The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1861-06-03

1t is clear that the enemy can have fight
now at any point at which he may choose to
bring it on. As yet we will not rush into
conflict; but we will not shun one.
Take time TO Drill the Soldier.
We are growing very strong IN Hni'afy
force The legions of men pouring INTO |f-
yinia from the South, AMI into the places q
rendezvous from all our own interior counties.
are preparing bulwark against invasion
.b;.b the enemy cannot surmount or pene-
rate. Our officers are giving great attention
to IN. drill. Our ranks are filled with mate
rial altogether too good to be sacrificed to
want of discipline and tactics. 1t would be
criminal TO throw raw forces OF splendid re-
cru;.s into battle without the advantage OF
nr.c,;ce and instruction. The lives of such
soldiers as the South has sent to this war
are altogether too precious to be sacrificed by
precipitancy of this sort. Time should be
taken TO drill our forces and to drill them well.
They learn aptly and rapidly. They will make
good regulars in as many weeks as commoner
material requires months for the operation. -
We enjoy peculiar advantages in the posses
sion of drill officers. The two schools OF
West Point and Lexington have hlled VIZ
gin;a with excellent drill officers. The adml-
cable volunteer companies OF our Southern
.,,,es have also proved an excellent military
..bool and have furnished numerous tactical
instructors to our new levies OF troops. WIN
80 MANY advantages for Fastening and per-
tecting the instruction OF our troops IN the
drill, and the manual exercises, it would bevery
unwise-it would be almost crimlnai--to dis
regard these advantages and rush cur forces
uuprepared into the face of the enemy.
One Of the most important arms of the pc
eu,;ar service that will be required in Virginia.
and that which we can multiply to any extent
whatever, is that of cavalry. But 1t takes
time to convert a company OF horse into a
troop of dragons. A thoroughly trained
,roop Of dragons will run down and cut to
nieces eight times their number Of ordinary
cavalry. The efficiency of no service is S"
much augmented by drill as that Of cavalry
It is not only the man who is to be trained,
but the horse. 1t is not only quiekness and
skill in manmuvre that is to be learnt by man
and beast. but the important matter OF ex
pertness in the broad sword exercise that Is to
| he ACQUIRED. The broad sword is the peculiar
| weapon of the Dragon, as the bayonet l. that
Of the foot soldier. Pistols and carbines only
nroye encumbrances in the real encounter fol
which military science designs the dragoon.-
The percussion given by the weight and swift
ness of the animal, and the terrible execution
| committed bv the broad sword in the hands o
men trained to use it, and to keep their saddles
| under apy shock-these are the true uses o
cavalry. 1t requires much more time an'
drill to make a dragon than to make foo
soldier, and every day gained by our pumer
Gus cavalry corps for the drill may save hun
dreds cf soldiers to the Southern cause.
II is true that men on horseback, compa
MES of mounted men, armed with pistols an
double barrel guns, loaded with the wire buck
shot cartridge, constitute formidable arm
defence, and even of assault: but these ar
valuable as men on horseback, not as Dragon;
They NAV, in superior numbers, successful
resist charges Of dragons, by firing INTO theI
at a little distance disorganizing their line
and breaking the shock of their charge; br
in the charge itself they cannot cope with To
dragoon and the broad sword. The ranger
are invaluable skirmishers; but in the battl
itself, then the Dragon is worth more tina
many rangers. The case is precisely anala
: gous to that of the rifle corps and the regula
infantry The rife will do well at distance
. but when it comes to the charge the rife
r hopelessly useless against the bayonet. Il
s all means let our regular cavalry be We
drilled in the use of the broad sword. Let l
1 have few regiments of dragons sufficient
! well trained to hold their own, and more tina
g hold it, against any dragons of the reguii
t service. Let them not be precipitated upt
E regular forces toe hastily. Their lives are Il
, precious not to be guarded by SO plain pI
caution as thorough drilling. When tn
: grave object is sought and diligently strive
= for, testina teete is an excellent motto Tor
careful General.
Rut while these obvious considerations r
= auire precaution against too hastily preciE
' ,atipg our main forces into conflict, the sar
S reasons do not prevent our guerilla forces fro
e threatening the enemy on every side, and
: every annoying manner. These may pick
: his scouts, capture his foraging parties, dri
= in his lawless bands, and confne him rigid
G in his lines 1t is not tactics or the drill tt
n guerillas need it is activity that never sleel
= enterprise that nothing battles, courage tn
r nothing daunts.
n D