Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1864-01-07

We happened recently to come across tie following
among the confidential correspondence OF Napoleon the
First with bis brother JOSEPH The great Emperor was
supposed to know something OF military matters, yet
be did, and his notions right then the practice
current both in civil and military circles In the Con
federscy must be wrong. We take it that n APoLEoF
knew nothing of the art OF war, and ought to have
gone to school 10 some of our prominent command
ers especially of the army of Tennessee also to the
"relabe gentleman" sunday members of Congress, MR.
FooTE particular, TO say nothing OF able editors 10
Raleigh, Richmond and elsewhere, who ere always dis
paragipg our own force and magnyng that OF the en-
emy The letter is dated from the palace OF SchoH-
brupn near Vienna and dated October the 10h 1909
m. LIE GENEsAL CLARKx: wish you to write to the
KiRg of SPAN impress upon him that nothing can he
more contrary the rules Of than to publish the
strength of his army either IN orders ct the day 10 pro-
in the newspapers that when be has
speak CT his Strength he oegbt to render formdh
BILE by e1sggerau' doubling or teoilng BIS anc
that other hand, when he mentions the s anRh o.
the enemy he should dimipsh by one halt or thitd
that moral force every thing that the King de-
this principle when he said that he had only
40 900 me and the insurgents 1soouu nat 10 represent
the french few and the enemy as numerous
u.s. gives condeGc tn them That ID publishing his
weakness Spain IL short to give moral To- es
to the enemy is to take 1t ire m onos seq ef men na:Qr
ally believe that In the long the small number win be
beaten greater Tue os general fndr
ficult toe field of battle to estimate the enemys
AID the Iaae OF every il to imagine them
dent as to ALLOW guch ideas generally,
author re exaggerated IF the enemy strength
every colonies cavalry reconnaissance sees
an army and every captain OF Vgenrs discovers batta
hons therefore, with regret The bad aence which
the spirit Of army OF spain by
repeaug opposes force 10 0Go against no.
o. result of these has been to Lessen
our reputation in Europe by making people believe that
rests oQndaton and give moral force to the
my weaken foc, say again, In feeling
aud opinion half Of the reality The art
great plains been to make their numbers
pear very large the enemy, and persuade their
troops emy's great ineri0rlty This is the FIRST
q general has been known to dcpreclate his
resou exalt those of the enemy. The private
soldier judge but officers of sense, whose opa
haVug and who have knowledge and expert
pay little attention to orders OF the day or recama
tious trust such blupderS will be made ana
whatever orders of the day proclsm
will made vending make known tie real srefah
be ken to spread the highest opinion Of bers
The nch Ioups which have in spain ere twice as gosd
three time good steadness bravery, ape
Oers tba have a0y other OF the
wCrij. When cyCquered the Austrans at Ecknuht was
eVe my army fanCied itself AT lie all equal to
the enemy aid now, although have been IonS
The has idea of ensth, and
try and greater every day. Far from
oWDit q magram hsd only 100 900 men, try to
had 220 000 Cons aDily, in my Italian
pans when nsd only bard 'ul Of men, 4 exaggerated
their numbers; this served M purpose without diminishing
glory The skill of operas including that OF ex
sggeratDg strength afterwards recognised b.
and Ipeligent officers. With altry motives, petty
Vanies and small passions nothing great has been
DONE hope therefore, that faults great and SO NILS
shevous will not be repeated in mg army OF Spain