Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1870-08-31
In Battle

The following from the Pittsburgh Com
0lereial has unusual interest Just now:
The high character ascribed 70 Gen.
Trochu by the Army and Nary journal,
seems to rest upon solid grounds. as even
Gen. Cluseret. few days ago, in CON-
munieation to New York newspaper. re-
ferred to him - kprobabIy the best officer
ef STAFF IN Es4e<ss ---z4 77sss 1alie5 kow-
Ever, that as an avowsd 0rieanist he was
not likely to receive any important CON-
mand from the Emperor. No doubt this
opinion of Gen Cluseret is corrected by
the Journal when it afirms that Gen. Tro-
ehu enjoys the imperial confdence in the
most flattering degree.
In the book referred to on II 'Armee
Franchise which appeared in 1867, and
ran through ten editions, there isa chapter
entitled, lie Combat, or The Battle,
which is full of interest Just now in view
of the actual war, and of the probability
that the writer may hold high command
in the army which he has studied with so
much care aud success. 1t was said that
in hearing the Duke of Wellington talk
about great battle in which he had COM
mand, one learned as much about the
Dukes moral traits as about the military
details which he described. With equal
truth we may say that Gen. Trochu' :
chapter on battle throws a very clear light
upon his own character. In particular, it
is a revelation of his fine humane sympa-
thies, and of his lively appreciation of the
moral aspects of war.
1t is Gen. Trochus opinion that no
commanding officer, though he may have
been in hundred battles, can feel abso-
lutely sure that, on given day, amid the
disturbing circumstances of an engage
ment, he will have full and entire command
of his directing faculties; that he will be
equal to himself and above the influence
of the agitating impressions of the scene.
Hence he concludes that of all the quail
ties of a soldier the one which most strong
ly attests the solidity of his character and
the reality of his worth is nlodeSty.'
The mere material horrors of battle
have seldom been arrayed in more impress
sive detail than in this chapter by Gen.
Trochu. Having in the simplest terms
portrayed the awful scene, be appeals to
the men of government and command
who have been witnesses of what cannot
be described, with the question whether
they supposed at that moment, that the
glory acquired by some and the rewards
acquired by others, suffice to sustain the
hearts subjected to such trials? To the
question he replies himself: No, they
need a more noble incentive They need
the high sentiment of duty and sacrifice.
Only thus supported they voluntarily
march with frmness and dignity to death
And among them those only enjoy serenity
who believe in another life.'
One trait of battle particularly dwelt
upon by Gen. Trochu reminds US of what
we used so often to hear during our civil
war concerning the conduct of our volun-
teers; the excessive promptitude with
which more soldiers than are required for
the service crowd around wounded officers
and bear them to the rear. Thus it APP
pears that even the thoroughly drilled
army of France is not exempt from an
evil by which our volunteer forces were
affected The general says that, unless
before battle the troops have been most
/ carefully warned against the practice and
penetrated with the idea that the most
certain way to serve the wounded is tc
: beat the enemy, seeing that in case of de-
feat they are horribly sacrificed great
, number of soldiers will surround and car
' ry off every one wounded, in spite of tbs
the severest regulations prohibiting the
e practice. Thus the effective force of tht
1 army is disastrously diminished.
: Perhaps the most entertaining portion
a of the chapter consists of certain observa
v tions collected with much industry AM
: care, and which are characterized by tn
: author as an interesting study in militar.
L psychology. In an army about to be en-