The New York herald., 1863-06-30

oO IN II OU, 1OOO. h1I IL
magistrates Of the Roman republic (called con-
suls), and defeated their army with such
slaughter that forty thousand lay dead on the
field Had be rapidly followed up this vic
tory Rome itself would have easily fallen
into his hands. By giving his soldiers too
much repose at Capus. where they became
enervated by pleasure and luxury, he lost
his opportunity. Meantime naval expedi-
ton was fitted out by the Romans against
| Carthage. which induced the Carthagenian
| government to call their general home TO re-
I pei the invasion This was q fatal blunder'
| Hannibal was defeated ON his own soil In
decisive battle at Zama near Carthage, by the
youngec Scipio, son of the first Roman general
he had defeated. Naughty Carthage was COM
pelled to sue for peace, which was granted; but
she never recovered the blow, and the Romans
in future war blotted their rival out of exist
ence. s
In the case Of julius Cesar we have another
example Of bold invasion like that Of Lee
With comparatively small army Cesar pene-
trated Gaul (France), and subdued it from the
Rhine and Mount Jura to the ocean. Subse-
quently he invaded and conquered his own
country with still smaller force. Without
any certain base OF supplies, he passed from
the Roman province, of which he was military
governor, over the boundary Of the Roman re-
public proper, on prstence Of redressing the
wrongs Of tribune of the people. He sub
dued all Italy in sixty days, and pursued
Pompey the general Of the republic, into
Thessaly, where, with less than 25 900 veterans,
he defeated his opponent at the head Of an army
of $4,000 men. Thus Lee, with an army OF about
100, 900 men, enters tho Northern States, with
no secure base of supplies behind him, and his
communications with Richmond liable to be
cut off at any moment. He calculates upon
living upon the country and of establishing
temporary bases of operations as he proceeds
If he wins he comes out all right; but if he is
badly beaten he is lost.
In like manner William the Conqueror crossed
the narrow channel which divides France from
England, conquered the army of the reigning
king in the decisive battle Of Hastings, and
thus founded new dynasty, which has endured
to this day, completely changing the institu-
tions Of England, and making her what other
wise she never would have been--a great Power
| On the earth sa
| 1t is worthy Of remark with what small
1 forces these great achievements were accom-
! plished. The Athenians, at Marathon, with
less than twenty-five thousand men, overthrew
| the Persian host, one hundred thousand strong.
Alexander crossed into Asia with less than forty
thousand men. Hannibal conquered nearly all
Italy with the same number. Casar, with little
more than half the number, conquered the
whole country and permanently overthrew the
republic William of Normandy had only
sixty thousand in his expedition. The two
armies now about to come into deadly collision
exceed the forces at Waterloo, which changed
the destiny Of Europe
Generalship is more important than numbers
! Napoleon Bonaparte with thirty thousand rag
ged troops crossed the Alps, flung himself
into the midst of the large armies Of Austria
and Sardinia defeated them in detail, and con
quered Italy. He had no provisions for hi,
army, no base Of supplies; but as his troop.
descended to the fruitful plains Of Lombard,
he pointed out the fat Of the land, which h.
told them was theirs II they would 90 and take
it.. They took him at his word, and prospered
Thus does Lee trust to fortune. He depends
for subsistence on the fertile plains and valleys
Of Maryland and Pennsylvania, and, in grea
measure, depends for ammunition on what ht
expects to capture from our armies If Lee
should turn outS to be Napoleon
a William the Conqueror, Cesar, {
Hannibal or an Alexander, and If we have
no general Of ability to cope with him, he may
with one hundred thousand veterans, overrur
the whole of the Northern States. But, though
Lee is good general, he has done nothing a.
yet to entitle him to rank among the great con
querors Of the earth. What he may do here
after remains to be seen. If he should be com
pletely successful in this campaign it would be
difficult 10 place any limit to the extent of hi.
future conquests. But perhaps it is from among
our own generals that the new Napoleon is tc
arise, or perhaps new Wellington, who, with
good fortune and stubbornness, may overwhelm
the Southern warrior, even il be should posses:
some claims TO Napoleonic reputation. Il
General Meade should prove victorious in thi,
campaign he will be hailed as the most Illus
trious soldier in the country-the victor of an
American Waterloo. The destiny of America
for centuries to come depends on the decisive
day which il now at hand. .H
Napoleon the THIRD and Mexico.
The Emperor of the French has received
General Forey's report Of the taxing of Puebla
and right glad was he to hear that ut last vic
tory was shedding her lustre upon the legion,
of France in Mexico. Ii is said that his Maj S.
ty exclaimed, when be first received tie news
| a. Maxico ia nrfrs This may or NAV NOT boy.