Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1861-12-12
1870 and 1891.

/ Quoted is appalling, IL we compare IL with
| those that preceded IL. The war of the Re-
! volution was relatively mere succession
1 of skirmishes. The war Of 1912, measures
both as regards numbers and the field of
operation, shrinks into contemplate insigni-
ficance beside the gigantic operations that
are going on at the present hour. If we
look back at the history, more especially Of
the last war with England, and compare lis
leading incidents with those of the conflict
now raging, we shall find that it hardly
raises to the dignity of modern reconn bis.
sance. The "battles" dwindle down in the
veriest martial emeutes; the casualties are
, few, and the number of prisoners taken in
various engagements counted rather by
hundreds than thousands
We cite few incidents from the war of
1912 to show that petty affairs, relatively,
we're some of the most brilliant victories
achieved by our arms
The first 'battle" of any Importance was
that of Brownstown, near Detroit, fought
| August 6, 1912. Our force was only 600,
that of the British and Indians combined
! 750. Our loss was 1S killed and 63 wounded;
that of the enemy 100.
General Hulrs "army," which so dis
gracefully surrendered at Detroit six days
later, only numbered twenty-five hundred
men, while that of the enemy consisted of
only 700 English and 600 Indians. No
wonder General Brock, who commanded the
latter, wrote to Sir George Provost 'When
l detail my good fortune, your Excellency
will be surprised"
At the battle Of Queenstown, two columns
| of 800 men each, did all the fighting on our
side. General Van Rensselaer,, in his re.
port says, "One-third part of the men idle
might have saved all" AS it was some
looked on, while 'many fed into the woods"
leaving their brethren to their fate.
At the siege of Fort Erie, the English
threw 1000 red hot shot without hurting q
man. Our loss was only four killed and
seven wounded.
Brigadier- General Smith abandoned his
favorite project of invading Canada West,
because, although he had been preparing
the greater part of the summer, and had en-
ergetically drummed up volunteers, he had
succeeded in collecting only 1900 men and
he did not think the expedition would
be successful unless he had 1900 more.
At the battle of York our force was l, 700;
that of the enemy 700 English and 100 In
dians. Our loss was 306 in killed and
wounded that of the enemy 100 killed, 300
wounded, 200 prisoners. This was one of
the most brilliant of our victories, yet it is
not to be compared to the battle of Belmont
or that Of Balls Bluff, either as regards the
number engaged or the losses sustained.
At the battle of Sackett's Harbor the ene-
mys force was 1000; ours 500. His loss
in killed and wounded was $50; ours 154.
Among the trophies taken by our troops
were the British standard and mace. OOer
the latter hung human scalp!
Commodore Perry's victory on Lake Erie
was esteemed "big thing" in its day; yet
his whole feet consisted Of only 81 guns
and two swivels. That of the enemy G3
guns and two swivels. Our loss in killed and
wounded was 1913; that of the enemy has
never been definitely known.
AT the battle of Chippewa our loss was
328; that of the enemy 5l4. At the battle
of Fort Erie our loss was "a that of the
enemy $50.
At the battle of Baltimore the enemy 8
force numbered from 1000 to 5000; ours
was probably less than half that number.
Our loss was about 40; and that of the
enemy some 700 in killed, wounded and
missing.
Even the battle of New Orleans looks in
significant TO the eyes that have witnessed
reconnaissance on the Potomac 10000
strong and review of 10000 troops. The
British force, including sailors and marines,
was about $4,000; that of General Jackson
5000 on the left bank of the river and about
800 distributed in positions hard by. Our
loss was seven killed six wounded; that of
the enemy 700 killed l, 400 wounded.
1t is safe to say that notwithstanding the
torpor of large share of our army and the
taunts that we have thus far been "playing
at war" greater number of lives have been
lost within the past five months than during
the entire "War of 1Sl2."-Albany Evening
Journal.