, 1863-09-05
TIE RULES OF WARFARE,

made from time to time to the "rules of
civilized warfare" struck out by the cxi-
gencies Of the rebels and their friends
The Richmond press have been especially
fertile in these enlargements Of the code
for the regulation OF belligcrents, their in
dustry and zeal keeping even pace with
the progress Of their mishaps aud re7er-
ses. In the stronger days OF the rebellion,
while as yet the Government had not
brought its full power into play, there was
less said Of the rights Of belligerents, but
recently the rebel plants ELI the air.
Copperheads Of the North and the Eng
lish press have literally helped them in
this respect, but have never come quite IN
to their masters in the art in the nicety Of
their points. The first great Infringement
on these laws Of war was claimed and
ch1onicled with full outcry, on tile Federal
adoption Of tie plan Of artning the blacks.
The rehemence Of the remonstrance to
this measure has come to be understood as
a prompt tribute to its efficiency, the in
slant recognition by the rebels and their
allies, that the weak point in their cause
had been reached.
The rebel leaders and presses haye frc-
quently found fault with us on these same
grounds. Once charge was made
against The then commander of the ARMY
Of the Potomac, for threatening Yorktown
with seige, and slow approaches, since
argued the complainant, that place is
proof against assault, and ssit ID unfair to
avoid meeting us on the line Of the defence
for which We have prepared ourselves.'
So, too, it was an unfair and monstrous
evasion Of open issues, for Rosecraus to
flank Bragg, and an Alabama journal be-
walled it bitterly, wondering; what had
come over the world that such things were
permitted to combatanta. This is an &C.
tual statement Of actual charges preferred,
and if these be deemed ridiculous, what
shall be thought Of a still fnesher instance
Of like character. The Richmond Dis
patch 1aboriously argues that it is unfair
and not to be tolerated, in General Gil
more, On general principles Of civilized
warfare, that he elevate his guns and fire
over Wagner and Cummings Point, and
Sumter, landing his shells full in the heart
of the city. It demands that Gilmore
"take the works se1iatim," and protests
that he ~"Aas no right to skip any Of thu
lines OF batfesfes.''
The world viii laugh at these claims
and bitter walls when the war is over. It
viii recognize them as born Of the ex-
tremity Of the rebels, and akin to COM
plaint from hard pressed and flying thief,
that the officer must carry weight because,
forsooh, he carries booty; that he must be
allowed ample start. that no advantages
must be taken Of him in the way Of short
er cuts, or the use Of horse-fesh, and that
the little disabilities Of and-cuffs, and per-
haps an overhauliDg bullet, are not to be
thrown in the scale against him. Thisre-
bellion is to stand among the great Grimm
ais of history. Pillowed in all time as a
hell-born and monstrous offence, viewed
in regard to itself and its outrages upon
Human Rights, it will be set down as pos
sessing little more claim to nicely Of treat
ment than the rayenous wild beast caught
in a deed Of marauding and murder. But
it will also stand Of record, that the most
marked feature Of thus era is the spectacle
Of firmness, mildness and forbearance with
which this Government has grappled with
the enemies thirstiDg for it's Life.