The Washington union., 1857-06-12

climate, and the habits of the people They were used
Cor distant excursions for the purpose Of gaining nfona
tion for the protection of rgng parties and for trans
mission Of intelligence between remote points
In measure corresponding with this, the Russians
have their Cosacs Of the Don This corps irregular in
it character apparently without discipline but yet under
the stTicest light well mounted restricted by
martinetsm in dress with leather collars TO choke
them, ppeclay belts to restrict the freedom Of mo
tionhaye been in fact and now, the telegraphic
wires OF the Russian army
Their lines of posts extend from the voga the Amoor
the Pacific They have that independent character
and habit Of thought and action in consequence of which
they be used single in squads Of two and three, if
occasion requires they may be massed and used almost
with the effect of regular cavalry
Now, such corps this seems to me to be almost
necessity in service that moves without baggage
which be sent distant service in squads Of two,
three twenty, without the presence Of officer, and
which yet upon any occasion that may require be
concentrated and made to act with troops OF the line
The shortest line of communication which be OBJ
tanned by any route from the Mississippi river TO San
Francisco is from 1000 to 1880 miles. To put a mail
bag through this in fifteen days there must be
stations every miles 1t viii very frequently happen,
however that the facilities for water and grass will change
the distance between these stations. This will make
say) $50 stations OF these at least 20 would be directly
open TO the attacks of Indians 10 give efficient pro-
tection at least ten infantry should be stationed at
each point, This would take 200 nfintry-say two
regiments. For this purpose better troops could be
found than the present infantry but whether two reg
ments could be spared from the present establishment is
matter of some doubt is nevertheless true that the
establishment OF this line win be great aid in suppress
ing Indian hostiites aud may enable the government TO
withdraw two regiments from their present positions for
this purpose.
The important duty, however of accompanying the
mail and treasure from station To station and Of pursuing
and furnishing depredaons upon posts viii have TO be
performed by mounted force of the description have
attempted to sketch out Each mail and treasure train
will require escort from post to post varying from two
up twenty depending upon the position Of these
posts in the enemy's country. The average number,
therefore will be about the that required for the
sedcntary forces and each may have to ride to the
adjoining station and back the day. which will give
him ride of twenty miles BY each man having two
horses the ride could easily be doubled and of the
number of diminished one-half but it is not be-
Ieved that in the end this arrangement would be wiser
or economical
The present cavalry force Of the army cannot he with
drawn from its present occupation for this purpose is
its and organization adapted to this specific
service II wants that element Of ghtness and indyid
ua independence to the private soldier which cannot be
Without tHe
plne and efficiency of any corps Of the line but which,
without detiment to the army generally may be given TO
specific corps, having duties to perform OF character
requiring special qualifications Such corps similar to
the original OF the French Corps ds Gids, the Cos
sacks of Russia it is believed could be organized the
frontiers in very short space of time
Leading spirits in the valley of tho Mississippi and
the Pacific feel quite much interest in this matter
those the Atlantic seaboard feel the subject Of
eroceanc communication and they sure before the
expiration Of the present administration accomplish
that overland route in fifteen days. The protection
which has been extended to the East with hbefal
hand in their nteroccanic communication may well
be gracefully extended to the West by sea-coGst
friends and when this proposition up before Con-
gress which it surely WILL hope to hear nothing
Of those silly objections about standing armies in
country like this, whore, il the army ten times
greater than it is could not exercise particle Of
banefu influence il every officer in ii Arnold and
every soldier cuthroat The stuff that is put forth by
some Of our eastern friends, who willing enough to
vote any amount of money for maritime deenees in the
way ships and forfcaohs and magnetic cables
the Atlantic shows neither good good sense and
we hope we have heard the last of it.
Be this it may the success failure of this enter
prise is to determine whether the worthy pos
SCISSORS of continent the degenerate offspring Of
sular race, who have been admonshed by their great
est military chieain of their unftncss achieve distant
inland conquests.