Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1854-03-24
Modern Warfa re.

his brother, to the repeating rifle OF our countrymah'
Colonel Colt, there is long interval, and all -thas
space is marked and signaiized by progression anu
improvements in the art of destroying lie ne g,ed'
game of war is the only pasme at which the rulers
of mankind never seem 10 tire OF playing Even
when other sciences have come to standsllll, anu
the night of intellectual darkness has brooded over
the world, the science of war has advanced "'hou'
impeachment. Thus, during the dark ages, the famous
Greek fire shone with lurid light that ingenious and
destructive confagraton, secret OF which IS now Ios
and which consumed man alarms, body and bones'
without the chance of extinguishing the deVourins
elements The accounts handed down TO US OF the
effect of this contrivance SAVIOR OF the marvellous
The European invention of gunpowder (the Chinese
claim its discovery dates al period OF no great IN
ellectua development.
Shakespeare had poets sympathy with the daz-
zling concomitants of mortal strife--the " neghIng
steed the pomp pride circumstance of glorious war"
Were this relish for wholesale butchery ccnhned 10
the profession of arms to the actors In sangulnary
tragedy there fewer battles to record but 1t IS
sort of mania that involves kings, statesmen, pho-
sophers the throne, the altar and the boudolr.-
Historians exalt to the highest rank in their pages,
the names of brilliant soldiers and the worshipper
in the Gothic clhrirelS of old Europe passes 10 the
altar along stored aises, where banners, wrenched
from the death gripe of thei defenders, rustic over
head. The same wreath is bestowed upon the hero
who falls for his native land and the ruthless warrior
who wars for conquest.
Modern warfare has pressed science into its services
it no longer sends to the field done up In iron
Jackets, with steel head pieces, and barbed steeds,
for, thanks to the invention of gun-powder, iron
breastplaes no longer proof against the sweep OF
round shot Cuirassers still kept up in European
service, but rather for show and defensive armor IS
almost entirely dispensed with. 1t may ward of
sword-stroke and pistol-shu in hand-to, hand con-
fct Artillery does the business in our day. as the
lance and two.handed sword did it in the olden time.
Even the Turks, who longest chung 10 the traditions
of chvaric and Oarbaric warfare, have been compelled
to admit the modern improvements in the arts OF des-
tructon. Murad Bey, and his Mamelukes, received
lesson at the battle of the Pyramids that was not
lost upon the Orientals.
The sultans of Turkey have for many years had
European discipline and weapons among their troops;
and the recent of the Turks against the Rus
slams show that they have not studied the art OF war
in vain Our country has not been behind in
contributing its quota to the art OF The mod
system of rifle tactics owes its org gin to the e-
fectiveness or our sharp-shooers, through whom an
arm, hitherto despised has become formidable
} element in the composition of modern army. Colts
invention has at least quintuped the value of an
t individual rieman.
A skilful corps, furnished with his arms, is capa-
BILE of sustaining whitening fire, before which moth
ing can live. The French troops have carried the
use of the rifle to the highest point and if any con
siderable body of the Vincennes chasseurs come into
collision with the Russians. we are sure that we
:; shall hear of slaughter such rs New Orleans only
can parallel in the history of modern warfare.
DECIDEDLY Coo1.-The Cincinnati Commercial
OF the 14h nst says
leap not less perilous than that of Samuel Patch
was witnessed on Saturday, by the conductor and
passengers of the Covington and Lexington train
A young farmer was walking across the bridge at
DemoisVille, just after the train had passed
q when the engine was SUDDENLY reversed and the cars
= were backed at a rapid rate. There room or
the side OF the bridge TO stand between the edge ant
the cars the only alternative was to spring off into
! the creek running thirty forty feet below. The
- young man gave one look at the cars and Instant,
sprung the side and struck the water feet fore
3 most The train was stopped, but TO the surprise
of ALL the hero OF the perous feat came out of TIT
water, shook himself and walked off whstling "Jor
q dan is hard road to travel believe
COURT MARTIAL ON DR.. STEINER, U. S. A
T. The War Department (says the Washington Star
it have ordered Court Martial upon Assistant Surgeon
e Joseph NJ Steiner, U. S. A., Tor killing his com
n mander, Maj. Arnold, not long since, it will be re
Is collected. They are to assemble at Austin Texas
" thu l7th OF April Dr. S is supposed to be in tn
d hands of the civil authorities of Texas and it is no
n p'trd that he will refuse to deliver himself n
ID to be tried tor his military offence The ARRAY whic
10 resulted in the death of the lamented Arnold, wa
IS witnessed butby single other individual sergeant
acho has since deserted
J. short Passage.
= New YORK, March l4.-The clipper ship Como
- has arrived in 76 days from San Francisco being tn
~ quickest passage on record.
&c DON'T TAKE THE PApER-A farmer down at Atics
&c few days since, brought to town load of -four an
ne sold it for 5 Is per barrel, while the market prc
" at the same time $6 75 He didn't take the pa
per, and wasn't posted in the market. His loss wa
a just ten dollars, enough to pay for the paper eigl
ne years,
m Cur own regret is that he didn't lose ten times te
at dollars man in this day and age of the world VIII
er don't take the papers, is entitled to no sympathy
,If he gets skinned aIive.--Lotdyete Ind) Courier
Served him right. Them's our sentiments
80 MARRIED.
We n +h,, ,oo ~ A., ,c., 49,.