The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1861-11-08
McCIellan's Observations upon the
Crimean War.

Crimean War.
Those who have expressed impotence at
the delay in our army movements, may be
pleased to know that General Nc Clellan, in
his report respecting the Crimean war, says:
cit is one of the clearest rules of war to
undertake no important operation without
full and reliable information as to the obsta.
cles to be overcome. and the means of re.
sistance in the hands of the enemy" Again,
he says, II am not acquainted with the early
career of the Russian commander, but cam
not resist the conviction that the history oil
his operations will but present another ex.
ample of the improperly of intrusting
military operations to any other than pro-
fessional soldier, or at least of the danger Of
attempting to combine in one person any
such dissimilar professions as those of sailor
aud soldier" His concluding observations
upon the Crimean war are so judicious and
so peculiarly applicable to the present con-
dition of our country, that we quote them
in full:
Indeed, the occurrences on the Pacific, the
Baltic, and the Black Sea, all seem..to establish,
beyond controversy, the soundness of the view
so long entertained by all intelligent military
men, that well constructed Notifications must
always prove more than q match for the
strongest fleets.
1t is believed that calm consideration of the
events 80 hastily and imperfectly narrated in
the preceding pages must lead all unprejudiced
persons among our countrymen to firm con.
viction on two vital points:
lst. That our system of permanent coast
defences is wise and proper one, which ought
to be completed and armed with the least pos.
sible delay.
I'd. That mere individual courage cannot
Suffice to overcome the forces that would be
brought against US were we involved in Euro
pean war, but that it must be rendered man.
ageable by discipline, and directed by that
consumate and mechanical military skill which
can only be acquired by course of education
instituted for the special purpose, and by long
habit.
siege of SebastOpol would have been impOssi.
BILE. 1t is evident that the Russians did not
appreciate the advantages afforded by steam.
ers, and were unprepared to sustain siege.
This same power of steam would enable
European nations to disembark upon our
shores even larger force than that which
finally encamped around SebastOpOl. To resist
such an attack, should it ever be made, our
cities and harbors must be fortified, and those
Notifications must be provided with guns,
ammunition, and instructed artillerists. To
repel the advance of such an army into the
interior, it is not enough to trust to the number
Of brave but undisciplined men that we can
bring to bear against it.
An invading army of 5000 or 20, 900 men
could easily be crushed by the unremitting
attacks of superior numbers; but when it comes
to the case of more than 100000 disciplined
veterans, the very multitude brought to bear
against them works its own destruction
because, if without discipline and instruction,
they cannot be handled, and are in their own
way. We cannot afford Moscow campaign.
Our regular army never can be, and, per-
haps, never ought to be, large enough to pro-
vide for all the contingencies that may arise;
but it should be as large as it's ordinary avoca.
tons in the defence of the frontier will justify;
the number of officers and non-commissioned
officers should be unusually large, to provide
for a sudden increase; and the greatest posi-
BILE care should be bestowed upon the instruc.
ton of the special arms of the artillery and
engineer troops.
The military and volunteer system should be
placed upon some tangible and effective basis,
instructors furnished them from the regular
army, and all possible means taken to spread
sound military information among them.
In the vicinity OF our sea coast foftlncatl0ne
it will be well to provide q sufficient NUMBER
OF volunteer companies with the means of in.
struction ia heavy artillery; detailing officers
of the regular artillery as Instructors, who
should at the same time be in charge of, and
responsible for, the guns and material.
In time of war, or when war is imminent
local companies of regular artillery might ca
silly be enlisted for short terms of service, OF
for the war, in the sea coast towns. The same
thing might advantageously be carried into ef
feet on q small scale in time of peace.