New Orleans daily crescent., 1861-09-27
The ARMY of the Southwestern New Era.


From the Memphis Appeal, 25thl o.
With the appointment of General Sydney A. John
ston to the command of the Western Department
of the Confederate Army, we may well say that a
new and better era has been inaugurated in the
prosecution of our war. Though but a single week
has elapsed since he assumed active control of the
affairs mastery vigor has suddenly infused itself
into military operations throughout the Mississippi
valley, that is gratifying in the highest degree. 1t
is at once manifest to the close observer that we
now have leader at the head of our army who
fully appreciates the high responsibility of his
post, and whose adequateness to meet the fatter-
ing expectations of the public mind, is being ill.,
contestby proven by ocular demonstration. Alta
single glance, he seems to have dscerned the true
condition of matters with the eye of experienced
generalship, and has gone earnestly to work with
the view of etfectng the necessary reforms. We
venture to say that in no section of the Conteder
acy, are the movements of troops being conducted
with more secresy, Judgment and dispatch, or de-
fenses being prosecuted with more energy and
skill than in the department of the Southwest.
Recruiting officers have taken fresh start, and
the army is being rapidly increased to size equal
to the emergency for which it is designed. Troops
in broken regiments and unaccepted companies,
that have been seeking in vain, we learn, to get
into active service heretofore, are now being mar
shaled into the lines, preparatory to that proper
drill and strict discipline which only make eff
Cient soldiers.
It were to conceal a well-known truth not to
say that our army has for weeks past been gradu-
fact attributable to causes too manifest for COM
ment. And had affairs continued much longer as
they were going on, we might have well enter
tanned serious apprehensons of the result. The
advent of Gen. Johnston, however, as we discover
from nnumerable sources, promises to prove an
effective panacea fer these, and many other annoy
ances which the patience of the people only toer-
ated for evident reasons of policy.
The enthusiastic manner of his reception at
Columbus eyinced in the outset the popularity
which his prestige had engendered and the con-
tnued confidence in his ability and efficiency is a
common topic of the camp. The army Of the po-
tomac does not to day look to its gallant leaders
with more intense pride and satisfaction than do
the stalwart sons of the Southwest to their newly
installed General; nor does it as a body manifest
q more unwavering determination to follow them
on to victorious combat, if necessary, through the
carnage of the CORY field.
There is no better fighting material in the world
than that which at this time constitutes Gen. John
ston's army 1t is not too much to say that, with
proper drill and discipline, they are inVincible
against double their number of onion.eating Yam
KEGS, and if brought into battle at equal odds
would doubtless prove victorious over force OF
similar size, taken from the regulars of European
yeomanry of the Southwest, the descendants of the
pioneers of the great Mississippi valley-men wht
have been reared from childhood to the exposures
of the camp, and may be said to almost have beer
born with the rifle in their hands. We find among
them the reckless bear-hunters OF Arkansas the
unerriDg sharp-shoOters OF Mississippi, the steady
rinemen of Tennessee, and even the brave sons o
Louisiana and the intrepid yeomen from the
northern mountains Of Alabama.
Organization is all that is now needed to com
plete its efficiency and to this end the general il
command is directing his combined skill and
energy. Under his regime, the soldiers cannot
expect to deport themselves in that loose and in
subordinate manner, which is the chief character.
istie of newly enlisted volunteers unaccustomed tc
army regulations. They may anticipate strict dis
cipline and particularly its requisite Of respectful
else is more absolutely essential to success upoT
the field.
Present indications lead us to hope that the re
forms, which are now taking place with such ad
ramification Of the army nnatlv disposing Of al
incompetent officers, without respect of persons
This done, and we may safely look for victories in
the Mississippi valley, second to none in point Of
magnitude and brilliancy that may be achieved
elsewhere during the progress of the war.