The Sun.
London, England, 1861-12-18 00:00:00

THE AMERICAN ARIIY.

The strength of an army is no longer constituted
solely by the number of its battalions. In days
when all soldiers were armed alike, and all derived
about the same efficiency from discipline, numbers
might be expected to carry the day ; but those con-
ditions of warfare exist no longer. Armstrong guns
and Enfield rifles have revolutionised the practice
of campaigning, and we know from our own expe-
rience how long a time is required to complete the
organisation of an army on the new model. The
tendency of modern practice has been rather to dimi-
nish numbers in favour of equipment and discipline.
A small army, complete at all points, and tho-
roughly well provided, can be depended upon for
better service than an irregular host. President
Lincoln got his half-million of men very quickly,
but found them of no immediate use for his pur-
pose. If he could have obtained but a tenth part
of that number well organised, equipped, and dis-
ciplined, he would probably have been able to ad-
vance into the territory of the Confederates and to
occupy any points he pleased. As it was, the Con-
federates proved more than a match for him, and the
immense numerical strength of the Federal army has
only served to show Low much is wanted in modern
times beyond willing recruits.
We can detect in Mr. Cameron's report some an-
ticipations of foreign war. He speaks of a possible
blockade of the Potomac, of the necessity of protect-
ing the Federal capital from "foes without," as
well as enemies within, and of the competence of
the Government to " enter upon aggressive opera-
tions against any power that may intermeddle with
the domestic affairs" of America. But when we
inquire into the measures contemplated in case of
such an event we can only find a recommendation
for the establishment of a regular militia, to be
kept thoroughly prepared against contingencies.
A militia, however, must be armed, whereas the
Federal arsenals are unfurnished. The Americans
are at work upon the manufacture of rifles, but
all such manufactures require time for their de-
velopment, and the Secretary can only anticipate,
upon the most sanguine calculation, that
Springfield may supply 200,000 stand of arms
in the course of the ensuing year. He calls out, in
fact, like Garibaldi, for a " million of muskets," and
says that the Government should never be without
such a stock in store. This may be very true, but the
stock has yet to be formed. The Secretary suggests
the creation of Government establishments of
various kinds for the supply of arms and munitions,
and, as the Americans seem bent upon military ex-
penditure, the system may probably be adopted.
But how is the equipment of the army to be
managed in the meantime ? If Government is only
to be in possession of a million of muskets at some
future period, and under the operation of some new
system, where are arms to be found for the " three
millions" of men who are to be " promptly " raised
in case of "emergency P"

There is a curious passage in this report—a pas-
sage which might have suggested to the Secretary
a different conclusion from that which he draws.
He excuses the want of success on the part of the
Unionists by a reference to the unparalleled magni-
tude of the "conspiracy" against the Government.
This conspiracy, he observes, "extended over an
area of 733,144 square miles, possessing a coast line
of 3,523 miles and a shore line of 25,511 miles,
with an interior boundary line of 7,031 miles in
length." The white inhabitants of this territory
are 8,000,000 in number; they are unanimous in
the resolution to achieve their independence, and it
has been found that their 3,000,000 slaves are more
willing to take part with them than against them.
Now, is such a movement on the part of such a
people, so situated and so animated, to be described
as a mere " conspiracy " requiring considerable
efforts before it can be crushed ? Are not the
figures suggestive rather of a
incident
national dislo-
cation, to be accepted as an of destiny ?
We think so, and we are certainly of opinion that
it would be extremely unwise in President Lincoln's
Government to encumber itself in its " gigantic
efforts" with an additional war. All these efforts,
great as they were, have not enabled it to advance
a march into Virginia, and no efforts are likely to
be of much avail against the patriotism of a loyal
colony backed by the whale power of the British
Empire.— Mites.

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