Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1861-12-12
3. Cowles & Co., Publishers.
VOL. XIV,
Ista and 1851.
IFrom Id Alhany Journal |

Z lEEou tuN AtnaAl ooeAhhl'l
| The magnitude Of the scale upon which the
war is now raging il this country is con-
Quoted is appalling, If we compare with those
that have preceded it. The war Of the Rev
olution was relatively a mere succession oI
skirmishes. The war Of 1912, measured both
as regards numbers and the field Of operation,
shrinks into contemplate insignifcance be-
side the gigantic operations that are going
on at the present hour. II we look back at
the history, more especially Of the last war
with England, and compare its leading Incl
dents with those OF the conflict now raging,
We shall find il hardly rise 10 the dignity OF
modern reconnaissance. The ''battles' dwin.
die down into the veriest martial eneu.eS the
eansali6es are few, and the number Of pris-
oners taken in victorious engagements, count
Cd rather BY hundreds than thousands.
We cite few incidents from the war OF
1912 to show what petty affairs relatively,
were some Of the brilliant victories achieved
by our arms.
The FRS. battle" OF any Importance IVES
that OF Brownstown, near Detroit fought
Aug. 9th, 1912. Our force was only 600,
that Of the British and Indians combined ZOO.
Our loss was Is killed aud SO wounded that
ol the enemy $50.
Gen. Hulls aarmY,n which disgracefully
burrended ct Detroit a few days later, only
numbering tgeRty iDs ktuldred men; while that
OF the enemy consisted only OF zoo English
and coo Indians No wonder Gen. Brock,
who commanded the latter, wrote to Sir. Gen.
Provost;-When detail my good fortune,
your Excelleney will be surprised.
At the battle Of Queenstown, two columns
Of sos men each, did about all the fighting
on our side. Gen. Van Rensselaer,, in his re-
ports, says, "One-thiTd part of the men idle
might have saved ALL As it was, some
looked on, while 'msny fed into the woods"
leaving their bretherR to their fate.
At the seige Of Fort Erie the English threw
1000 red hot shot without hurting a man.
Our loss was only four killed and seven
wounded.
Brigadier General Smith abandoned his IA
vorite project OF invading Canada West be-
cause, although be had been preparing the
greater part of the summer, and had energet-
ioally drummed up volunteers, he had sue
ceeded in collecting only !, 500 men, and he
did not think that the expedition would be
successful unless he hsd /, 500 more.
At the battle of York our force was /, 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, 800
wounded, 200 prisoners This was one of our
geatest victories, yet il is not to be compared
with the battle Of Belmont, or that Of Balls
Bluff, either as regards the number engaged
or the losses sustained.
At the battle Of Sacketts HarbOr, the enc.
- 4. T1ha.- Ior -,
killed andwOundedwas $50; ours i %. Among
the trophies taken by our troops were the
British standard and mace.
Com. Perry's victory on Lake Erie was es-
teemed ''big thing" in its day; yet his
whole feet consisted only of 81 guns and two
swiveIs; that of the enemy conisted of 60
guns and two swivels Our loss in killed
and wounded was l2S; that OF the enemy has
never been definitely known.
At the battle Of Chippewa our loss was 32s;
that of the enemy 5l4. Atthe battle Of Fort
Erie our loss was "a; that of the enemy 5s2.
At the battle of Baltimore the enemy's
force numbered from 1000 to 5000; ours
was probably less than half that number.
Our loss was only lT0; that of the enemy
some 200 in killed, wounded and missing.
Eyen the battle of New Orleans looks in
significant to eyes that have witnessed re-
connoissance on the Potomac 16, 600 strong,
and review of 1000 troops. The British
force, including sailors and marines, was
about IA, OCO; that Of Gen. Jackson 3, 200 on
the left bank of the river and about 500 dis
tributed in positions hard by. Our loss was
killed and 6 wounded; that Of the enemy
/ 700 killed and l, 400 wounded.
1t is safe to say that Notwithstanding the
torpOr of q 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 1872"