The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1864-01-18

VNoe0G1 NM 8b1v0sCUs
Tho Southern Coufederacy has enjoyed
from the beginning great advantages over
the Yankees In the superior abilities OF hs
military leaders, and especially. the heroic
character of its rank and ale, who, We verify
believe, taxcn ~ whole, has never been
equAlled BY any military population on the
face of the earth. The Yankees have had three
or four times our numbers, and we may NOT
deny that by means Of discipline they became
good soldiers. But their best Generals can
not be compared with Lee and jackson, ana
there IL still greater difference between their
private soldiers and those of the Confederacy.
The Yankee armies are 10 great part maze
mp OF mercenaries, the dregs OF civilization'
without any sentiment Of honor or patriot
lam. and whose highest soldierly quaiifca'
tions are their discipline and brute courage.
The Confederates, on the contrary, are, IN
the general, men of character, OF self respect,
having interests In society, and who have
taken up arms not for the miserable pay
they receive, but from the most exalted mo-
tiyes of patriotism. Many Of them, fighting
10 the ranks, are men of property, others
professional and educated men, men Of re-
anement, culture, and moral and social ele.
walton. 1t Is not astonishing TO us that al
army composed of such materials has tri'
Jumped 90 often over the most tremendous
oids. Efficiently differed throughout, IL
would never have sustained q defeat. The
world does not contain It's equal. 1t has
never yet received half the praise 1t deserves.
II bee omes both the )vernment and the
people of the Southern Confederacy to man.
ifest By every means In their power their
profound sense Of the illustri0us services
aud unparalleled sacrifices of the private sol.
diers Of the South.
The officers of the Confederate army,
whose highest honor it Is that they com
mand such men, should do everything in
their power to promote their comfort and
welfare Gen. Lee and some other military
leaders set an example In this respect, which
might be initiated with benefit by all their
subordinates. The great Napoleon was the
soldiers Idol, not more on account of his
tran3cndent genius than because he care
fully studied the wants of the private SOL
diers, not deeming 1t beneath his dignity to
look infinitely and systematically into the
manner In which oil their necessities we've
supplied. He was said to be the best quar-
termaster in his own army, and his eagle eye
was IS watchfulIy bent over the provision for
their daily wants, as over the front they
showed In the hour Of battle. Never was
extraordinary merit in the ranks unobserved
or unrewarded by him. There are some
subordinate officers in our army who might
learn valuable lesson from the great Corsi.
can. Whilst enforcing discipline sternly and
uniformly, they may do much to tighten the
tolls and alleviate the sufferings Of the most
heroic body Of men in the world, by mani
testing active sympathy with their troubles,
supplying as far as possible their reasonable
wants, and encouraging in them that self
respect and manly pride which belong to the
Southern character Let not our private sol
diers feel that they have ceased to become
men because they are soldiers. Let them not
Imagine that they are degraded to mere ma
chimes because they are fighting in the ranks.
Having given up comfortable homes and
friends and kindred, let them feel that they
StiJ uuvC AL tuCA1 OihSSSSs SAAs thSy
are not without one soul upon the earth
who cares for them. Or, If there be officers
and we trust and believe the number OF
such In the Confederate army Is small-who
look upon their men as inferior beings, let
them bear in mind that the surest road to
military success Is In the love and affection
which soldiers have for those who command
them. Soldiers will fight to the death for a
man they love, when they will yield but a
cold and mechanical support to any other
The love OF his soldiers for the man Napo-
leon was as much 4 means of his success as
his great military capacity. And let all our
officers study not only the comfort and well.
fare of their soldiers, but husband carefully
the precious resources Oh human life still
left Us. la one Of Napoleon's most magniti
cent campaigns, In which he captured, by
one single operation, eighty thousand men,
he did not have ten Thousand Frenchmen-
We trust that hereafter, in canonizing our
other resources, We shall avoid that reckless
waste of priceless blood which has too often
Inarred the pages of Onr military history
W. SENATORIAL. Election.--We are au-
~ th0rized to announce WILLIAM BUR
NETT q candidate 10 represent the counties oil
Jefferson and Berkely In the Senate OF Virginia.
III Election, Thurday, 9lst inst. ia lS-4tt