INCAPACITY OF GENERAL SIMPSON.—OUR TARNISHED HONOR.

Lyttelton Times, Volume VI, Issue 344, 16 February 1856, Page 5

INCAPACITY OF GENERAL SIMPSON.—OUR TARNISHED HONOR.

(From the Times, :29th Supu-mber.) The honour of England must be preserved at any cost to personal feelings. The sufetj^of the brave men she has sent out must hea ouusideralion superior to all notions of delicacy. Why should we not speak plainly what has been passing in the minds of men of all classes during the last few days? When the telegraph sent the iirst news of the fall of Seba^Upoi, the words " Our attack on the Redan did notsueceed" prepared the public for some misfortune, and mingled a gloom with its rejoicing. A fe.v hours more made known a loss of officers as great as at Inkurmann, and many a household had to mourn a member struck down in a conflict which it knew was not a victory. Then, for a long fortnight the nation awaited with deep anxiety the arrival of details. The official despatch came at last, brought by an officer of Ihe staff as if such a narrative as ii contaiued must insure the r>eir<rar's reward. It will be seen by last night's Gazette that Major Curzon lias received the reward for his Job's tidings. General Simpson's is yet to oouk1, and if we are correctly informed, the Government are in some perplexity as to its nature. We can tell them he deserves recall. How meagre, how obscure that despatch w:is, will be testified by all who re id it. l>ut what it contained anil what it omitted led to th« same conclusion : Tin; British army has been beaten, and beaten, it vvas reasonable to suppose, through the incapacity of the general who could send home? such a despatch on such an occassion. Two days more elapsed, and the lull truth was told. The calamity was dt-.epor, darker, more humiliating, than even the iim>t desponding had feared. I'he story of that terrible day related ai such length, and -v)tii such power in these column*, has been read in every corner of the Hritisa Islands, and, translated into as many languages, is now before our fiieuds ;ind foes all over Europe. What has been the feeling of the public during the last two days let each man judi;e for him - si If. Let him als > consider whether it is a time to keep silence. A comparison of General

Simpson's account of the attack with thatfiven by our correspondent will show how fur the C'omm;unl(.T-in-chief was informed of what actually look place. It may be that British military custom requires n hair], unadorned style, and that a General's despatch is to he considered anaiagous to a Royal Speech. !he full and interesting narratives of .Marshal PehisMer ami General Neil show, however, thai i>ur nilits have not arrived at this rigidity of etiquette ; and even the Horse Guards must admit that a General's brevity ought not to excuse important omissions, and that a despatch may he dignified without being unintelligible. The British General led every one to believe that only 15,000 men were engaged at first m the Redan, and states positively that these were "supported to the utmost." UrColmiel VVyudham's repeated messages for help, of his personal return and interview with Sir Edward Codrington, of ijis permission to take the Rovalx, and of the unhappy route whicn made tlii? meagre assistance too late to be of any us*:, the Commander-in-chief does not h.eat.ie a word. The assertion that the assaulting' party was supported to the utmost we know to be at variance with the fact. The number of men engaged is not stated clearly, nor is an approximate calculation of the loss given. Even uf the duration of the contest the Genera! is ignorant. He sa\s it was maintained for " nearly an hour." We It-am from our correspondent and from general testimony that it lasted nearly two hours. It is strange that a commander in chief, with all his advanlatr^s, should be in error as to facts which s^vanu-evs and civilians couid easily ascertain. The Hun. Leicester Cnrzon, the bearer <>t tnis obscure and inaccurate destiatcii, is ivcoinme>id<*d t>> Lord Panminv, as capable of giving more minute details than th<- seit-imiiuseu iimus would allow. Bat, if the assistant military secretary had an opportunity of learning the true history of that fatal fight, we doubt n^t that his narrative will convince the Secretary of war of the valueless nature of the document he brought.

Why is General Simpson thus brief and erroneous iir-hi.s coiinnunicaciuns ? Tnere i> but one answer—be was ignorant of what p;ss?ei. or desirous to conceal it. We believe the :bi"ii=r. Huw should lie be aware uf the scenes eimeied in the Redan? "Ha sat in a trench, with his nose and eves just facing the dust and c •1-i. uiml his cioik drawn up over his head to prelect him a<_rainbt both.'1 fie makes arran\rem*a(s winch cruises every one to exclaim —•' This is another 18ih June: " lie choose* the assaulting column from tiie 2nd and Li^ht Divisious, inr the preposterous reason that they had been so oueu and so desperately eu<ja'_ rev ; and when i:u; ailment is come that these regiments—consisting of raw lad-*, and with hardly one mm in twenty who had fouirht at the Ahna—are to advnuee t.> the deadly contest, lie is content t" si-> a-id sit motionless in a ditch. An unsupported C-..1i-uiel fitriits the battle. We have a -iiau>se of a General of Division, but it is uuiy us bc.v.idered and irresolute, and telling his subordinate, that '• it" they were of any use, he uii^lu take the Royals." Bat we will en in- no further ;.:!■> ihis shameful history. Examples of h;r.>isn wmo not wantinir, and that they may haw taeir reward wo earnestly hope. Smii to (j^uer.il Simpson's opinion of individual nvrit t;u- p>:i>tic will attach little importance, ile wi:i, vi c unse. be unable sulHuiently to expres> vis .■ts>i'i- «'!>ati-«.'a of all ijtMierals of division, whik- h.s .vaiincst thanks will be due to e^erv meinVv .«." ;s> .>\>:i staff. But the men who diod ou ti;-.u Uua! day, or will brin tr home wounds and mutilations as a sor^. remenibranoe of it, mu-t l>e honoured by their country through infoiin uion irom other sources. There can be no doubt of tlu disronuiU ;.iul jinsjer which lvi-rn amon^ the troops. Oi;k;er> ami men h;ive lost ail i:oiitiden.:e i;i di-Ar v-l/u-r, and the only difference is, that t*ti-■ prnv.e i-ro-claim< his opinion with more veboimM-e •. 'L':uincapable coiHiirindev wlto ba< hroii^Mt o>i S\!;ulantl this last disaster can.ioi force nis s 'ui:-.'is to look with iMivv ou tho>e ilt'e.is oi ui-.-u' ally to which their own de.'eat serve's as a km, but he can oppress them wan ieeauis of iieep humUiaiiou, o\ bitter Vfscrainent, of h.-peW dfspoodenoy. As 1-Mijr as lie shall leidiiu-in, there will h'v Uu-convu-tioM t':ia: the day uf mutie is likely to be anything bm th.- -iav i.f v.chitv. N"W, too, are approaching those oi> t >r;uions in the tit'ld which are tin- lest of iieueraUlup. Wul the man w!i.> could not attack wuh u\e comiuoa skill a position with \shu-h uc had been for

