Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1810-09-24
For tie Alexandria Daily Gazette.
NATIONAL MILITARY DRESS.
Mn. EDITOR,

prosnectus, for National Military .Uni-
form, TO be exhibited at the Arlington Sheep
Shearing. Since that period, this new, and
interesting sabjecs, appears to have met
with considerable notice, in different parts
Of the union.
laying aside the propriety and patriot
ism Of adopting system Of cheap domestic
clothing for the regular service, for the mi
litia OF the u. S. it is certainly the most
desirable and practicable plan, that could
be devised. To uniform the yeomanry, in
the product and industry of their native
soil, is matter of pleasing reflection to
every generous mind; AND to rescue our
militia from their present degraded state,
and place them upon at least, the footing of
warlike appearance, is an end the most de-
sirable and praiseworthy.
For service, such as the soldier must
experience in American warfare, the tex
ture and fashion of foreign military habits,
is by no means suited. TO resist the incle.
mencies of the season while in forests and
morasses, the spleudor of the foreign cos
tune will be inappropriate and wasteful.
When troops can meet with the comforts OF
an inn, or barn, their happiness may be
tolerably preserved, but to lie in the open
air, exposed to the storm, or to march an
derthe rays of a southern sun, would soon
tarnish the gilded appendages of modern
| war.
| 1t is perfectly in the power of our coun-
trymen to equip themselves in an uniform
consistent with their resources, and contor
| mably to the character and habits of their
country. American wives and sweelhearts
have hands and needles. American fowls
have feathers--and he who will wear a
plume, let him plume himself upon the viz
tue of getting it from his own barn door,,
We have every requisite, and only want
the,will, the desire OF doing, what we ought
to be proud and emulous TO do, from con-
viction and not necessity.
| Is it necessary to be in the American
! fashion that man should have his boots
made in London and his breaches in Paris
or is i, necessary for the Soldier of Ameri-
can Freedom, to borrow his military habit
from the parades of St. James or the Thu,
| illeries
In the day of combat, the sight Of an
hunting shirt, the glorious habit Of our
fathers, will convey more dread 10 aa e.
| nemv than all the pomp OF gold or sill
yer. Who can behold this emblem OF
the revolution, and not remember the glo-
ries of Quebec, Saratoga, and the Kings
! mountain. Ga those mtmora bic days the
| children Of the forest, like the pioneers Ct
death, soon opened the road to victory -
| The hunting skirt men, and their cursed
twisted guns, were at cnce the theme OF
dread and wonder TO our toes: nor viii
the remembrance of their prowess be readi-
" forgotten. If attacked by an European
host, it must be by system of partizan
warfare that we can hope for safety or sue
cess. To meet the disciplined legions Of
the modern Zenghis, in the open arena Of
combat, cannor br expected from troops SO
new to war as ours must be for time
Those myrmidons have been too long ia
miliar with victory, and have waded too
deep in blood to have their progress stop
ped by ordinary means. 1t Will be the Fa-
bian maxim, which saved us in the peri
lous moments of the revolution, that will
form our safety in the revolutions to come {;
and although the Fabius Max'mus Of our
country now sleeps in the tomb, his glory
and example remain, for our political SAL
vation.
The last Of republics must either bury
the name, or remain as mighty rock amid
the pillows, Drawing the storm Of universal
empire, & a1ording the last ray ofhope to a
despairing world.
The.Gleyassating hand Of war will reach
us in time The modern Alexander is not
yet weeping tor more worlds to conquer;
and If our hour is not yet come, we only
..:a-. Ahe nriuilene which pnl.nha,..e naua