The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-10-21

These companies, numbering, on an average,
sixty men each, exclusive of the regularly uni.
formed militia, and are not subject to any military
rules or regulations, except those made by them
selves, and for their individual benefit.
II stranger desires to know with what degree
Of precision these volunteers use the musket and
the rife he has but to attend one of their excur-
sions, to be convinced that the riddled bulps-eye
with which they return, is the result. Of bona fde
sharp shooting. The caricature companies, though
less war-like in their outfit, would scacey be
found less eficien. for active service If required.
few days training, under regular drill, would
make them capable Of coping with the best ap-
pointed troops Of Europe. We have here, then, a
volunteer nucleus Of infantry companies Of twelve
thousand men, admirably equipped, with few ex-
ceptions, and well disciplined by active training,
with proportionate force Of artillery and dragons.
Altogether, however. they are but the nucleus Of
the military power Of the city. Let the exigcncy
demand 1t, and in three days the city Of New York,
within herself, can raise an army, and equip 1t, Of
one hundred thousand lighting men. Nightly drills
are now held, merely for pastime, in ali parts Of
the city Six companies passed the HERALD Office
yesterday. On Christmas and Thanksgiving days,
twenty or thirty Of the,e splendid companies are
out on parade and for target practice.
II such are the military resources of this single
city, we have fair starting point from which to
estimate the aggregate military strength of the
whole Unon. Actual statistics, however, are more
Satisfactory. By reference, then, to the Army Re
giao, Officially Of 1850, we find the actual or
gained militia force Of the United States set down
in the aggregate at one million nine hundred and
sixty thousand two hundred and sixty. Eve men,
ritores. The total militia force of the Uniow may,
therefore, be safely set dorm at tpo miaions of pen
This is the land strength Of our country. II is
not regular standing army-it costs little or no
thing and If not disciplined and organized TO the
perfection Of the French National Guard, an inva-
sion would render IL, in few months, more than
match for an equal number Of the best troops
Of all Europe. There is an inherent military
spirit in the American, and a love Of military
glory as strong as in the Frenchmsn, combined
with the most practical character in the world The
Ameri AN has the advantage, too, over Europeans
develorement. His average height is two or three
inches taller. In word, he Is better fed and
clothed lea more active and independent life, and
Is more vigorous and athletic, and In every sense
more Of man, on the average, than the European,
scarcely excepting Hungary and Poland. The
adopted citizen becomes q superior man under
the influences Of free institutions. Our people
are, almost without exception, accustomed to
the Of arms, in field sports and target pr actce
A detachment of our militia infantry is q detach-
mt Of sharp shooters. The volunteers In the Mex
can war wasted very little powder In firing over the
heads Of the enemy. The number they killed bore
an awful proportion to the number they merely
wounded. They are accustomed 10 take aim. The
late invasion Of Cuba was composed mainly Of mere
boys, picked up 1t random, and armed with con-
demned nuskets, because they were cheap, yet the
terrible effects of the deadly ere Of these striplngs
10 their encounters with the Spanish troops, afford
another illustration of the aptitude of our young
men for war. The American, too, generally knows
bow TO back horse, and soon becomes q capable
dragoon Buena Vista has left satisfa ctery record
Of our artillery prs sice. In fact active war; on
large SCALE in few months, would rally TO the Gag
Of the country, an army Of two millions Of able Boz
died, brave and disc plined men, and effective
In battle to degree which wa bat family repre-
sented at Churubusco and Chapultepec. In one
month after the commencement Of the war with
Mexico, the books Of the War Departm emit con-
laned list Of three hundred thousand vt lunteers
In a word, We have the men, the means, the |
capacity, and the will 10 defy the world, on the |
and, and on the The threats Of spain are |
simply impetent, and the alleged alliance Of Eng
and and rance Ia absurd. 80 tar IRON suffering |
Ioreien Intervention in our affairs. are abun- |
sanity able TO direct the balance Of powe- in the |
fairs of Europe The powers ~ Europe will do /
beat in avoiding al proyocasions for its exercise