Bloomington herald. [volume] (Bloomington, I. T. [Iowa]) 1840-1849, 1848-12-23


which we were recently brought with
nation, is the demonstration It
has afforded Of the military strength Of our
country. Before the late war with Mexi- /
60, European and other foreign powers,
imperfecs aad erroneous views
Of our physical strength Ms nation, and
Of our ability 10 prosecute war, and war
on. Of our own country. They saw that
our Standing army in The peace establish
ment did not exceed 10000 men. Accus>
toned. themselves, to maintain in peace |
large standing armies. for The protection Of
thrones against their own subjects, as we'll
as agains. foreign enemies, they had not
conceived tina. il was possible for nation
without such an army. well disciplined
and Of long service, to wage war success
fully. They held in low reru,e our mill
tia, and were far from regarding them a.
an effective force. unless i. might be for
temporary defensive operations. when in
vaded on our owD SOIL The events Of the
late war with Mexico have not only unde-
ceived them, bu, have removed erroneous
impressions which prevails to some ex-
tent. even among portion Of our own
couptrymen. Blu. this war has demonstra.
ter that, upon the breaking out Of HOSTILE
lies, no. anticipated. and for which no pre-
parations had been made, volunteer ar
my Of citizen soldiers. equal 10 veteran
troops, and in numbers equal to any emer-
gency, can. in a short period. be brought
! into the field. Unlike wha, would have
occurred in any other cou.,try, we were
under no necessity of resorting to drafts
or conscripions on the contrary, such
was The number of volunteers who pa,ri-
o,;callv rendered their services, that the
chief difficulty was in making selections.
and Discriminating who should be disap-
poinled and compelled 10 remain a, hume.
| Our ci'izen- soldiers are unlike those
drawn from the population. They are
composed indscriminaleIy. of all profess
ions and pursuits-of farmers, lawyers.
physicians, merchants, manufacturers. me-
chanics and laborers-and this no, only
among The officers. but the private soldiers
in The ranks. Our citizen-soldiers are un-
like those of any other country. in o'her
respects they are armed, and have been
accustomed from their youth up, to ham
die and use firearms and large proper
ton Of them, especially in the west, IN and
more newly settled States. are expert
They are men who have a reputation to
maintain at home by their good condnc,
in the field. and they are intelligent and
there is an individuality of character which
is founc in the ranks of no other army -
In battle. each private man, as well as
every officer. fights not only for his coun-
try. but for glory and distinction among
his fellow-ciizens, when he shall return
to civil life.
The war with Mexico has demons,ra-
Tod moi only the ability of the Government
10 organize numerous army. upon sud-
den call. but also TO provide i, with all the
munitions and necessary supplies. with
dispatch, convenience and ease, and to di.
rect I's operations with efficiency. The
strength OF our institutions has no, only
been displayed in the vaIor and skill of
our troops engaged in ac'i' e service in The
held, but in an organization Of those ex-
ecuuve branches which were charged with
the general direction and conduc, Of the
| war.
While too great praise connot be be-
slowed upon The officers and men vino
fought our battles, yet j. would be unius,
TO withhold from those officers necesssri-
ly stationed at home, who were charged
with the duty of furnishing the army, in
proper time and at proper places, with all
The munitions of way and other supplies
necessary 10 make it effec.ual. the com.
menda'Ion 10 which they are entitled
The cred. due this class Of our officers is
the greater. when i. is considered tina, no
army in ancient or modern times, was ev-
er better appointed or provided than our
army IN Mexico. Operating in an enc.
my's coun,ry--remo. ed two thousand
miles from The seat Of the Federal Govern
ment. Its diffrren. corps spread over AS,
extent of territory. hundreds and eve
thousands Of miles apart from each other
nothing shois Of the urdying vigience
and extraordinary energy Of these officers
could have enabled them TO provide the
army at all points, and in proper season.
with all tina! was required for the most ef-
| ficient service.
II is but an act Of Justice TO declare, tina,
the officers in charge Of the several exec
u'ive bureaus, all under The immediate eye
and supervision Of the Secretary of War.
performed their respective duties with
ability. energy. and efficiency.
They have reaped less Of the glory of
the war, not having been personally ex
posed to its perils in battle. than their