The daily press. (Cincinnati [Ohio) 1859-1859, 1859-03-04
SELECTIONS.
Modern instrument Of War.

In one of the stories Of the American War OF
Independence, British officer relotes how he
was once posted with q couple Of rifemen in
close proximity TO the enemy's lines. AS they
were peering through the bushes by which they
were concealed, and accommodating the ground
to as good purpose as possible, they observed a
single horsoman approaching their place of
ambush at quiet pace, and without the least
suspicion of the danger he incurred. As he
drew nearer the officer gave the word to one of
his men, and the rife was turned with deadly
aim, but at the last moment the order was
countermanded. Twice was the rider covered
in this manner, and twice did the officer, from
Il reluctance to take even an enemy at such
disadvantage, forbid the soldier to fire. few
days afterward, as he tells us in his narrative,
he found out that the horseman was General
Washington, and he congratulated himself
upon his forbearance in having saved a life
which did America such great service, and
England, after all, such little harm.
We fear such magnanimity is uncommon
among sharp-shooters, and certainly there
would be few such chances of escape in modern
warfare. One Of the most evident features,
indeed, in the new order of things, is, that no
mans life can be safe in n campaign. There
is an end of the days when princely generals,
or royal commanders, or amateur soldiers of
any rank could galop serenely in the midst of
u brilliant staff, and survey the battle or the
siege from place of security.
Those dreadful earns of precision" which
have been now introduced, will send death with
unfailing certainty into the remotest quarter of
the field. Itwas thought an extraordinary cir
cumstanoe, some forty-ive years ago, when
MOreau was struck by cannon-shOt at two
thousands yards distance but at the present
day cannon, instead of carrying one mile,
will carry five. The very rifle Of the ordinary
foot-soldier will pitch its bullet rs far as field
piece of old times, and with infinitely greater
accuracy. In fact, to be within sight is to be
within range, and to be within range is to be
ut deaths door. The French pamphlet on
Italy tells MS that King Victor Emmanuel, at
the battle of Novara, received sixteen bullets
in his coat. But, though the battle of Novara
is very recent event, the science Of projectiles
has been revolutonized since it was fought, and
II sixteenth part of such risk would now,
probably, produce far more serious result. II
seems hard to say how armies are in future to
be Unanswered. As guns are now manufac-
tured and handled, they must literally SWEEP
the field of every thing living. With such
rifles and cannon as we now use, the Great Ma
poleon could have been picked off the 0bserva-
tory at Waterloo, or the tobacco at Leip-
sic, as surely as Nelson was shot down on the
quarterback of the Victory.
These considerations ought to have some weight
with the Imperial and Royal personages whose
military ardor is thought to count for some
thing at this moment in the tremendous bal
ancc Of war and peace. 81 .
An inquiry will naturally suggest itself-if
war is to become, year by year, more dreadful,
more deadly, and more expensive, what will
be the practical effect upon society? We trust
it may be this, that it will be less readily un-
dcrtaken. When war is almost certain ruin ia
both sides, both sides, we may hope, will pause
before they accept such an issue. The Enfield
rife, as We have seen both in the Crimea and
in India, can change the very face of battles
but the Enfield rifle is n mere pop-gun com
pared with the elaborate weapons which are
now introduced to the world In the Ameri.
can frigates, a single gun, worked by half .
dozen scamen, will throw, to distance of two
or three miles, shot equal in weight to M
entire broadside Of such cannon as were USED
by Duncan and Jcrvis. Armstrong; guns are
expected to carry nearly twice that distance
and rifles have been produced which will sent
bullets through target ut 1000 yards, will
Il rapidity of succession like that of hail l-stone
on a sky-light. How any ship or battalion il
to stand against such projectiles it is n puzzl
10 conceive.-London Times.