Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1870-10-01

pointedly what most remarkable aou
significant fact he had observed III the
war out of which he had just come,
with worldwide and immortal repnta-
ton. Gen. Beauregard replied with a
dissertation ON the use of the small-arm.
He gave the Emperor n manual Illus
tration of the subject, repeating ms re-
markable conviction of the change
which the arm Of precision had maze
in the art of war. That arm had made
calculation the virtue of the modern
soldier. Formerly, with the old smooth
bore musket, the soldier fired III the
air; his enemy was only n mass III
front of him; now, with the chesSepot
and needle-gnn, where a man could
kill at 1900 yards, he fired upon an IN
diyidual enemy he could select MN;
II had become an exact mechanical
task for the soldier to kill his enemy.
He Gen. b. had one advice which he
constantly gave to his soldiers on eve
nv occasion; il wars his dogma, his con-
slant remark whenever he had the or
portunity to speak to the private sol
dier " fire low and fire slow"
The common fault Of the soldier IN
the use of muskctry was throwing the
eve on the sight at the extremity OF ms
weapon; thus instinctively, unconScl-
ously-it heing below the level of the
eye-to raise it too high; and the de
tlection of hairs breadth in any Of the
modern arms of long range, made all
| fine difference i'm the world, The OBJ
vious remedy was the double sight,
near the breech, to correct this insdnc-
tive elevation of the piece. But, above
all, deliberate firing has been his point
of instruction. Modern war was be-
coming an affair of death-dealing MAJ
chinery. 1t abolished much of the TO
nance chivalry of arms. But after all
the speaker came back to the leading
idea, that the close competitions OF
modern war were to be decided by me-
chanical differences, these sometimes
of the slightest description and that a
single defect in the French military
system, might supply all the explana-
ton that public curiosity has needed
for their series of defeat.
PRUSSIA y GEN1lhOlo fNfall'
In the conclusion of the conversation
Gen. Beauregard remarked that he
thought Prussia would prove a gener-
Gus enemy, and would not exact hui
Mutations. He spoke with great feel
ing of the unworthy phrenzy of the
French people towards the unhappy
Emperor even climbing tive-story
houses to tear down the arms and in,
sigma of his empire! Napoleon had
given France not only prestige, but
development and prosperity the most
undoubted. He could testify, visiting
France in 1866, that there was not 4
happier people in Europe; "even. hap.
pier than the romantic p%easantry o
England
TR0CHU.
General, what do you think of Tro
chu, Governor of Paris? The attention
of the whole world has been suddenly
drawn upon a man of whom | neVei
heard BEFORE
Gen. Beauregard-Well, sir, he may
be "the coming man. | know his re
cord well he is one of the most tho
rough soldiers in France mar VIII,
adopted that deliberate, characteristic
choice of the thorough soldier, to serv,
up through all the subordinate grade
of the French army. Remarkable o
him he made himself unpopulac in tn,
French army, for his freedom and in.
dependence in pointing out what h
thought the defects of his system, Tn,
French, nice and eXacting in ever,
other affair of life, pride themselves OF
not giving attention to military details
Gen. TrOcbu has had the boldnes t
criticise repeatedly that affected mag
nanimity that neglects details, ant
ihat has often lost the great opportuni
ties Of history. He is the reputed an
thor of the remarkable military view
| Just showed you in the Pail Mall, Ga
zette. Curiously enough, France ha
not been fortunate in her recent militia
ry traditions, They are those of Alge
ria, China, Mexico; in every instanc,
excepting Solferino) that of an inferio
and despised enemy easily conquered
by that system of attack i'll which til,
quality Of the soldier is clan, dash,
sudden enthusiasm rathertha the quie
sedulous confidence of the man behinl
the machine, who is taught the valu'
Of position, and the virtue of perfec
splf-OOSSeSSiOn,