Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1864-07-13
The Polite Art Of Killing

Per- sps the most o7srmng Of DsQ Iney's ts.sys Is
ibst n Which he discusses the neris of Murder IS
Ct tbo Fine Arts. The essay, though humorous, might
b. rsis the basis Of grave article war, Which, #
tr al Is but murder on large scale, cor Quoted
re- O. lie pIir ciple Eaged BY all civilized nations
fYsIks.s sxceptd) with more o. Lass pOliteness No
Cd hls sensss Wil Underra,e strategy, tactics, drill
pas, engineering, the theory Of Projsotles; and
e al these are but appliances toward the great end
A. an Of war TO Wit killing. Al the mill AIRY science
&c world will avail nothing If the pOssessOr OF that
sosrss Is defective in those qualities which a. nan
os Z psae.ics Of killing.
A. examination of the casts Of tie heads
O. ,os greatest captains Who have made - maze
q. isf57y WI show in every instance I've bel We,
. GU sIo,piOn) large development Of that portion
G. be- bead bshind the ears, where, according to the
rrelo gisls the bumps Of cobAtiVeness and drs,ruc
IN IS sre ssa,si. The finest intellect in The world
"a b. OF lltrls s,rvee on the 6sli Of bS'us if
e.. organs arc wanting 6r defective. There m"st tS
- love Of igatag AMI suOh development Of
f., 70, .vsnels a. will enA,ls man to enjoy carnage
--- raIak shrink rom il to bedsin for the hl,cdy
u o. war.
P, most successful officers in tao Confederate service
% ssly those woo are iondest If 6ghtDg and care
,s '.r uege strategy. StoneNSll Jackson's rule was
&C q zoe enemy the moment he cane within reach
- len, -ihout much regard to odds advantages OF
ss--oa He los. precious listle time in mar euVrng
G.o ers Forrest is a nan OF the same stamp. He was
l9J ,ducsed =. West Point but nature gave him vbat
vas ueh beIer-puek and the love Of e. htng for the
ks Of lighting. d inborn thirst for blood AMI bis
"a led Of The Yaskeel such that be keep out
u fgat he will 30 il and kill With bis hand.
~ d lAEoo as large his never succeed in AmAiDg
40 Tor tie simple tina; lie IS in their mds, lew
l. aad hack ug rgat and lsf before they have tins
sss,u c 4 6slk movement.
L'sisa hghtng MAJ, as sny Oae m4Y see by looking
back Of ii, head Dusing this va his fOn mss
I ,,,sls and bis profound trust in his so,dsIs have
hin to great lengths. de has made mSVsaen's
N re Dg aud dangerous than any OF our great CON-
n.,ders and European critics have blame hin for his
rx-sdi bcldness snd disregard Of tbs a1oms Of mill
So D. udelce. BsamegArd, pAreuOogcsly, is more
o. born aghtsr than Lee any other fDlI General -
formation Of bic head Is very remarkable freq t5
mblsnee To- the oraniA Of the tiger aad the panther
H.s eatuss are u'ths habit OF accusing him OF eIcsi
s.vs caution. Never charge grOuudless. h
iois the NapoleOao desse to Outnumbes the enemy
II os5ible and 70 neglect mons Of the elements OF
before jonisg battle; but in he pFssenes Of the
s4eny in he led, man is moro inpatient and snXi
ous 10 get O. them. Al Nsntssls he let not monn,
g. ceiling for the enemy and attacking lis isolated oom
m ads ana that time, be alone OF our Generals hli
an1ou-ded co1d5e.cs 10 cur hall-dried SJu.hein vol
uL.ee1s 10 toe Fall, he urged Gen job s,on 10 gve
bAs,ls a. AsSnRs and Auason'5 bills, but Joha 1ou,
mere cGusoua, declined That Beaursgard viii light
q odGs, however great vas icoontsstably proved a.
Prsss5arg when the enemy made his last grand assault
Among cur best and most successful fighters is Dick
Taylor, Weoss good fOrtun, is due TO tho pluck o
iu.a net less than 10 bis own natural bravery rls
L Sanisns, Texans. ArklnsAas aud MissOurianI
uli,r Els command refused Fol.i7ely 70 retreas
IA. her from Ba *, aud a. hansHell declared tie
" uld eight whether or no. Nothing pleased Tayi
bster Th, love Of sghdrg in the and their com.
nader swept everything before item. Banks vas
bra hed out Of the ate the tWnkng of an eye, at
e we're.
All Of fortunate Generals appeAr TO have bean cut
oet Of tbe same cloth. HoEeyer much they may He
@ intellectual capacity, in one thing they gu.
Taey lows asht and they believe the polite art o.
kIog They are not ia aEe Of their own repu,siOu
. o. do not hesitate 70 give ba.dei they not afraid
70 rk their armies aud they not specially desirou'
tasa.yoody should beware Of their re;reAs Perhaps,
Ii oas Of these hghing Generals bad been ia command
q, Datoa two months ago, Sherman would long since
have been crippled for lie. We do MT imPugn the
ooasge Of General Johnston. This scars Of fourteen
" U. d. rHeonty attest his bravery. Nor do we un-
dsrrsls be iaelso.nal capacity. he is uEquesonabiy
gi..s1 military Eaa. Add yet We eannOt hslp think
log az be we're somewhat less anxious 10 descend 10
history The most mastery Estreaer of modern mes,
It ne better for the country aud none the worse
lnr -