Charles City Republican intelligencer. [volume] (Charles City, Iowa) 1861-1864, 1863-01-15
A. b. r. HILDRETH, Editor.
Charles City, Iowa, Jan. Is, 1863.
American Generalship.

Since. the day of Bull Run, the soldiers OF
the Union have won nothing but encoiumsm by
their heroism. Occasionally an officer, and
now and then a regiment. has been subject to
unfavorable imputation, but as general thing
the world has never produced armies which
have done so well under all circumstances, as
the volunteer soldiery of the United States.
Nevertheless, in a war of twenty months du-
ration, we find that our armies, representing
population of twenty millions, have not
succeeded in the overthrow of armies repre-
senting population of less than half that
number.
Why is thisg The voice of the nation,
wearied and indignant, long ago answered,
!" Inferior gcneralship."
In the West, it is true, the monotony of a
magnificent do-nothing policy has been re-
lieved by victories of no ordinary brilliancy,
and the late victory of Rosecrans and that at
Vicksburg will practically put an end to
the war in theSouthwest, If only decent vigor
is displayed in improving them and taking
possession of strategic points thus open for
our occupation.
But at the East, the main wing of the col
umn has been stationary, and consequently
the whole line of battle has failed of victory.
Whoever would have supposed that among
a people possessed of the intelligence, the ver-
satility, tho genius of the Americans, war
taxing the full resources of the nation, and
calling into requisition the utmost, not simply
of its physical, but its mental abilities, could
be prosecuted for twenty months, without
calling out one military leader who can be
pronounced truly great We have number
of very respectable Generals, men who have
done their duty in professional way, most
nobly, but can we say more than that for
them? We have number who are destined
to rise yet higher in public estimation, but if
everything moves on in the same general
channel in the future, as in the past, why''have
we reason to indulge the hope of loftier de-
velopmcnt in them than in thsir predecessors
Where Is the difficulty We are satisfied it
is not in the men, but In the system. Who
can doubt that our armies possess as much
real capacity for leadership as they do courage
and endurance. the generally understood CHIEF
requisites of the common soldieryi II q regi.
men were adopted calculated to develop not
repress the spirit of generalship among the
masses, why may we not look for its speedy
appearing to any extent which might be de-
siredi
Who can doubt that the West Point system
has been the milestone around the neck Of the
army of the nation? Not that the gentlemen
educated at that institution have not generally
acquitted themselves creditably, nor that a
military education in itself is not most desir-
able in soldier, but that in consequence of
that system, we find SO few Others who have
been PERMITTED to hold positions Of responsible
ity in the army, or holding such positions, to
act upon their own unhampcred judgments.
That system has created a monopoly Of army
government, and in arms, us everywhere else,
we regard monopolies as hurtful. Like a
monarchical system, it confines power to a few
hands by sort of proscriptive right, regard
less Of what capacity there may be outside.
To suppose that the military genius of our
people is limited to few hundred who have
seen the inside walls of a military institution,
would be manifest absurdity. Their natural
opportunities are undoubtedly equal, but GER
tainly not superior to those of other gentle
men.
That system of greater liberality In the
military department is likely to be pursued