Mississippi Democrat. (Carrollton, Miss.) 1844-18??, 1846-08-05
From the Democrats Review,
MODERN ARMS AND ARMIES.

effects in the concentration Of great power
in small body of men. A handful of
troops, drilled, disciplined and armed ac-
cording TO scientific rules, and guided by
experienced and sklfnl officers, may be |
productive of the most important results,
and even change the destiny of nations. -
A marked example Of this has been ex-
hlbited during the last few years in the
case of China. That nation, some two
centuries since, was overrun by the war.
like Tartars of the north, and the Man
chow dynasty established. Under the
policy established by that government, she
remained secluded from the rest of the
world down to lS43, and the population
had reached 800 millions of souls; at that
lime the British government having diff
culties with China, sent 1000 soldiers I'M
der Sir Gordon Bremen to blockade Can.
ton. A nation occupying the islands of
the North Sea, and numbering some 20
millions Of inhabitants, attacked the an
Glen! nation Of China, outnumbering them
ID times, with a force of few thousand
men, and that little army was sufncient TO
enable its leaders to dictate terms TO so
mighty a nation. A small polished axe in
the hands of skiliu woodman, will at a
few well applied strokes bring down the
surdiest oaks. In a similar manner, that
small highly disciplined band of English
men, in few weeks shook power that
had been undlsturhed for ages, and by
bringing it within the intercourse of ma.
tons, laid the foundation of a mighty re-
yolution. So great are the results flowing
from the application of science 10 the d.
rection of force. Nor are all armies alike.
We have recently seen an army composed
$4,000 Americans, utterly defeat, in two
successive engagements, three times their
number of Mexicans, under skilfuI lea
ders. These great results flow from the
superiority of skill and intellect in the d.
recton of masses. Napoleon, in his me-
moirs, informs US that two Mamelukes
kept three Frenchmen at bay, because
they were better armed, better mounted
and better exercised but hundred
Frenchmen were match for like num-
Der of Mamelukes, and 1000 French could
easily beat 1900 Mameukes, The caval-
ry generals, Murat, LecIerc, and Lasalle,
formed IN three lines when the Name
lukes attacked the first line, the second
came TO the assistance on the right and
left. The Mameukes wheeled 10 turn the
TANKS of the new line; at that moment the
third charged them, and they were always
broken. Such is the effect of tactics and
evomtions.
The difference between tactics and
stralegics was but indiflerently well I'M
derslood until fully developed by Napo-
leon The difference between then may
be stated in saying that the mixing OF col
Ors, preparing canvass and choosing brush
es, are the tactics of a painter. Strate-
gicss are how 10 paint The former re-
ceiyed great Improvement as connected
with modern weapons, from the king oil
Prussia. The true principle of the latter
was the discovery of which Napoleon was
born TO make, and he conquered the E1-
ropean continent in developing it. II had
always been assumed that what was true
Of the relative position Of troops in actual
combat, was also true of armies at great
distance from each other. That is to say,
since the invention of firearms forces have
necessarily been drawn up in long thin
4 lnes therefore, if an army was attacked
upon one OF both of its TANKS it was al
most sure to be defeated The reason was
that in such a position no eflectual resls
lance could be offered until change il
4 front was made to correspond with that o
the enemy, and making this change uhdel
the pressure of his attack was impossible
without disorder. II was always assumed
Il therefore, that an army between two
others, no matter how distant, was also il
dangerous position. Napoleon saw a
once that if the armies were distant Iron
each other, this central position was thu
strong aud not the weak point. As lonl
as the central army had time to concen
taie upon one enemy before the other ar
rived, the chances we're all in favor OF tn
central position. This general principle
combined with other causes, was the sourc
o. bis success. aud he was IN the latte
years combalted with the allies IN the onl
manner that he could be resisted success
hly, which was by Systematically return!
when he advanced upon any one force.
vas the application Of the highest order c
Intellect to military affairs, alta time whe
The combinations OF Europe against repnb
Ican France offered the broadcast field fo
ne Development Of genius. The Pre-
gess OF the art of war was illustrated b
NE conquest Of Europe. 1t was the ca
eamalion of Wellington, on hearing of III
Na'lerly operations OF Napoleon aroun
Masbon, IN 1909, that "tho ART OF wa
Vas never perfected urtil then" Subol
0 l'0ale 10 the vast field Of sta,egics are u
acucs Of armies, or the organization an
PREPARATION of those different arms whlc
, la master hand, are the instruments