The Sun.
London, England, 1866-06-30 00:00:00

Volunteers,

The American War has shown the value of
Volunteer troops. In 1860, except a small and by
no means well-trained regular army, the whole force
of the Union consisted of a militia, which might
not unfitly be compared to our Volunteer organisa-
tion, except that they were not so well drilled,
armed, and clothed. From this material sprang
those disciplined armies which penetrated the
Southern States at all points, and fought those
fierce and bloody battles which will make the Civil
War of the Union rank among the greatest fought
by mankind. The army with which Grant captured
Richmond, or that with which Sherman marched
through the Southern States, were among the most
efficient instruments by which a conqueror ever de-
solated and subdued a nation. No doubt it re-
quired years of desperate service in the field to bring
these troops to that high state of perfection to
which they attained. Yet the desperate defence
of the Southern States by their Volunteer bands,
and the still more determined and persistent attacks
by the Volunteer bands organised by the North,
equally prove how soon a brave, clever, and ener-
getic people, with little or no previous training,
may be formed into efficient armies.

On Saturday last we had a great gathering in
Hyde Park of the citizens of London and its neigh-
bourhood in arms. Some 15,000 men were there
paraded in Brigades of all arms, and inspected by
H. R. H. the Co►nmander-in-Chief. To the un-
initiated eye no signs could be detected to distin-
guish this little army from a regular field force.
The thin line was not red—but green of all shades,
grey, and dun. The battalions in continuous
columns confronting H. R. H. at the saluting point
were really for immediate action almost equal to the
regular army. But the first operations of a Volun-
teer force are generally disastrous, for there is some-
thing more than arms, clothes, and drill required
for active service in the field. It will be remembered,
after the disastrous action at Bull Run a large
portion of the Northern Volunteer army broke up
and returned home. Many came then really to
appreciate what active service in the field meant,
and did not like it--and so it would be with us.
Hundreds among the young fellows who marched
past so jauntily on Saturday last would assume a
very different air after lying for a night in a wet
ditch, and the shop and the desk would be remem-
bered with regret when Brown's brains were dashed
into the face of Smith. Campaigns such as are
now progressing in Italy and Germany make
pleasant reading; but very unpleasant pastime ; and
the strong" leaning of the war-worn Volunteer is
—towards home.

A Volunteer army, without a powerful check,
would melt away like snow in a summer's sun before
the real dangers and privations of a campaign.
That check is simply this. When a Volunteer force
takes the field the Mutiny Act should at once be
extended to them, and thenceforth they become
soldiers in fact, as well as in name. The gay
Volunteer should understand this—that a terrible
reality lies concealed under the pageantry of such
shows as that of Saturday. To march past in grand
division, with a Royal Duke at the saluting point, and
all the rank, beauty, and fashion of England for
spectators, may form a pleasing excitement, in spite
of the heat of the weather, the weary waiting, and
the bore of carrying a rifle in a dense throng 3 but
the Volunteers should look beyond this. It matters
little whether the green of his uniform is of a light
shade or dark—but what does matter is, whether
he is prepared, if the emergency arises, to march
through heat, cold, and dirt, to lie uncovered on
the ground, through disappointments, disasters, in
sickness and wounds, with hard labour, in hunger
and thirst, to fight it out to the end. If the Volun-
teers as a body are prepared for this, and will
cheerfully submit to a trial which strains the en-
durance of all men to the uttermost, then England
is possessed of a force far more valuable than her
regular army—but if not, there is little value in our
Volunteer Review.—Anglo-American Times.