and dis
persing everything that opposed his progress,
Bonaparte LEFT Milan and advanced to the
Adige. During his absence, the mobiles, the
monks the servants of the fugitive families,
and multitude of creatures Of the Austrian
Government got up revolt against the French
| army. Their design was to raise all Iombardy
in his rear and consnmmate his destruction.
The citadel of Milan was seized, and French
General, with pistol at his head, was COM
PEELED to sign the order for its surrender. The
revolt spread, and it was feared that it would
result in the Fe-establishment of the Austrian
power IN conquered Lombardy. As soon as
BonapArte heard of the occurrences he returned
At once toward Milan with battalion of horse
| men, a few companies of infantry, and s bat
terry of artillery, burned the village of Binasco
attacked the city of Payia, which surrendered
after short resistance permitted his soldiers
to pillage it for three hours, and sent his cav
airy into the country around 10 cut down the
! insurgents This severe example produced the
| proper effect-the revolt was at an end and
peace was restored. "Adhering to nv inten-
ton of not making war upon the people, said
| Bonapsrte TO the garrison of Pavia, "I will
pardon this act of madness, and leave door
/ open for repentance; but those who shall not
! instantly lay down their arms shall be treated
as rebels and their villages burned"
/ This alluslon to a familiar incident in
| French history is suggested by the argument
of Jefferson Davis that the United States are
| lighting this war in a manner contrary to the
usages of civilized nations. This is his iustif-
| cation of the rigorous order lately published
| in reference to the officers of Gen. Pope's COM
| mand. / should be sorry indeed, to think
that, even in war for It's existence, our coun-
try should be guilty of inhumanity. The OBJ
lection to our method of war has been its
timidity and nervousness. We tried to fight
| without killing any body. We looked upon
the conquest of the rebels as something to be
! accomplished without the interruption of the
existing good feeling. The object of the war
was not victories shoGiu 20 gained, but
that We might live again in love. We were
even more anxious about the affections of the
| rebels than their submission to the constituted
authorities. Gen. Pope dispelled this idea.
His orders are familiar TO your readers. They
may have appeared harsh, but they certainly
were necessary. Look at Bonaparte's meas
ures when he held conquered Italy. He Was
not a severe commander---instances of his hu-
manity are multiplied--yet we see him burn
ing towns, pillaging cities, and summarily
executing the men who had conspired against
his authority.
What reason is there that the citizens ofthe
rebel States should be treated with mere i'm
munity than those of the provinces Of Lom-
bardy2 They talk of civilized warfare, and
yet every rule of civilized war has been
| scorned BY them Their bad faith in the ex-
change of prisoners; in continuing in confne-
ment the hostages for the privateers; in the
case of CorcoIan; in their treatment of our
wounded and SICK and their atrocity towards
Union men in East Tennessee Lower Ken.
tucky, and Upper Alabama, would disgrace
the most barba-ous nation on the earth. Per.
jury, cruelty and dishonesty are fit accompani.
, ments of treason. Napoleon carried out The
rules Of civilized war when the people o.
Lombardy undertook to carry out schemes
. similar to those OF the South, and Gen. Pops
will undoubtedly initiate his example in Vir
ginia-
am glad that Davis has SO promptly ac
cepted the challenge of Pope. The Admins
tration has pledged itself TO the course of th
Q bold general; the people will stand by th,
Administration. His course is the true one
History justifes it; the example of the great
es. captains of Christendom may be quoted q
an illustration and an argument. If we ar
!, in war, let us plunder, burn and destroy; 70
war means plumber, burning and destruction
J Pope is in earnest and Davis is in earnest; le
. US see whose .earnestness possesses the mos
"a meaning and power. Sword point at la:
= crosses sword-point-now for the parry, th
u grapple, the death-thrust. An eye for an ey,
q tooth for a tooth, limb for limb, life for lif
; liberty for liberty-this is the earnest way I
= fight it like earnest men. Then the drum
Q viii beat harshly and the bugles sound shrill,
Y for the music Is that of battle, and no longer
!, dress parade.