Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1865-07-28
STARS.

Some of the lighter movements embraced
in the radical and wholesale revolution Of
the age, are worthy of notice and recol-
lection, now that the greater issues are
practically determined. And some Of the
incidental demonstrations that have been
made deserve a special mention. The
value of education in its specific senses
has been shown during the progress Of
the war. Perhaps it has never been
doubted by any intelligent citizen who
has given reflection to the subject, that
the approved graduate of a cadet school
would make q more efficient officer as well
on the fierce field of battle as when attend
ing to the routine duty Of garrison life.
Not merely the intellect supplied with
scientific facts constitutes the advantage
which a skillfully trained soldier has over
and above a civilian volunteer Of much
greater natural ability the emotions
themselves arc disciplined, and the will is
set with iron power through the con-
scious possession of expert knowledge in
the use of arms and the maneuvring Of
platoons. This has been more fully illus
truted-in a somewhat contrasted manner
by the obstinacy and the successful re-
~sistance oftentimes Of the hosts Of rebel
lion the rank and file infinitely inferior
in character to the makeup Of the op-
posing forces, yet triumphant through the
school-cunning Of traitor West Pointers,
who led them or directed them in the con-
test. It is not true that there ever was
what could be termed a popular prejudice
against West Point-if we leave out ofcon-
sideration the unpopularity which sprang
from the noticeable majority of traitors
who had been nursured by the Govern
ment a, that Academy Of Arms. There,
however, as at every other collegef for high
culture, the correct estimate OF the pupils
abilities was,not made. Some who wore
the highest honors on Commencement Day
proved on literal trial, on the Federal side,
to be incompetents; while several among
the number Of those who barely squeezed
through the formal examinations, now
wear in unchallenged right the Generals
stars. The lesson seems to be plainly:
Our military schools be enlarged,
and the best masters must be en-
ployed, and it would be as fool
Ish 10 demolish the West Point
Institution as i, would be to blow up all
our gunboats. We deem it a fortunate fact
that three Generals Of almost equal brill
liancy Of achievement-two Of them, at
least, Of parallel ~service-now adorn the
Army Service of the United States. If
the glory Of the latest and complete vic.
tories had conferred absolutely on General
Grant, we should have had years and
years Of dogmatic and often disastrous as
sertion and conclusion, 70 the effect that
none other than a man Of precisely Grants
habits and temperament could be a sue
cessful General with q large command and
o long line for battle. AS it is, nothing
could be more diverse, in method of rea-
soning and action, while conducting a
campaign, than the styles of the three
prominent chieftains, Grant, Sherman,
Sheridan. They are, in fact, lovingly
appreciated by the people and their
characters so studied-as eminent intel
lectual contrasts with each other. Each
cast in an essentially different mould, they
have contributed, as by a Divine appoint
ment, to a National success as splendid in
all the details of attainment Us the pro-
portions Of the prime issue of the war
could suggest or demand.