The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1906-09-27

A Modern Major-Gencral.
The science Of war has made i'm
mcnse strides since Waterloo, and ,ho
ways Of warriors have changed IN pos.
sibly unwilling Difference TO modern
conditions.
Plumcd. sashcd, gliiiering with "or'
ders,n epanlets and aigaillci,es, the
soldiers OF the Nspolecnic era rode
magniheently into action, and mar
shAled their divisions under the eye OF
their unequScd leader, SLOUGH halted,
shiri.sleovod, or in dull drab, the
American commander ION the plains
or in the Philippines strides along his
firing line, field d-class almost hls only
equipment. He has no conceivable use
for saber. Opposite in attire but
alike in quality, Lannes at Moniebello
and l.awton at San Maieo form strlk-
ing pictorial contrast, yet the men had
much in common. In the days when
the "Iron Duke of England and the
Little Corporal Of France grappled
for the final throw, the guns of the
field-artillcry did well IL they hurled a
round shot over half a mile; the flint.
lock smoothbore OF the foot-soldler
was marvel if il split a barn door at
three hundred yards.
Generals who sat in their saddles on
some commanding height long can.
non shot behind the line of battle We're
beyond all probability of danger, and
seldom was that line of battle four miles
long
Shoulder 10 shoulder, in deep ranks
or dense charging columns, the ma
chine like soldiery plunged through
thick clouds of sulphur smoke, firing
blindly at the word of commando but,
except when leading some grand as.
sault, their generals stayed where the
smoke-clouds could not dim their vision
or the splendor of their uniforms.
THE LEADERS WHO FELL.
Lannes, it is true, his legs crushed
by cannon-shot, went down before
the Austrian guns. Moreau, once the
hero of Linden and the Army of the
Rhine, the rival of Bonaparte himself
fell, stricken by the shower Of crap,
Napoleon in person had directed; and
Ney, "bravest of the brave" sought
death at the head of the Old Guard
only to find it ignominiously at the
hands of the firing squad, told off weeks
later for his execution. Picton, NOR
tally wounded, sat his horse in the hear
of his famous division at Waterloo, and
Pakenham was picked off by Yanke,
rifle in front of the cotton bales at New
Orleans.
Gallant young Desaix, too, was {
brilliant division leader who, mt Ma
range, died on the field; but even II
the bloody record of Napoleon's battles
in all their direful list of casualties, tn,
names of generals Of high rank killed
in action were singularly few.
In our own sharp brush with Mexico
a war remarkable for one thing espe
cially, the onward, reckless dash ane
daring of the American officers, the
proportion of regimental officers killed
or wounded was far in excess OF the
records vf Borepean oaa,r"ianS
II was the first trial of West Point IL
actual fighting, and her graduates wer'
ON their mettle. Such were then
achievements, the commanding gener
al. Scott himself, "Old Fuss and Feath
ers," gave to them and their famous
school unstinted praise.
But, severe MS was the fighting an'
carnage of that short and decisive cam
paign, and heavy as were the losses o.
the volunteers at Buena Vista and o
the regulars at Monterey, Chapnltepe'
and Molino del Rey, again the casualt.
| list contains the name Of no great gen
eral.
A CHANGE IN THE FASHION.
Il was indeed tradition amonI
American youth of fifty years ago tha
in the war of 1872, and in that wit
Mexico. it was the fashion for the op
posing commanders, having duly al
rayed their troops, to ride forward
each attended by what the daily pres
has ever described MS "a glltterln
staff" and there, midway between tn
lines. ceremoneously TO salute eac
other, and then 90 prancing and cui
yeting back, well back, and magnli
Gently, at safe distance, TO give II
signal for battle. Yet Scott had fougi
like a hero, heading his brigade
Chippewa and Lundy's Lane. 1t WI
not fear, but the fashion, that held IL
commander far aloof.
Then came II time in the history
, our land wnen all records were r
yersed, when in battle OF the gian
3 that lasted four long years the Sou
e aud the North fought desperately +
0 supremacy, and only quit when M
Z, could do no more.
The rifle gun had nearly supplant'
: the old "boomer" Of the flying art
: lery: the rife musket had replaced q
!, "ball and buckshot" smoothbore, al
q generals who wished TO see what The
! men were doing had to share th'
i peril. There was no point OF safe
e within sight of the battling Lines.
Moreo, 90 momentous was the
D sue that officers in high command 4
!. compelled to take the greatest person
!, risk. 10 expose themselves 10 the en-
= my's fire even az did their deyot
men. in order Ia rouse tho enthnsih'
y Of the lines and stir them to the hie
9 est possible pitch Of valor. The q
= war Of the sixties Was deadly TO ma
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