Washington Telegraph

THE WRONG SPIRIT.

We are sorry to see a disposition to censure each other, which can only spring from a spirit of ambitious rivalry, existing amongst the officers of the army. This is injurious in every way—to themselves, individually, to their military reputation, and to their country. Surely there is glory enough for all without resorting to detraction or quarrelling about the comparative brightness of their laurels. At Buena Vista this feeling existed, and it was manifested at Sierra Gordo in a harshness of tone, calculated, to say the least of it, to do no good, and more than likely to result in lasting hostility, if not in serious injury. In reading over the communication of Haskell and his officers and the reply of Gen. Pillow, we cannot but think the latter highly censurable for his direct charge against Haskell of cowardice during the heat of the battle. Haskell's regiment cut to pieces in attempting to execute an order to do an impossibility, retreated it is true, but certainly it did not require its total annihilation to redeem the officer who ordered them, under such circumstances, to retreat, from the charge of cowardice. There is in it, too, a repugnant want of generosity. Haskell said not a word against the bravery of Pillow. He awarded him personal gallantry, but in defence of himself from the censure to which he was exposed, from his retreat he charges him with incompetence, and a want of a proper knowledge of the enemy's strength at the point ordered to be attacked. Pillow thanks him for his testimony as to his bravery, but regrets that he cannot return the compliment. This, we consider, harsh and uncalled for. The facts charged by Haskell and his officers were not thereby in the least invalidated: but on the contrary, rendered more likely to be believed, for his fretful censure is just such as ignorance might be supposed capable of exhibiting.