The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1863-04-02

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Sc fouia the true solution of our whole diff
cdlty, the only force which can give vitalt
or permanehce to any theory of settlement
As the7matter tidR stands. it IS idle to hop
f,r either pence or safety uatiI this quest:o
ofniilitary superiority is Enthusiastically an
definitely settled. Upon this point then
the increase Of our military efficiency, wh:c
embraces not merely the Improvement Q
the condition OF the army. bat also, as v
have endeavored to7show by English exsatn
pie. and in n'sgrcnter degree than Is yoftet
supposed, shesdpport Or TIE government i
it's general policy 'of conducting the war
shonldths efforts or an those who hi4nenc
/ fpuhhe optuic1'6e concentrated! 10 naTl'io
There is certain Class Of mef, f AMONG II 7o Is
not very numerous perhaps, but stiIl, OWN, win
to their position and culture, Of consider
able Influence, who, accustomed to find in
the European armies their standard Of mil
itary efficiency, are disposed to doubt whte,l
or force composed as ours is 'of totally dif
ferent material$ can Accomplish great re-
suits. We may admit at once the superri
ority Of foreign military organization, II,
result or the traditions of fcenturies o'f mni
tiry experience, idigested into a thorough
system, and carried out 'by long. tfainaed
officers perfectly vefsed i6 the details Of ii,
service. Much Inconvenience has neecessa
riiy resulted in dur case from the irnorn ignorance
Of regimsntal officers 70 q greater degrre,
probably, however, from want Of proper
care and attention on their part to the
troops, when in camp, than from any gross
inconpetency. or misconduct on the field of
battle. distances of sucf, misconductt there
has undoubtedly been, but, considering the
number OF officers and their want Of expe, nus
rience,, those instances are extremely igr rare,
and when we cali to mind the a number Of o.
tfcers who have fallen. while leading their
men in battle, out Of proportion. as as it un-
dpqbtedly s, With the losses in other wars,
we may well patIiate deficiencies n that r re.
spect, out Of consideration for their heroic
gallantry and devotion" We do. not t'u un.
der rate certainly the value Of good officers
but history tells US that great victories have
been achieved i.y armies who were n no BET
ter led than ours. The incompetency Of his
officers was one Of Wellington's standing
complaints in Spain. Most Of them knew
absolutely nothing beyond the mere routine
Of garrison duty; t,iey were ali shit is
technicaily called gentlemen Tor each one
had purchased his commission at a high
price, but they had no Systematic training
id military schools, nearly ali of them bad
no actual experience Of war, and their ave
rage a.ihteliigencs was undoubtedly below
that Of the men who hold similar positions
in oar army* All accounts agree that
at that time, the scientific branches Of the
greatar ofwar were almost wholly neglect.
ed in the British army and such was the
happy ignorance Of the elements Of strategy
that at court martial, composed of general
officers for the trial of General Whitelock,,in
1908, for his failure at Buenos Ayres, it was
necessary to explain to the court what was
meant by the right bank Of a riyer. sf
tits said again BY those who have the
standard Of foreign armies before their eyes yes
about our soldiers there is not proper defer
ence to ranl,,too much cqmaraliris in shor.
and that this is fatal to discipline But it
should be remembered that snsn mere s'i formal rn
discipline may be one Thing, and the true
spirit Of discipline another,a and yet both may.
answer the same purpose. The first may.
b. more sA9wy than the latter, but net more
valuable to military efficiency, Eyerythine
depends Upon the character Of the soldier.
Vho is to, be governed BY it, The British
Irmy is composed. as we all Know of the
efuse Of fthe population, and ip the war on.
he Peninsula it was largely reinforced by
he introduction into its ranks. Of conyicts
pken from the hulks, Who were re- there, 'e eex-
Eating infamous offences. with such such inra men
,otives based on sense Of duty " We're pow pow !.
riess. Drunkenness, then, -iInaraading,
,utinous spirit, Under privations,i and al
erce thirst. flicense which defed al con.
'oI in the hour Of victory, these were the
ruta! passions which could only be check. |
by the equally brute hand Of force.
ut from such vile herd, made useful only |
) the slave Is made useful, by fear Of the
sh, TO the civilized, sober. well educated
mericah citizen, animated with the con
.iousness that he is fighting for a. great
tuse, in the success Of which he and his
iildren have a deep pei sonaf interest, and
no learns obedience becaasc both his com.
on sense and his sense Of duty recognize |
necessity. how imneasarable is the dis
nee! The American volunteer, in this /
sPect has not had justice done to his ex-.
,,ieace. Heiis certainly q soldier sui De- |,
IRIS, and when We hear sneers ct his want
= 'discipiinc, fet US remember that although
> may not regard his officers as superior
.ings yet experience has already shown
iat iii the cheerful performance Of his
ew duties un der prisations in his freedom |.
ON those vices which in many minds are
Associated with tie very idea
- schiller; 10 his courage, endurance, and |
sadiness in battle and more thsn AL,
,peral inaeikssaees md bsvhsof,country. he |,
resenss hinssf to us asa 6gafe o hitherto
holly Inknownlin- military history ride |,
One offhs most cruel statements which
\ rfv ranc0e has c;rc,,ls tod II, rega III IN IN |