Civilian & telegraph. [volume] (Cumberland, Md.) 1859-1875, 1864-12-22
OUR GENERALS.

-r' The American people have accorded 70 tholl
generals in this war, generous and hearty
support without parallel in history. Viii
the exception Of the short war with Mexico
the present generation had known only tho
blessings Of profound and prosperous. peace
The arms, small in numbers, was distributed
in few thinly garrisoncd posts. aud spread
out over the immense extent Of our distant
frontier. 1t is perhaps not too much TO say.
that the great majority Of our people had
never seen the United States uniform, worn
by the regular soldiers Of the nation, nor wit
messed the evolutions ola squadron Of cavalry
or of battery ofartillcry. The shareholders
rebellion burst upon the minds Of men like q
clup Of thunder from clear sky. When the
first stunning effects of the attack upon Fort
sumptcr passed away, they few to arms.
They demanded to be led at once, against the
traitors who had menaccd the nations life
Blu. where were the leaders, The deadly
poison Of Secession lad deeply tainted the
regular army--or rather its officers, for the
rank and file remained true to their flag and
10 their Country. Many of those highest in
rank. aud heretofore most trusted, had shame
fally deserted to the enemy, and doubt and
distrust naturally rested upon many Of those
tina. remained In few DAYS, at the word
Of the President, there had sprung up an army
IF n hundred thousand men--but the generals
to'lead this host were yet wanting. There
was only the venerable form of the General
in chief for The loyal heart to rest upon with
perfect confidence his age and nfrmi,ics
prevented him from taking the field Ac-
cordingly we find that of the three Major
Generals appointed to command the first vol
unieers ofthe war-but ons was professional
soldier, aud all three were taken from civil
life. Ii We rcposed implicit faith in the 10y
atty Of Generals Banks and Butler, we con-
ficd in Gen. Mcclellan as a man bred to
arms, and when after TIE battle of Bull Run
I've was called to the chief command of the
armies of the Union, it was with the cordial
appreciation Of the whole people Never be-
fore had General or Statesman such opyr-
tunities. Invested with the full confidence
and support of both Government and people
placed at the head of the most powerful army
of modern ttues--with al! the wealth and re-
sources of rich aud mighty nation poured
cut without stin. at his feet he forfeited that
confidence. only after that army and those
resources had been fri;tersd aud wasted away
by his incapaoity and Encouragement, and
now, none so poor as to do him reverence"
! the, carly days Of the rebellion, repu.a-
tions and honors we're easily and cheaply
wons aud many high commissions then granted
70 petty services, real or presumed, and no'-
badges of any thing else but honorable dis
,inetion; for the stars ofour Generals are only
bright meg, when they reflect the glow of gal
LIANT, and glorious deeds. They are very dim,
when they signify only the nations generous
recognition Of ,lihing services in the begin
ming of the war. but which have not been fol-
lowed up by an unbrOken career o; gallantry
and usefulness since. The heroic deeds and
gigantic achievements Of Gran. aud Sherman
and Fhonss, and Sheridan, and many others.
whose names p0sterity viii remember |; have
utterly cbscurcd the puny exploits which
were once so celebrated, and the glcrics Of
Gettysburg. the Wilderness, Atlanta. and
the Shenandoah, have totally eclipsed The
once famous battles Of Fairfax Cour: House,
Big. Bethel. and philiipi. Amid the sPlend-
ors Of tie eenques. Of Eicksburs. men have
almost Ssgo;ten the capture Of Romncy; and
ouly ghripg lithoersphs keep alive the nssss-
Org cf 1.-The Crossing Of 10 Potomsc at
Cherry Iun !; .i..ee ,a.psssagea Of the RapaI
idsu ey Grant. AMI that Vi tie Oconee, o-ec-
chez. and ,h. ssrsnsah. b: shsrman. =
.n g'.t