New-York daily tribune., 1863-07-02
n tho. , 49,, =, , .... olof H.. -, ! .rn

artillery, prisoners and materials of transport and
above all, the honor Of American arms made the
aughipg.stock of the whole world. Then coma
riendy correspondents who bestow on the .s,en or
-etreatng general the titles of "heroic :" " Napo.
eonic," &C.; the Government gives hi u nA7s troop.
% command ana Pace in i'oOa'1; more public
,,sa,th to sacrifice, ~"' II ns,tie, appear to be
satisfied, =
w'oom do thew deceive by acting thus1 None
but they debase themselves In the eyes o' ""'
encourage the weakness aud incapachy 0. oo''"'"
generals at the expense of the country
In all parts Of the world, captain guilty of the
loss of ship general of that of his army, loses,
ip.o facto his command, and is brought before
council Of war; If innocent, bis innocence pro-
claimed in public prevents any suspicion injurious
to bis reputation; if guilty, he Is discharged IN an
ignominious manner, or shot, accordingly as lie has
been incapable, trAtorous or cowsrdly.
Why are not these rules applied to all American
Generals without regard TO party or political iniu'
encs7 f"t
Why does not the nation exact of the Government
that it render really and eectuay responsible those
Generals whom il pays so we'll
Why are American Generals, on whom the nation
lavishes its gifts and demands nothing in exchange
alone placed in this exceptional position (!
There is not a Government even among those
who seem 10 desPse the most the rights of the peo-
pie, but gives this guaranty for the honor OF the
national arms.
Why has there never been in the war sn example
oi General preferng death to flight or surrender
These examples, common IN the history oil tho
Old World, have still to be emnlAted in this, the
New STILL the opportunities are not wanting ph'
fortunately, any General more less threatened, or
believing himself to be- begins by bufnps his Am.
muntion spikDg his cannon, and tLe.i retreats de-
carng that lie is surrouuded by superior numbers.
What country in Europe you'd consent to lose its
military resources on TIE simple assertion Of Gen
eral, without even calling him to An account
Last year Harpers Ferry capltulsted with 1900
men, without fl sht this last word be0g used ia u
strictly military sense. council Of war is called,
aud instead OF striking terrible blow that would
serve rs an example, il rendered the Government
all accomplice in the cowardlee of one man. This
year Gen. Mroy, with 1900 or 1900 troops and
three batteries, occupied An important and well
fortified position. lie gave out that he was sur
rounded by overpowering numbers, declared that, In
bis opinion, the position dangerous one, spiked
his cannon and retreaied withou. knowing what had
become OF his army; proclaimed lo.s Of 200 men,
who were afterwards found then, all calculations
being made, discovered that but POO had dsapPeAsed
that he had lost at lesst twenty-five cannon ss well
AS formidable position and shaken the m0ralc Of the
troops, but that tie Generals Peson aud ssf were
10 safety.
Can General, sutiec, TO receive the orders Of
another know whether it is not The intention Of lie
General-in chief 10 sacrifice him aud the las,
Of his men, to insure the success Of more importan,
movemeutsl IL It allowable for him 10 settle by a
retreat, the question of personal safety At tho en'
pence Of tue honor of the natioHal arlns
Stranger even than this strange conduct, there
were journal. caring 80 !,ilc ior military honor, n,
10 transform tie retreat into exploit not Ierceiy-
in1 that il their 20 tho man ihey eompfo-
nlsed the nation in the ewes Of tho old military
world, who can see but this fact; You have losi -
cannon, all the ammunition trains, &c. AID il-
porant position, aud have only sachiiced 700 men
and will say uon you pnIe more highly your hic
than your honor
Let mortal. perish, bat cave tia principle 4 na.
iional hororl
Ny conclusion il that there should exist a supreme
aud iminuisb,e NJ liiAry Court, formed eXclusively
from among tie highest ranks Of the army, and that
any General who has los,, through bic fault or 9TH
erwise, a large part Of his ammunition, provisions
&c. who has evacuated without orders any po,ition
intru.,ed him 10 hold who has given up 10 the eu-
cmy part or the whole Of bis command, who, in
case OF fe;reai has not brought back intsoi and IN
good order the troops uuder h.s command. should be
suspended aud brought before this Supreme Military
Court. submit these suggestions the public be-
ing firmly convinced that whom II true, effective aud
complete responsibility once rests on Generals, dc.
iests and losses, couruu,lly recurring, will cease
and will give way to an ETA Of victories that shA
speedily reduce the South 10 submission and rescue
the North from the military disorder IN which II,
Generals have plunged it, Notwithstanding the in
contesta ~ gallantry Of both soldiers and officers.
BeisvsHe &c, lGen. L. CLUsEREr.
hep- l0k, June 20. 1893.
Naval.
DEPARTURE OF THL HON-CLAD ROANOKE.
q, A. I.T