, 1862-10-25
Our Generals.


the manner of treating Generals, which might be
copied by us with advantage Beauregard for
time was the idol of the rebel army. He skedad-
died from Corinth, and was Immediately laid on
the shelf. We have heard nothing of him of late
except that he was at Mobile with his staff prob
ably to superintend the construction of fortifca-
tions there-a duty for which he is more fitted
than directing armies on the field
Wise-Henry A., the former ranting, staving
Governor of Virginia-made botch of things
about year ago on the Kanawha, and capped
the climax of his ncapacity at Roanoke. That
was the last that was heard of Wise. If he holds
any position at all now, it is a very subordinate
one. Secessia once resounded with tie applause
of Floyd, and the vociferations of Pillow At
Fort Donelson these two WORTHLESS disgraced them
selves, and ever since they have been in the back
ground. Hollins grandiloquent Dispatch setting
forth how he peppered the blockaders off the
Crescent City, sent momentary thrill of delight
through the rebel States, and Butternuts every
where shouted for the "hero OF Greytown )" but
Hollins was not forthcoming at the time he was
wanted, and that was the end of that rhetorical
tar.
The rebels seem to comprehend 70 the fullest
extent that their cause is everything-men moth
ing. The moment leader shows himself incom-
petent, he is unceremoniously thrust aside, and
better man put in his place. How do we act P
Let us begin at the beginning. Pierce blundered
at Big Bethel, and Pierce disappeared from lofty
station. Schenck made himself ridiculous at Vi
enna, and Schenck has ever since been in the
background but there we left the right track.
Miles was drunk at Bull Run, and neglected to
bring up his reserves. If he had done so, the ma
ton might have been saved the shame of the pan
ic of the 2lst July, 1861.
The matter was inquired into, to be sure. Some
swore Miles was drunk a great many others,
that they did not see him in that highly efficient
state of mind for a commander. A man once
arrested for petty larceny. Two witnesses de-
posed that they saw him take the article with
their own eyes The prisoner enquired if cases
were decided in that court on the weight of testi-
mony and on being answered in the affirmative,
claimed an acquittal on the ground that he could
produce dozen witnesses who could swear that
they never saw him appropriate anything that
belonged to anybody else. We do not say that
it was on this principle that Miles was acquitted,
though, if he were drunk, it is possible that there
were twenty thousand men in the Bull Run army
who did not see him in that state. At all events
he was retained in the army and being in the ar
my, had chance few weeks ago, to surrender
HarIers Ferry just at the critical moment.
Next comes Mcdowell He commanded at
Bull Run. The nation generously upheld him
on the ground that it was not he that was in
fault, but his troops, who would not stand their
ground. If correspondents Of the press are to be
relied on in the late fighting before Washington,
Bull Run repeated itself in that part Of the field
where he commanded. The teamsters and camp
followers of his division performed the old role
The mo nent the order to fall back was given,
they set up the historic shout Of Bull Run, and
the division retreated in disorder We had a
dispatch two or three weeks ago, that Mcdowell
was under arrest, but we now learn that he is to
be placed over the Military Academy at West
Point. ea
Pope follows next in order. With him we
drop illustration. lie is now in command of the
forces operating against the rebellious Indians
He will do well so long brains are not thrown
into the scale against him. We will have good
Generals when we learn to reward merit and pun
ish pretenders, but not before. The sooner the
Government becomes fully alive to this fact, the
better it will be for the country. The execution
of few incapables would do no harm. Is no
crime committed when thousands Of lives are sac
rifced by the ncompetency of a General2 If
some such rule were established, none but men
conscious of genius would aspire to command !;
certainly Fremont would not now be intriguing
to supersede McClellan.-.4Ha California.