The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1862-04-18
Visit of English Army OHicers---What
They Think of our Troops.

They Think of our Troops,
Washington Correspondence of the World.
Colonel Lysons, Assistant Adjutant Gen
eral of the COmmander-in Chief of the Brit
ish army; Colonel Percy, commanding the
British Grenader Guards the Lieutenant
Colonel commanding the Fusilier Guards
Captain Gordon, A. d. G. to Lord Paulet,
Lieutenant the Earl of Dunmore, and other
British officers of high note, left this city
recently for Canada, after having spent
some days in Washington, and having seen
not little of Cur army and our material of
war. The names OF the men will hardly
convey to the American public an adequate
idea of their real rank and Importance.
Colonel Lysons, formerly of the Royals, is
one Of the most distinguished and thorough
soldiers in England. He had much to do
with the organization of the British |olun-
teers, and was sent to Canada to organize
the Canadian militia at the time tina war
was expected to grow out of the Trent af-
fair. Colonel Percy, commanding the
Grenadier Guards, ranks as Brigadier
General, and few brigad.ers in the British
service would object to exchange ranks with
him. The GreDadier. Coldstream and Fu
silier Guards constitute the "Househod
Brigade" the choice and pet troops of Eng
land. They are better paid than the line,
more carefully recruited, and differed by
the pure "blue blood" oil England
These officers came to see the Army of
the Potomac. Before their departure their
commanding officer, Sir Fenwick Williams,
of Kars, eDjoined upon them to preserve
the strictest incognito in travelling through
out the United States. He warned them
that our hatred of Engishmen, and espe
cially of British officers, was perfectly dia-
bolical, and that as their friend, DR.. Russell
of the Times, had informed them, social
decentralization and anarchy were so preva-
lent here that, if they were identified any
where on the way as officers of the British
army. they would probably be mobbed and
murdered. They were, therefore, required
to disguise themselves and their baggage.
Extra whiskers were cropped, and the
names of the owners painted off from their
travelling ampedimemta. So thoroughly was
this carried out that Captain Gordon was
compelled by an orderly of General Williams
to leave behind him in Montreal trunk
which bore his name and the designation of
bis regiment.
Strange to say, the party arrived at
Washington without having been even
once attacked by the people of the
United States. They reported to Lord
Lyons, and, their arrival having become
known, they were appalled, by visit from
Major General Mcdowell. who came-not
to challenge them, as some of the party ex
pected, but to exchange civiities and to
tender them the compliment of divisional
review.
After due elaboration the invitation was
accepted. Precautions were taken, in &C
cordance with General Williams instruc.
tions, to prevent the assassination of any
members of the party by bands of MUIR
derers hired by Mr.. Seward. They crossed
the long Bridge without losing man. Some
trepidation was observed among the your
ger officers when they reached the ground
and took their position in front OF the div
ision every man of whom, in the opinion OF
DR.. Russell, of the London Times, was pam
ting for their blood But the appearance
of General Mcdowell and staff Gained their
fears, and the review proceeded. For FIVE
mortal hours they bestrode their horses,
watching the evolutious of the most perfect
division of the greatest army in the world.
Al the close Colonel Lysons and Colonel
Percy could not help saying that never, in
their long military experience, had they
witnessed finer spectacle.
81 latter. Colonel Percy, as spokesman
for the party, expressed his qualification in
neat little speech to General Mcdowell,
and was duly complimented in the response.
No allusion was made by the Epglishman to
his chief surprise, which was that none of
the party had been shot at. General
Mcdowell could not, of course, guess that
this thought was uppermost in their minds.
With the exquisite tact so characteristic
of Englishmen, Colonel Percy communicate
ed to General Nc lellan, whom be met at
the review, his high appreciation of the sol-
dierly appearance of his troops, and sug-
gested that it would be we'll to issue an Or
der of the day stating that the review had
been witnessed by distinguished British Of
fcers of the British army, who pronounced
the drill and maneavres of the division
very fue and creditable.
General Mcclellan replied that it was a
very good idea indeed, and that he should
not fail to act upon it when he had time.
Pity be has been so busy ever since.
1t was our old friend, Sir William Boyd,
who said that railroads in this country
should be run with extra care when the
cars contained distinguished Englishmen. !"
Had not 70 onel Percy left him the mono
poly of The idea?