The free citizen. (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1874-1876, 1875-08-07
Won Moltke on West Point.

L am asked why neither side in the
civil war in America produced a very
distinguished general. Even their re-
spective partisans hardly claim any
leader of transcendent genius. In so
long war, and where 80 many men
fought, does it not imply n lack of
military talent in the Americans? I
answer, no. The true reason was be.
cause their field Of selection was 80
limited No officer could hope to
attain the supreme command of their
armies unless he had been a student at
their military academy, called. West
Point, on the Hudson river. d. the
State of New York. Tie NUMBER of
these students, deserving as they might
be, was and is extremely limited,
The southerners adopted thesame per-
nlclous system Of exclusiveness, as
many of these West Point officers had
joined their side, and their president
had also been at the academy. It was,
perhaps, fortunate for the north that
the south did not seek for talent among
the mass of its people. It is said,
know not how truly, that the genius of
q civilian, Ericsson, by the invention of
a monitor, alone saved the northern
navy from destruction.
It is evident that the chance of OBJ
tanning q distinguished general in
creases as the field OF selection widens,
and diminishes as it contracts.
In our army every soldier may aspire
to the supreme command, but in the
American armies the line of demark-
alton was drawn as deeply as between
the former slaves and their masters.
The volunteer who represented the
great bulk and strength of the people
might, indeed, attain distinction in a
subordinate position, but the highest
place of all was forbidden. In reading
the records Of the American civil war,
it really appears as if the whole contest
was between few officers of West
Point, and the mighty heart OF the
nation had never throbbed. This nris.
tocratic system, which the Americans
still follow, was formerly the practice
IN oil European armies. In; the revol.
ution of 1893, Oarnot, the French min.
ister Of war; first abandoned it. and we
have followed. * sG ,a
For the sake of example, and not
binding ourselves to any exactness OF
figures, except that the one is very
small, and it's opposite, with which it is
compared, very large, let us suppose
the number OF West Point officers to be
tive hundred, and the number of Prus-
sian soldiers five hundred thousand.
Evidently, as we have fund a thou
sand larger to draw upon, 10 render the
changes OF obtaining n great general
equal, each American must possess q
thousand fold the talent OF Prussian,
which is absurd. !" 4
A, Desperate Duel With a Bowie
a Il t.Tls,yss (! knife. :.
iefA most frigntfui, and. fatal ARRAY oc.
CURED at Eberhafdt City on Saturday
last, at. about 5 O'clock r. NJ. between
two men by the name of Jackson and
Beck. The former was recently from
Arizona. and tho latter has been, resi-
dent in Eberhardt City for the past few
months, engaged in keeping d saloon.
The two hgdSa quarrel some time before
thes fatal meeting, in which Jackson
made an assault upon Beck with knife,
but was driven Off by BeckSwith fire.
shovel. Some three or four hours after
this Jackson returned to Beck's saloon,
and, while the latter was standing in
the doorway, jackson plunged an eight
inch fboYie-kni to the hilt in. IBeck'a
side, and tho two elincbed, and 4 very
fierce encounter ensued, Jackson 1lsing
his knifJ and fatally stabbing Beck,
who, however, Succeeded, in freeing him
tgeH from jackson, and ran AS far. as
Dana's saloon, q distance Of sixty yards,
when hewas oyertaken by jackson, who
Was, pursuing his victim with q bloody
and fendish intent. Beck at this place
called for protection, but before the as
~, 81,