Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1864-06-02
RUTLAND HERALD.
SATURDAY, MAY %. 1864,
The Las, Of civilian Generals.


were 20; ) 90 and then iailed 10
do IL. "I-shall- push-them-to-th e-waii
dispatches by no means originated with'
or have been a monopoly OF, those ON
GERS who were never at West Point.
Gen. Butler's highly important an
nouncement that "Gen. Grant will not
be troubled with any further reinforce
ments to Lee from Beauregard," was in
spirit rather after the examples OF GER
tain West Point generals, than peculiar
TO civilian officers, and has failed no
more signally in his case than did
the similar ones in theirs. Neither have
defeats in general been confined to the
operations of unframed commanding Of
ficers. But it happens, without doubt,
that all our generals who were decora-
ted with their stars in the outset, for
their energy, ability and prominence in
civil life have by their military career
demonstrated the fact that although
military training at school or in the
field cannot make general without the
right material to work upon, the right
material will not often make general
without being moulded into shape by
military training In our impatience
during the first part of the war, we
would not comprehend this very simple
proposition, but it is being drilled into
us with great many other important
lessons, by the rough teachings of the
war.
Since Banks failure as the conductor
of a military campaign, Gen. Butler
alone was left of the original and more
prominent civilian generals, whose mill
tary reputation still hung in the balance.
1t may be somewhat premature to judge
him now, but if the statements of the
New York Evening Post are correct,
there is little room to doubt what the
Judgment will be as to him, and, gener-
ally, as to the bestowing Of high COM
mands upon men without military edu-
cation or experience however brilliant,
able and popular in civil life.
1t appears, according to the Posts
statements derived, it says, from an au-
thentic source, that the failure to hold
the important position skillfully gained
by Gen. Gilmore, by turning the first
line of Richmond defences on the south,
near Fort Darling, was owing to the
refusal of Gen Butler, though earnestly
and repeatedly solicited by Gen. Gilmore,
to entrench the position and make it Sc
cure against the enemy's attack. Gen.
Buffers answer to Gen. Gilmore, was
/" that the movement was altogether an
offensive one, and that he would not
pause for any defensive operations. u
Here, says the Post, was an act of pre-
sumption. which was followed as such
acts are apt to be, by an act Of timid-
ity.
"The expected assault Of the enemy
came on Monday, 10th, of which we
have had accounts. Heckman's brigade
was partly captured and partly driven
back, and our whole right was disor,
dered and doubled back upon itself.
!" Still Gilmore with the 10th army corps
held his position within the enemy's
works, and showed no inclination to
bulge an inch Gen. Butler sent him
an order to withdraw and come to the
support Of the right. He replied that he
was succeeding against the enemy and
still he fingered, his position growing
better and better, till Gen. Butler sent
him another and more peremptory order,
commanding him to retire Immediately.
1t was Gillmore's opinion then, as be-
lieve it still is, that, apart from this or
der, there was at that time no necessity
for him TO withdraw, and that, if he
should continue to hold his position,
the rebels would soon be obliged to re-
linquish the advantage they had gained
on our right, especially as, meanwhile,
the right would have time to recover
from it's disorder, and get into good
fighting trim again. Howbeit under
such an order Gilmore could not choose
but withdraw"
These statements come from paper
which has heretofore been friendly to
Gen. Butler, yet may not prove true in
all respects. So far as we can judge
from other accounts, however, there is
little doubt that the movement against
Fort Darling would have succeeded bet
ter had it been conducted either by Gen.
Smith or Gen. Gilmore.
AT the opening Of the war, we lacked
knowledge, we lacked experience, and
we lacked generals. 1t was necessary
to try the experiments which seemed
most promising. But there is no true
friend Of Gen. Butler, or Gen. Banks,
who, however warm an admirer of their
brilliant administrative talents and un
doubted patriotism, and however in,
clined to confer upon them deserved
honors in civil life, will desire then
retained in high military positions fol
which. as it now seems lack of proper
training ....i capcr.,nce renders then
unfit.
/. HAD HIM THERR.-A wounded Virgin
ia rebel and wounded Pennsylvania
occupying adjoining beds, had goo,