New-York tribune., 1868-04-07

could no longer keep terms with the ola supersu'oh
that in its progressive march closed tue access 10
those ricl countries Of that fine climate Whlch had
been set apart 10 the compulsory labor OF the blacks
| In the Fred States the hatred OF slavery had ad
vanced in equal pace with the developments OF CIVIL
izaion Hence the struggle OF more than torty years
which had virtually cut the Union IN t"ani' ana
which could not but terminate III war'that decisive
and irrefutable ar.nment Under such circumstances
discussion could be of no practical avail Inc
Southeners engaged in it merely to gain time, and to
ecure the best possible chances in the trial of battle
But this time which they turned TO such excellent
account. was sauandered away by the North in
MERLE ATTEMPTS at cOnciliation" The only member
Of this of eunuehs who any sign of
yirilty was General Dix, who gave the memorable
order: "lf any attempts 10 haul down the
American flag, shoot him on the spot"
The general-in chief Winfield Scott, was no longer
equal to the occasion. His glorious reputation be-
longed 10 the past. Both morally and physically
weakened by age the former candidate for the Pres
dency saw but one result to the conflict il carried
into effect-the dslocation of the Union into four
cOnfederaces,- the conqueror OF Mexico had no
longer the capacity 10 organize or conduct an army
The condition of the country upon the retirement
of Mr.. Buchanan from Office is ylvidly depicted Dy
the author The capital was menaced by armed
troops and with its population mpregnated with the
Southern Split, invited the attempt to some bold
coup de main The President. in escaping from public
contempt TO the obscurty of private fe left to his
successor dsmembered Union, a rebel confederacy
of six States 70 which seventh lTexasl was to be
added I'm a few days,-six other States in revolt
against the Federal authority. and already virtually
belonging 10 the confoderacy of the South. Against
this formidable array not army; 653 men, lncud-
ing officers in the capitals the arsenals empty the
forts without garrison, and without armament;
navy widely scattered the ocean, and scarcely
sufficient for the protection of commerce IN time Oh
pence: treasury almost drained of the last dollar;
in short the North still inactive, torn by internal
dssensions betrayed by personal interests. secretly
delivering TO the South the products OF private man
nfaetories of arms Such was the situation of affairs
Many deemed it desperate But they were not as YET
aware of the immense resources which are TO DO.
found by free people in the impulses of It's pa
triotism and the prodigies which il can accomplish
TO save at once its existence and its institutions.
This sublime spectacle America was TO give to tho
world She waited only for the signal from the can
mons of Fort Sumter. and she had not long to wait
NJ de Trobriand offers some intelligent comments on
the defeat mt Bull Run. This disaster was IN the
natural of thngs and IL had only the effect OF
giving more formidable proportions to the struggle
The attack was badly executed. for it was impossible
with such An army tO act with unity or perform pre-
els, evolutions The regiments of which il was com
posed had % yet nothing of the soldier but arms and
uniforms Brave as they were, the men were not yet
accustomed TO discipline. nor to elementary naneu-
vers. The officers we're almost all incompetent.
Some regiments fought we'll Others fought but little
and still Others not at all. The confedcrates had
every advantage. Strongly placed in favorable
position. protected by complete lines of entrcnch-
~ !,oI L. oSely Wit
vigor and this they did. Beside this they had the
good fortune to be reinforced by the army corps of
General Johnson whom the deplorabe inactivity of
General Patterson permitted TO arrive without check
from Winchester With troops thus destitute of dis
cpline and experience. il is wonder that the de-
feat became q complete Tout The soldiers threw
away their arms they fed the teamstcrs left their
wagons and the gunners their guns The horses
served only to hasten the fight of those who could
get hold Of them. and the spectator who had come
from Washington to witness the victory was but too
happy to lose only his carriage in the defeat. The
horde of men and beasts thus rushed hclterskelter
fIom the field of battle, without stopping till they
had placed the Potomac between them and the enemy
| who did not pursue them The cOnfederates here
lost their best chance. Had they followed mp the
fugitves, they would have entered Washington on
their heels, probably without striking blow.
BRAND was elected to the colonelcy of the Lafayette
Guards, well-known French regiment in tins city,
and he accepted the appointment condition that
he should lead the regiment, and that they shOuld
follow him. to the war. In about week they went
into encampment on Staten Island, and III less than
a month, the regiment, numbering more than 400
men. was ready for the campaign II was completely
armed and equipped. and better skilled IN the prac-
tice of arms than almost any other regiment in the
whole volunteer service The officers were al ac-
auainted with military duty, which was rigidly en-
forced. Among them and among the sergeanis were
several old soldiers who made excellent instructors
for the recruits Some OF these had service in
Agers Others in the Crimea and in Italy and were
perfectly familiar with the duties of campaign.
Every man, moreover. had his heart in the work
The long Summer days were spent in drill and
part of the night given to theoretical studies Ii
| natural that the French regiment should make q
good figure on arriving in Washington.
The march through Baltimore to Washington, and
the encampment Of the regiment in the vicinity, arc
described by the author in "a series Of animated
sketches which command the interest Of the reader
by the picturesque beauty OF their style well rs
by their vivid representations of the details Of mill
tary life. Nor are the reflections in which NJ de lrO
BRAND often ndulges without value in the retrospect
of the eventful period which he has reproduced with
such vitality in his charming and impressive pages
He found the general feeling in Washington unfavor
able TO the success of the war. "No one scarcely
had at first forescen its formidable proportions
Hence as the actual condition Of affairs began to be
known, most persons terrified at the magnitude
of the sacrifices and the uncertainty Of tho results
As they calculated the amount of effort of expense
of self-devotiOn which it might cost to recsablish
the Federal Union, the timid among them asked
if il would not be the wiser to accept Of the
IT. 40 thnr ,rnre and To hn content with q rennl