Military Lenders of the South.
No one can look around him upon the warlike and resolute faces which are seen at every step, without feeling that the people of the
South, if properly officered, are invincible against a world in arms.
But, for the very reason that hers are the most gallant and generous people in all the world, people who covet death, and to whom a soldier's grave is more desirable than a life of inglorious ease, the greatest care should be taken that such rare and indomitable energies should not be sacrificed by incompetent leadership, and that the military organization should be such as to develop the peculiar genius and individual aptitude of every combatant in that manner which is likely to produce the greatest general efficiency.
From the beginning of these troubles, the
State of South Carolina has not only exhibited great political sagacity, but has managed the details of her military movements with consummate common sense and practicability.
Her first act was to call that veteran soldier and noble gentleman,
Gen.Walter Gwynn,to her engineering work, and to place United State officers in command of her forces.
The officers of her militia, with a modesty and patriotism that were as honorable as their valor, yielded gracefully to men who had been trained in the school of war. The consequence is that all the military operations of
South Carolina, including the bombardment of
Sumter, have been conducted with the greatest efficiency, and, so far, without the loss of a single life.
And, upon this system the whole Southern Government must act, if they would do justice to the brave men enlisted in their cause, and give that cause the greatest efficiency.
It is well recollected, that in the
Mexican war the U.S. Government often commissioned mere politicians as
Generals — men who had never sent a squadron in the field, but who had under them some meritorious regular officers who did the real work, while these asses in the
lion's skin obtained the glory.
We have no doubt that the
Northern Confederacy will follow that example, and the
South should be prepared at once to take advantage of this cardinal error, which the egregious vanity and humbugging propensities of political aspirants are sure to make them commit.
Give us, as far as possible, educated soldiers at the head of our armies — educated either in the U. S. service or in actual warfare — so that the magnificent courage and devotion of this great people may tell to the utmost, and never be sacrificed at the shrine of untutored valor.
Another thing.
In looking at the stalwart frames and resolute faces of the
Southern troops, it is evident at a glance that where they do not have sword bayonets they ought to have
bowie-knives--nay, so beautiful and effective is a bowie-knife, that no matter what other arms they have, or whether they have any other arms at all, every son of the
South ought to have a bowie-knife.
In his little work on the "Bayonet Exercise,"
Capt.Caryquotes the
Russian General,Sowarrow,who used to say: ‘"The bullet is foolish; the bayonet alone is wise."’ The same remark is applicable to that most formidable of all weapons for a close hug — the bowie-knife.
Nothing tests the metal of a man like the taste of cold steel.
Our enemies are great at bullets at long range; but it should be our policy to avoid long taw and bring them to that close hug which can alone express adequately the strength of our brotherly affection.
In the late war with
England it was the policy of the
Northern commanders to avoid as much as possible hand to hand conflicts with
John Bull,and to pound him to pieces at long range, rather than trust themselves within the reach of his powerful and vicious horns.
This will be their game again, and our game must be to prevent their doing it, and to get them where we can tear out their hearts with our knives; or, if we have no better weapons, with our hands and teeth.
The
French, the most military people in the world, ought to be the model of the
South.--Let us have none of the starched, pipe-clay aristocratic system of
England.
Let the door of promotion to the highest station be open to the humblest private who proves his talent and conduct in the field.
Nearly all the great
Generals of
Napoleoncame from the ranks.