months acquainted, be capable of combinations ami inaneuvves on new and ever changing ground ? The conclusion is not difficult. It is the duty of Government i<> make arrangements for relieving Genera! Simpson of the post he holds. It is generally understood that the present oommamier-in-chiet" accepted his appointment wMi reluctance. This does not, indeed, excuse him from all responsibility for subsequent failure, for no solicitations of a minister ought to overcome the resistance which is honestly founded on a sense of incapacity. But the knowledge that his was only the minor fault of ai> irresolute refusal must soften the judgment of the country. Any honor or reward which his services may claim, or the position in which he has been placed renders seemly, will begrudged by nu one: but let him no longer command our troops in chief. A French com-mander-i(,-chief, under somewhat similar circumstances, has been in this very campaign superseded, and he returned with true devotion and an admirable spirit to the command of his division. We will not suggest any course to General Simpson or his advisers, but the nation mast immediately look to the Government to provide the army in the E:ist with a general who coin mauds its confidence and islikelv to retain it.

It cannot be too often repeated, that our army requires a younger man. A statesman in eiiher house, a lawyer on the bench, even an admiral in his comfortable first-rate, may preserve tiis efficiency until an advanced age. for lie is not under the necessity of bodily fatigue. But the commander of an army in the field must have physical strength not only for sedentary toil, but for riding, walking! bearing wind, raiu. and cold, together with all the persona! discomforts of the camp and the march. These qualities are not possessed by men of the age of the British Coimuauder-iu-Chief, who sits ma ditch, muffled up in a cloak when a whole JJarmy rushes to'assault them. Marshal Pelissier wants, we believe, one or two years of sixty, and yet his activity is looked upon as extraordinary by his countrymen. He brought up the reserves in person when General B >squet was wounded. The great body of the French Generals are far below this age. Canrobert is 47, Bosquet is 42 years old, about the age of Eyre and .Uarkham". What is there to prevent^the adoption of a similar system in England? Nothing but the timidity of the Government, ihe sympathy of certain' military authorities at home for acquaintances, and the superstitious reference .'or those who have served daring youth in the campaigns of a past generation. If the nation is to preserve its rank in Europe there must be no delay in giving greater efficiency to the army by placing over it men of adequate capacity. Englishmen iiard.y appreciate how much their' military reputation has suffered in the eyes of the world even m this irhi-.uphant campaign. Their fame ior persona! Course is as high as ever, but how tl-ir Government should select such men, fur i!:gh i commands, and how the free British pe-.pje snould acquiesce in the choice, are the w.mder of foreigners. The Russians say we are an army of Hons led on by as^es. If the country is to end this war with 'the refutation of i.ir:y ><mis since, it must not be content with the ciiiyauy of captains and lieutenants, or the simmorn enrage of the Highlands and Con- »«". ht. \\ c nave nu whii to rival our Allies m t»e umxmeruf their troops; we are content v) admit that in all joint operations, their share ii< vie toils a.-,,! the giorie:, of the war must be tne givaier. H;u what the British army has to tl«, it sli.mid he enabled iv do well. Lifie is ga.|i--a by pacing ;i , :i ,, tiil ()fficei . over an,i_ Sl . t piuj. up ail :; (F;etation of perfect eniiiilu.., i, Ue tr<.".i':b,twm superior numbers, do »«■■.>;lyuli t.,e w.,rk of tne si^e, wh ; ie the Si »a.lp: tr tall-,ueri v, tue E^li.h is marred by tue incapacity of theiv command,,-. We kno^v :f.":; d"cr' f ie<- ap=.^.li..|f 1., the „«I,li« hv their ,i,uy to the country, it may not he d^ent 1": hkl:' i!il u> '-•■"••li« t!>« i>ri."a« ties which ;;" IU • li'™- >»ilios to the orave ,nen Ld.^saM-opeal t, w.rdi human nature will give per-iKps even a re.ulier anMver. By aM tlr,' tj-7 »«■■'•'';/»« «n»y, which iK« fought S( »"i<,.-;.; ana so wH, l,y t!,,r svmp M ,l,. v inr :hose I R be,,« ,1 and .k-suuu. il.r.i,, K b the n.cent slaughter, !iS well as uy their love of cmurv vii.l iKiuom- we cnulnru Iv^Fslnnen to bro,ic ».o dHay ,„ pkcwig at ,J le head „f their small but clnvairous army, a man who can ma!.e ■> va,,.ur productive r,f SuaJ «Liiig more ihaJ hoiioraoJe disaster*