The New York herald., 1869-02-24
MILITARY LESSONS or the LATE WAR;

Lecture BY General Slocum In Brooklyn.
The regular monthly meeting OF the Long Island
Historical Society, which was held last evening at
the Parker Institute chapel Brooklyn, was enlivened
BY the reading Of paper on the war 81 Major Cen
eral william H. Slocum. The essay opened by refer
ing to the unprepared condition OF the government
at the commencement Of the rebellion to assert
its authority BY force OF arms. owing to the
insufnciency OF the numbers OF the standing army
the first gun was red at Charleston eThe manner il
which the organization OF an army TO meet the ex-
igenctes OF the time was instituted BY the authorities
the result BY the oficers OF the regular army, who
dreaded the consequences likely % ensue from the
appointment Of unschooed oficers to posi-
tions OF command. The general asserted that
1t was very generally understood In the army
that the administration were Influenced by Adjutant
General Thomas In their course, which was pur-
sued ut the suggestion OF that olcta In keeping the
regulars intact and In not appointing the young
the fruits Of their training to the unsSiiled yoIsl
teers. The speaker then recounted the hasty and
disorganized march OF the army in 1861 under news
Kichmond.n or the Bull Run fight and night
he spoke IN the strongest terms OF denun-
and ns me s Home
lsted only in the brains OF newspaper reporters,
filed the minds OF the men and lent terror to their
retreat In justice to Mr.. Russell the English
spondent he could state from personal observation
that the account OF that writer not greatly
aQgerated but was, on the contrary, Tar truth
full than many OF our own reports. Who had not
read the fearful accounts OF the desperate bayonet
charges OF the terrific Fire zouayes, and
the difficulties under which their oficers had
TO contend in getting these braves on the ield Yet
the real fact OF the matter that the Fire Zouaves
were utterly dispersed at Bull Run as To be
again known In the military history or the coun-
try. All this went to prove that the heroes OF
hundred street fights Of our cities do not compare
favorably with the pae-faced, earnest boy soldier
who went forth from the school or country house.
After this defeat the country began to recognize
the necessity for discipline and organization,
qualified for the task. came forward and accom-
pshed the organization Of the army-ne referred to
the young General, George B. Mcclellan. Before
the latter mad been SIX months IN command he won
no subsequent unfortunate reverse could OBJ
literate. The speaker then reviewed the improve
menu IN tho art OF war. the miserable Aus
and the spade-which was decried 10 BY Pope-now
won from our people more praise. At the close Of
the war this useful instrument was 10 be found at
the head OF every column, and they would Just -
have thought Of leaving their powder behind IS
the spade The advantages OF the Increased railroad
facilities and the means OF destroying the lines OF
the enemy the telegraph and signal corps were also
dwelt at considerable length and with much evident
feeling upon the lnJudfcous interference OF the press
10 the affairs OF the army, which was always
OF much damage TO the cause. He read an article
ence to the Crimean campaign, and said that
with the substitution OF the Federal for
the English army, and the Committee on the
Conduct Of the War for the Roebuck Commission
written eight years before. The press, 40 far as
promoting q military influence OF the army, was q
curse from the beginning TO the close Of the war, 1t
the means or sustaining feeling OF patriotism. At
the conclusion of the lecture vote OF thanks was
adopted and the meeting adjourned.