The National tribune., 1898-07-14

The great characteristics OF Marsha
Louis Gouvion St Cyr were clear-sight-
edness on the field OF battle, perfect
method in all his plans, and cold
deep spirit. However he might fail II
a great campaign, on the field where
an engagement was 10 take place he
was regarded as one OF the aoleSt
tacticianS lin the army. His eye took
in the enemyS position and his own
at a glance, and he saw at once the best
course to be taken.
In forming his plans he seemed to omit
no detail necessary to success, while the
moral feeling of the two armies was not
forgotten. The latter he calculated with
the same nicely he did numbers; and il Is
interesting 10 observe what reliance he
always placed upon it. He possessed, To
a certain extent, that combination which
distinguished Napoleon, and belonged
more or less To all his great Generals,
viz. clearness and rapidity Of thought.
But this power in him arose rom =
different cause Than with them. Nap0-
leon. and Ney, and MaSSena, and klcber
possessed strong minds and strong i'm
aCinaUonS alSo, yet they were so well
balanced as only TO strengthen each
other. The Imagination never became so
excited as 10 confuse the operations CT
reason, while the Judgment never &C
quircd such a. mastery, as in Moreau. that
inspiration and impulse could have no
control. Cool. clcar-headed, and self-col-
lectcd, they planned with The sobriety Of
reason, and yet kept il IN such allegiance
that in moments II excitement they could
be carried away by the impulse OF genius.
Their IalagInftiDnS acted rs q powerful
stimulant To the mental powers, giving
them greater TaDdity, without forcing
them into confusion: but ST. Cyr possessed
none OF this impuisivencSs. He fre-
Quently acted as II he did but his most
headlorg movements were as much the
result OF calculation IS his Sobe-cSt plans.
sConSummate art took the place OF vivid
Imagination with him. He could calcu-
late the inspirations of genius and knew
when he ought to be moved by impulse;
his mind had great rapidity of movement,
but it was the rapidity of mere logic.
There was certainty in his operations
on which one could depend, and he him
self placed the most implicit confidence in
his own judgment He had all the quail
ties OF a great commander, and but for his
unSocial disposition, and cold, repulSive
nature. would, doubtless. early have at
tanned TO the highest h0nors of the En-
pire.
Napoleon rewarded the brave, but
lavished his choicest favor on the brave
that loved him. Never governed by at
tachment himself how could St. Cyr
expect others TO be swaycd by il in their
treatment OF him. Nevertheless. Napo-
leon always treated him with justice and
frequently rewarded him with places OF
trust. The neglect To make him Marshal
he made out that immortal list, was
apparently undeserved, and gave rise
perhaps Justly, To some charges of faYorit
ism.
St. Cyr was an obstinate man in the
prosecution OF his own plans. and equally
in his opposition To those which differed
from them; and though ready 10 condemn
others, when thwarted or condemned him
self, he few into passion and his head
became filled with all forms Of suspicion.
rr~tas. In i
agree, and he found there was a clique
around the Commander-in- Chief, arrayed
against HIM, instead Of performing bis
duty bravely, and winning back that con
fidence which others had unjustly de-
prlved HIM OF, he first became renaiSS and
inactive, then fierce and condemnatory
and finally threw up his command. He
ought 10 have known that was no way
either To screen himself from unjust
charges or win his way To power. He did
not seem to know the mea ming Of the de-
vice, Il bide my time"
Thus also III Spain. when placed over
the army destined To act in Catalonia he
became peevish, complaining, and foolish
1t was true, the army was not an effective
one; but, on the other hand the enemy he
had to contend with was not a dangerous
one. Besides, IL was the greatest com
pliment Napoleon could pay him. To ap-
point him over poor army from which he
expected victory. The Emperor knew III
help il, and the only remedy of the evil. in
his power, was To place an able and
skiiliui commander over IL. A poor Gem
eral would have insured its ruin.
Yet St. Cyr, instead Of winning conf
dencc and renown by executing great
things with small means. began to
gTumble. Ney, when conducting the re-
treat from Russia, created means where
an ordinary man would have declared il
impossible, and out Of his very defeats
Il Ia 81
est wreath that hangs on his tomb.
But St. Cyr not only complained
though successful in all his engagements
winning every battle, but accused Ma
poleon of placing him there on purpose TO
ruin him, because ne had belonged to the
Army Of the Rhine, under Moreau: and
this spienetlc and ridiculous statement of
his has been taken up and incorporated
In English histories, as an evidence Of the
Emperor's mcanness. How such an &C
cusation could have received a sober
thought is passing strange.
The truth is, St. Cyr was placed where
he was compelled TO put forth great efforts
without winning much renown. 1t was
hard work without corresponding reward:
but he should have waited patiently for
the latter on some more fortunate field:
rememb enng that a good General is
known by has sacrifices as much as by
his victories. Once resigning his com
mand in anger, and once disgraced for
the amiability Of the man.
Previous 10 this. III 1907, he fought
brayely an the campaign OF Prussia and
Poland, and especially at Heilsberg.
though there was no opportunity offered
for great actions. as lac commanded onfv
a division under SOult But ia 1872 a.
before remarked, IN the great Russian
expedition, he had an opportunity to dis
tiuguish himself, and won that place
among the renowned leaders that fol-
lowed Napoleon, which his services richly
mcnted.
In the FIRST battle u Polotsk. in tho ad-
vance 10 Moscow, OudiHOt. with his corps
was assaulted by Wittgensicin, and The
French Marshal WAS wounded ST. Cyr
Immediately succeeded him as Com
manccr 30 Chief 81 the army. composed OF
30 600 men. This WIS what he had long
desired DIslIking Ia serve under any
other officer, thc moment hIs actions were
unlettcrcd hc exhibited his great quail
ties as military leader. lie Immediately
adopted MS own plan o. operations. and
Glih A11t ciearngss 81 perception and
grasp OF knowledge which DISTINGUISHED
him, proceeded to put il in execution
For whole day after the engagement in
which CudInot was wounded he kept the
Russian General quiet, by sending pro
posals respecting the removal Of the
wounded, and by making demonstrations
Of a retreat. But as soon as darkness
closed over the armies, he began in
silence 10 rally his men, and arranging
them in three columns, by five in the
morning was ready for battle. The signal
was givcn-the artillery opened its de-
.V.ssar