"Victory Organized,"
It was said of
Carnot, when
France was passing through the most fearful crisis of her history,
‘"He hath organized victory."’ The violent throes of the revolution were still felt Civil war was raging in La Vendee; Royalist factions in the interior and on the frontier were plotting the downfall of the
Republic; and, besides these internal dangers,
France was threatened with invasion by the armies of
Spain,
Holland,
Sardinia,
Prussia,
Austria, and
England.
Yet, in the face of this terrible storm,
France triumphed.
This was before the genius of
Napoleon had developed itself, or he had taken command of an army.
The civil war in La Vendee, though conducted by Cathalinean and Charette, at the head of large armies, was checked, and the formidable armies of invasion of combined
Europe were driven beyond the
Rhine.
The report of
Carnot, the
Minister of War, to the National Convention, showed that
France had gained twenty-seven victories, eight of which were in order of battle, 120 combats of inferior importance, 80,000 enemies killed, 91,000 prisoners, 116 fortified places or important cities taken, of which 36 were after being besieged or blockaded, 230 forts or redoubts carried, 3,800 cannons and mortars, 70,000 muskets, 1,400 milliars of powder, and 90 standards.
All this had been gained in a campaign of seventeen months. To whom was
France indebted for this success?
Besides the bravery of her soldiers and the vigilance of her commanders, she chiefly owed her triumphs to the genius and energy of
Carnot, who was charged with the organization of her armies and the superintendence of their operations.
Her was the National Convention slow to make the declaration which has since become histerical, ‘"
General has organized victory."’
With this fact in French-history before them, 1st the confederated States profit, and suitedly resolve to ‘"organize victory."’ No one can doubt that the men who compose the armies of the
South are in every respect equal to those who, under the direction of
Carnot, the immense armies which threatened
France with subjugation.
The combined resources of the
South to furnish the
material as well as men, are even greater than those of
France of that day — divided as she was by civil war — her finances deranged, her trade paralyzed, and famine spreading through all her departments.
The genius of
Carnot summoned science to his aid, and
France in herself was found sufficient to furnish the means to meet the tremendous struggle.
If saltpetre was required for gunpowder the soil of
France was searched, and even the mould of the cellars of
Paris was subjected to the analysis of the shemist, to furnish the requisite supply.
Our resources are greater than those
then possessed by
France — the discoveries of science since have been greater.
We can, therefore, command greater agencies to our aid. If copper was needed for his cannon, Carnel took the bells of the churches.
We are forced to no such alternative.
Our mountains abound with iron and copper, the hand of genius and industry need only command a supply.
Our resources are immense.
What we want is the most efficient military organization, and a great and scientific mind like that of
Carnot to superintend it. Possibly we have done all under our present military organization that could have been done.
Yet, certainly greater efficiency can be secured.
When
France entered upon the struggle to which we have referred, she was almost destitute of generals.
The bansful effects of the system of the Bourbons, in excluding from position in the army all who were not of the class of the nobles, was severely felt.
Excepting
LaFayette, Dumouren, and a few others, at the conimencement of her revolution, she was without gen of experience, to take command of the lavies she had ordered.
Officers were to be
created. Carnot was of the opinion of a certain Athenian General, that ‘"
an army of deer commanded by a lion, was better than an army of lions commanded by a deer."’ His penetrating eye searched the obscured rank for talent and courage combined, and promoted it rapidly to the highest grade.
The essay of young
Hoche on the means of penetrating
Belgium, attracted his attention.
Carnot exclaimed, ‘"Behold a sergeant of infantry, who will make his way; "’ and in a few months
Hoche became
Captain, Celonel,
General of Brigade,
General of Dividen, and
General-in-Chief.
The time has come when every
personal consideration must yield to advance the means for the securement of Southern liberty.
Let us more
claims to honor, precedence, or place, founded upon past position or rank under the old Government, be the means of preventing the right man from occupying the right place, whether at the head of a division or as a captain of a company.
A man may be able to deliver an eloquent political harangue; yea, be a good stateman, yet have none of the elements requisite to make a good general.
France under
Carnot, and afterward under
Napoleon, abjured all this and sought for victory by
organizing for it. Let us of the
South be wise to profit by her example, and let every patriotic son of the
South be ready to day with
Carnot, ‘"
Let my reputation perish rather than my country."’
