St. Landry democrat., 1878-08-10

Dr. Joseph ?. Thompson in the n Y. independent
During the American war the sympa-
thles Of the German people were strong
~ on the side of the North. They
showed their good feeling toward the
Union, and their confidence in its success
bysubscribing largely for United States
bonds, at most critical period of both
our arms and our fnances-a confidence
which Congress has abused in a most
humiliating way by providing for cheat
ing the bondholders out OF eight cents
on the dollar Thusdo we ourselves eff
face the glories of the war and of eman~
clpation. But while on the question of
slavery and the union the German peo-
pie were with us, yet, from professional
point of view, military men in Germany
rated the southern generals, and especi
ally Lee, above the generals of the
union. They do not seem to have mas
tered the grand strategy OF Grant and
Sherman, by which Richmond was at
last shut up in a vice; the energy with
which Grant drove Lee back to
Richmond; the patience with
which, having shut Lee up in his
capital, he held him there, until Sher-
mans arrival at Charleston gave the
signal for taking Richmond, without
giving Lee single chance for escape.
The other day, seeing it announced that
Captain Mangold, instructor in the royal
academy Of artillerists and engineers, in
Berlin, would give lecture on General
Lee, | was curious to hear how German
officer would picture The military leader
of the Confederacy. Captain Mangold
has been Conscientious student of the
American war IN its military bearings,
and 20 we'll did he perform this task,
with 60 much discrimination, candor and
fairness, that felt constrained to say to
the lecturer: "Were | a southerner,
could not ask more; and as unionist,
should not have been satisfied with less"
Surely, all Americans are now ready to
accord to Lee his Just need of praise for
brave, honorable and skillful soldiership
in mistaken cause. The lecture was
chapter from a book which Captain Man
gold is writing upon the civil war in the
United States, and was limited to q
sketch of the personal career of General
Lee. In the limits of an hour he could
give details of battles, and, indeed, he
only sketched The peninsular campaign.
Briefly describing Lees birth, family,
education and early career in the
United States army, and the relations
of Virginia to the Union, the lecturer ell
tered directly upon the act of secession, by
which Lee felt himself drawn with his
state-tboueh with reluctance and even
protest-into the vortex of civil war.
His skill as al engineer in planning the
Notifications of Richmond his manly
modesty when called to the supreme
command: his tact in turning the mill.
tary vanity of Jefferson Davis to the
advantage of the army; the energy and
secrecy with which he combined his forces
so as to outgeneral Mcclellan, and the
vigorous strategy with which he drove
him from the peninsula; and, when times
OF disaster came, his fertility in gathering
resources, his wisdom in harmonizing the
civil with the military authorities, his
power of sel'-command, his influence
over officers and men, his patient endur.
ance of ill-fortune, his desperate struggle
against hope, and, at last, his digni6ed
to defeat--these all were
pictured and illustrated as exhibiting
military genius of a high order and en-
titling Lee to a place in history among
the first generals of the world. Lees
failure in the offensive was imputed to
the intermeddling Of Davis with the
army; but two defects as r general were
ascrihed to him personally-an jndiffer>
once to discipline, and too kindly consid-
Grafton for incompetent officers, both
from excess Of good nature. |
Captain Mangold was persuaded also
hat, from first to last, Lees heart |
vas not in the cause of secession.
This was shown by the letter in |
which he threw up his commission in
he United States army, and by bis re-
usal to make himself military dictator
when it became evident that Davis was
mining the contederacv and the whole
outh was ready to transfer its allegiance
o Lee. One point in Lees conduct
captain Mangold could not reconcile
With the apparent sincerity of his
haracter, nor with the code OF military
thics-the violation of his oath as
United States officer. To Prussian
fficer the violation of an oath is a crime
0 damnable as to be inconceivable.
captain Mangold stated fairly the
easons by which Lee justified his action
d the trying dilemma in which he was
laced; but he could find no ground
pom which a Prussian officer could
Justify or even extenuate such breach
honor. This must, indeed, remain q
Melancholy stain upon name otherwise
TESTED as noble and good. But the
orth should remember that Lee acted
nly for himself when secession forced
be issue, and did not seek to organize a