The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1864-06-13
General sigers Opera lions I'm Western
virginia.

virginia.
In letter from our correspondent in Western
Virginia, in relation to the recent disaster near
New Market, our readers will find what appears
to be General Sigel's side Of the story. We, of
course, have no prejudices against General
Sigel, and we give, as the truth of history de-
mands, the version of the events Of the cam
paign most favorable to his reputation. Doubt
less the account given by our correspondent is
the best that can be said on that side Of the
subject, and it is not necessary to 60 any
further than this account to entirely condemn
General Sigel, and to find plentiful justification
for his removal.
It is asserted, in cxtenuation of the loss of the
battle, that the orders to march were not COM
piled with; that the presence of the cavalry in
the road delayed the movement Of the infantry
more than an hour; that General Sigel could not
get his whole force into battle; that his officers
did not know their duty, and that the artillery
could not be used on account Of the RAIN These
circumstances indicate o badly managed battle,
and the want of right kind Of commander
but these were not what lost us the battle.
We were beaten by having our line of battle
formed with the cavalry in the centre.
Our line was broken where the cavalry
was posted, and that determined the battle.
II is explained that the absence from the field
Of two regiments of infantry made ga gap" in
the line and that this was filed with cavalry
and artillery.
We cannot understand why the failure of
two regiments to come up should make gap,
in line in which they bad never yet taken
their places, and still less why such gap,
when made, should DO filed with cavalry. It
is to be supposed that general suddenly en-
countering the enemy forms his line Of battle
with the troops he has at hand, and not with
gaps in view Of troops that are to come up;
and it is not to be supposed that a general in
these days shall put cavalry where lie knows
he ought to have infantry. No line of battle
so formed ever did or ever can resist vigorous
assault; and il in the nineteenth century we
are to lose battle by having cavalry posted
on or near the centre Of the line it Is bard to
see what advantage the assiduous study of
grand tactics for many hundred years past has
been to the art of war. 1t is a bad formation,
and when general loses battle by a bad for
nation, and by the failure to offer to the ene-
my the whole resistance of which the force
under his command is capable, he alone is re-
sponsible for the loss Of that battle; and if re-
moved for it the removal is pre-eminently just.
Another, therefore, Of our prominent gene
rails, kept in place by the power OF party,
has been put out Of the way by the hard logic
OF events. It would not be an agreeable pas
time to estimate the harm that has been done
to our cause through the whole war by our
having had inefficient men in the very places
that efficient men were very eager to get.
Unquestionably that harm has been very great.
Even in this campaign, If we had had man to
go mp the valley with Sigel's force as Stone
wall Jackson has two or three times come
down the valley, our definite success would
have been certain ere this.
But, now that the whole control Of our armies
is apparently in the hands of General Grant, 1t
is likely that we shall not have to vex our
souls with many more regrets for the short
comings Of political generals. Our govern
ment has seen that it must necessarily leave
Grant alone as the supreme commander, and
Grant believes in soldiers. Hunters, Crooks
and Averill's recent successes show this clearly
enough.
CAPTAIN HALLS ARCTIC ExPEDrIoS.-In the
midst OF war and rebellion, while vast
armies are marshalled in the field, and the
public mind is strained with anxiety as
to the result OF yet undecided con-
ficts, we have time and inclination to foster
scientific enterprise. There is perhaps no more
cheerful and pleasant feature in the condition
of society in this country at the present moment
than the willingness, in fact, the zeal, with
which Captain Hall projected expedition to the
Arctic regions is sustained by our citizens.
Every requirement has been most literally
met as soon as the adventurous explorer has
made it known. 1t will be seen, by the varied
list Of contributors which we publish in
another column, that almost every conceivable
thing necessary for Captain Halls outfit has
been gratuitously furnished upon personal ap-
plcation to our merchants and manufacturers:
so that be will 60 on bis mission thoroughly
provided. Among the articles contributed are
nautical and astronomical instruments, chro-
nomcters, cutlery, drugs, surgical instruments,
dessicated meats and vegetables, duck for
tents, tobacco flags, Star Spangled Banner
to hoist on the North Pole, tea, beads where
with to tempt the primitive people of
the frozen regions, aud even q non-freezing
ink, expressly made for him by the American
Bank Note Company. Shipowners, express
companies and railroad companies have profler-
cd him and his goods free transit on their way
He will DO provided with boats at New Lon
- nd in In xutl1 Ia oI,,
some time between the Goth and 25th Of this
month, fully armed aud equipped. There is
something as delightful as unprecedented in
this liberality.
A word about Captain Halls mission. He
goes on bis journey alone, save the companion
ahir Of the Esnnimnnx fanilx uharn In