The national Republican., 1861-09-04
NUMBERS or THE ENEMY IN vIR-
s.lyIA.


interested to represent the number as large as
possible, as IL is upon their great contribution
Of soldiers that they predicate their demands
for Office at the hands Of the JEFF, Davis Govern
ment. As they have done nothing since l1S9
with the exception of a string of resolutions
passed in 1881 but hunt for office, enjoy the
salaries of Office, and snarl when out office, they
have acquired dexterity in that special mat
ter which is unsurpassed, and II they have any
sort Of basis for claiming office, 1t may be safely
assumed that they make the best and most
ii.
Governor Letcher, by proclamation issued II
month since, notified the counties that he should
insist upon volunteers to the extent of ten per
cent. of their white population or, failing TO
receive volunteers to that amoust. should pro
coed to IN IKE up the deficiency by draft. When
tho measures thus indicated are carried out
fully in every county, as 1t is not at all proba-
ble that they ever can be. the sum total o. The
result would be about seventy thousand soldiers,
which is ten per cent. of so much of the white
population of Virginia, as is in fact, under the
jurisdiction CT the Richmond cabal. If these
measures have already progressed go TAR as to
produce fifty five thousand men, it is quite as
much as could be expected, or as is credible.
There has been nothing like it in the military
paroxysms of the old French revolution, when
Carnot organized victory nothing like it in
the levies of the Russian Alexander to resist
the ivasion of Bonaparte: nothing like it in our
own revolutionary struggle: nothing like it, in
short. in any defensive war in modern history.
| ilow vast the burden in, will be realized from
} considering that it is equal to levies Of $4,000
: men in Maine of 10000 in either Of the States
Of Massachusetts, or Indiana OR of 10000 in
New York.
OF the seven original Confederate States,
Texas is occupied with her own defence on the
; side of the Rio Grande and the Indians, with
her offensive expedition to the Messilla Valley,
and with reinforcing the army Of General
Mccullough. florida Is too Insignificant to re
quire much notice. The most she can do, is to
raise some two-penny squads for coast defence,
! and possibly to contribute one or two ragged
battalions to the force necessary to be kept in
front of Pickens.
: There remain the States Of South Carolina
Georgia. Alabama, Mississippi, aud Louisiana,
0 with an aggregate white population of two
u millions, and with their power Of sending
% troops to Virginia. diminished by the very
10 considerable drains for home defence, in ad.
70 ditiou to which, Louisiana has sent one regi
N ment. perhaps two, to the army OF General
10 Mccullough. They have q long coast to guard
70 many forts to occupy. and the considerable
force at Pensacola to maintain. To keep
q 10000 men in Virginia, they mus have not far
}. from 100000 on their rolls, as the number in
5 recruiting depots, and of fresh soldiers going
and of invalded soldiers returning, must nearly
s equal the efficient force in front Of the enemy
/. 1t docs not seem credible 10 ITSELF that they
't can have so many in Virginia as 10000, ant
what we know of particular States, does no
indicate that. The maximum number furnished
by South Carolina has been eight small regi
ments equal to 5000 men. In that proportion
" all the States referred to- have in Virgins
. 1000 men The Governor Of Georgia claim
''' to have armed 1000 State troops, in addition
y" to (copjecturaD number Of 5000 enlisted
~ from Georgia in the distinctive Contederat
" army. This is from the commencement OF tn
war, and it is not probable that all these me
|. who are alive, are now in the service POI
- ton Of them is at Pensacola, and another POI
~ ton on the coast dciences. How many may
h. in Virginia is not known, but certainly nc
~, G,orgas proportion tabout one-third)
,d $4,000 men.
Outside of the original Confederate State
ch it is only from North Carolina, that conside
lily able numbers can be brought forward 10 d
he fend Virginia.
IN Arkansas is occupied with Missouri
lily Tennessee is prolific in soldiers but L
Ter authentic estimate of her troops goes beyon
Ter 25 900. OF these, 10000 are stated to be O
bis the Kentucky line, (ncluding the force obser
ing the disaffected population of East Tenne
la see,) and 1000 are said to be in camp in an
me near Memphis The expedition of Gen, Pillo
OF must absorb nearly the entire balance. Beyor
gle the two regiments sent early to Virginia, the
is no evidence or probability that Tenness,
ich has any soldiers there.
her There remains North Carolina with Il viii
ain population of 63l ,4s9, (about that Of Maine
1t undoubtedly able to furnish good many SC
a'e diers, but not believed TO be specially hear
ere in the rebel cause. North Carolina has had
'no good many men on her coast defence, and Il
III number now, since our seizure of Halter
~. Inlet must be greatly increased. regime
v was captured at the forts at that luet, al
another regiment was then known to be in Il
close vicinity.
aoe To all these resources available for /
defence Of Virginia, must b. added four
~" five thousand volunteers from Kentuck
Maryland and this District not great numb
wa but desperadoes frcm the nature of the ca
l. being refugees, and likely to fight well. SO
~ as mere zeal and courage are concerned.