Washington sentinel., 1854-03-25

of men, marching to and fro with sounding
bands Of brass, are very well in their way, and
have perhaps tendency to keep alive the mill
tary enthusiasm and patriotism of the people.
But this is the pomp and circumstance of war;
this is the tinsel and the show, with which it
seems to have been ever the practice to surround
the soldier. The work off soldierin actual war
is an occupation Of the most solemn and serious
description. 1t consists not in traes; nor is it q
life of romance purely, to be read about around
evening fresides by smiling maidens. 1t is
rough work, and requires every energy of man.
But chief Of all, to constitute solidity and
power, is discipline. Truly has the great Fred
erick observed: "Good order and discipline
render an army walking battery, moving
fortress" Embody these principles in the ranks
of an American army, reared as they have
been as fresmen, and they become invincible.
But march undisciplined troops to. battle, be
they freemen or be they slaves, and you may
rest assured that the very first disaster will
render them an armed mob, uncomfortable and
uncontrolled. "In time of peace, prepare for
war;" is well-worn and familiar maxim. Do
we adhere to its wise counsel? Let US see.
The military academy at West Point affords
the means of as thorough an education for an
officer as can be attained in any school in the
world. There the youth is received and SUR
rounded by associations which have tendency
to inspire constantly the most lively patriotism,
and is trained to excellence in the profession of
arms. There band of brothers is formed, the
bonds of which are never slackened. So far
as the officers fundamental education is con-
cerned, there seems to be nothing wanting
What is required is continuance Of this edu-
cation, and its adaptation to the soldiers of the
army, especially the commissioned Of regi-
ments.
At this moment there is not a single school
OF instruction for our soldiers. Perhaps some
slight exception may be made to this remark
in the case Of battalion or two in garrison on
the Rio Grande. The remainder of the army,
small as it is, is cut up into detachments of
from one to three or four companies, and scat
tered over continent. How, let me ask, is
this army to be concentrated in the hour of
danger; and where is the nucleus around
which the militia is to form ITSELF and to look
for advice and instruction? We want no
standing army, as the term is used to apply to
large bodies of troops surrounding throne;
but we need, most certainly, a better discip-
lined and instructed national force than we
now possess. From the militia, to be sure
must and ever should come the physical force
required for the defence of the country. But
do men of sense pretend to say or are they so
blind rs to believe, that raw levies Of men are
equal to sustain the shock of war Let any
one of our gallant countrymcn, who endured
the tolls and braved the dangers of the Mexi-
can war, who so freely volunteered their SER
vices, answer, with his hand on his heart, this
question. Buncombe speeches, and interested
assertions, from the highest quarters, which
tended to mislead the public mind, and in fact
to deceive the world, on this subject, will never
convince an actor and participator in those
combats in Mexico that the success Of our
arms was attributable chiefly to new troops.
Excellent auxiliarics they were; and no nation
has ever presented more splendid exhibition
of courage and patriotism than was displayed
By the rush of the American volunteers to
meet the foe. But we do not detract one parti-
Gle from their well-deserved fame when we as
sert that not to them chiefly, but to the old
and well-trained regiments Of the line, and to
our superb artillery, is due the success
of our arms in Mexico; and more especially
to that class of officers who, at the military
academy at West Point, first learned and
subsequently put in practice their glorious pro-
fession. How is it that the Mexican forces
were invariably beaten with odds of three and
four to one in their favor, and they always in
position? Certainly the Mexican soldier pos
sesses all the requisites for his trade. He is
hardy intelligent, patient, and brave can
march without fatigue his thirty miles day,
and live upon the simplest fare. He stands up
at long taw and submits to being shot down
all day long. He is perfectly serene. Why,
luton: he ,cas badly oficered. Never did the
officers of the Mexican army lead their men
against US at the charge-never, with the ex-
ception of silly Though gallant) affair, in ad-
vance of Worth's column at Monterey, for
which the brave fellow at their head paid the
forfeit Of his life; and, in an other instance. a
desultory sort Of scramble around the barricade
at Buena Vista. Their infantry never charged;
and, at the battle of Molina del Rey, fully four
thousand of their cavalry were held in check
by battery of our artillery and handful of
cavalry and infantry. Do not these facts show
the necessity of maintaining schools of instruc-
tion, not only for the preparation of the officer
for his arduous duties, but also for the continu-
ance Of that instruction after he has received
his diploma? He should from time to time be
| placed In situation in which he can commu-
nicate to Others not so fortunate as himself the