Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1846-07-29
Editors correspondence.

NEw ORLEANS, July IT, 1916.
We are without any Of interest from tho army
Volunteers from above here and are
santy being embarked for the OF war. Some 1000
now at the barracks neghborhood below the CITY
but will all be embarked in few days Gen Taylor must
have had the last dates least $4,000 men nnder his
command and that have since eone or pong will
swell bis force to 10000, being the largest army
that the T. 5. ever had concentrated in body.
What the objects views OF the Government arc in
collecting such force there il hard say for certainly
they never intend attempt reaching the City Of Mex
leo by that route which is march HOO miles from
Maamoras, through country aoTding few supplies
IN districts water; with natural obstacles TO
invading army difficult overcome which would give
great advantages to enemy Of much inferior forces and
on the top OF ALL at season the most unfayorabe OF
portion OF the year.
In the July number of the Commercial Review, publish
ed in this city, is an ntele by the Hon. Mr. PoNsErr
good authority, by the way) MEIIco, which has Mt
raeted much attention here Among other things he saws
that, small Is the produce Of country and so ab.tem
Gus the habits Of the people, would require but few thou
sand OF our countymen, with their usual appetes 10
IN The most fruitful districts famine very days If
this soand hardly have better authority than Mr.
P-how is Gen. TAYLOR to sustain himself with fifteen TO
twenty thousand and six eight thousand horses and
mules, and uan OF twelve fifteen hundred wagons SO
soon as his communications closed with the Rio Grande
from whence he draw supplies after he has
ed more than eighty hundred miles, and then de-
pend what he has with him. and any scanty additions
he may be able to pick up TOute1 I have however
great confidence in bis Judgment and that it the pan OF
the campaign that may have been chalked for him
Washington is npractcable. he will frankly tell them So
and will stretch his far that he cannot draw
back without Inconvenience. These Western yoIun
cers generally hardy and fine looking bodies of men
and, 1t they have good and experienced officers and
per state OF drill aud discipline, would be equal TO any
/ troops IN the world.
The expense with which this war is carried on in truly
enormous Before the summer there will probably
have been from one To two millions Of dollars paid for tho
purchase employment Of steam aud sailing vessels
customary charter for steamboat run down from hence
with troops and eight thousand doars
and they have recently been paying the same for sailing
1 ahl tran L..
Taylor, learn has made requson for - steamboat
Of which IL or Is already purchased. The expenses
Of the War Department for the year 1896 with aggre-
gate force in exceeding 80 600 men including
regulars and volunteers, will be equal the expenses Of
the British War Department for regular army seattle red
all the world Of hundred and thousand
and 800 general ofcers This know is rather startling
particularly we have been in the habit Of considering
that every thing connected with tho British army con
Quoted scale OF great expense and show; certainly
s most efficiently aud completely maintained But tho fact
nevertheless will be and, IL any disposed to de-
ny IT, refer him to the British army estimates and their or
binary annual expenditure and then the Of our
Department and the actual appropriations by Congress- and
| the probable expenses Of the present campaign.
IL II Is asked how this possibly be- reply for want OF
any ming IKE proper system, organization, checks and
responsibility as we'll as from the ignorance, ineEpeence,
and total want OF capacity IN large portion those
whose hands the business Of the army passos and IL will
always be whilst these political appointments are mnde
without any regard TO the general fitness and ability Of the
parties Every body having contract with the Govern
meni expects to make fortune by it, without being At all
contenied with ordinary profits; and they are aoed 10 do
IT, Take as an example, the tents Of tho army, on the
goodness OF which the health and comfort the troops
much depend. have not conversed with officer on the
subject who does cay that they are miserable Hmsy
things and hlmsiy made Of cotton stuff which, when
new Will Keep out neither rain, and
tatters and yet have the least doubt the Govern
moni pays for thom higher price than rst-rato linen
canvass tent made in the most complete manner, should
cost And 10 II with every other kind Of supplies fur
nished. There much system accountability and
infinitely less waste, in the navy,-lNiT INT.