Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1861-12-20
VOL. VII. NO. 4S.

people.
So thoroughly aroused was the national
heart, that | have no doubt this force
would tavc been swollen to a million, had
not the department felt compelled to re-
strict it in the absence of authority from
the representatives, Of the people to ill.,
crease the limited number Il will be
for Congress to decide whether the army
shall be further augmented, with view
to a more speedy termination of the war,
or whether it shall be confined to the
strength already fixed by law. In the
latter case, with the object of reducing
the volunteer force to 100000, | pro-
pose, with the consent Of Congress, to
consolidate such Of the regiments as may
from time to time fail below the rcgula-
ton standard The adoption of this
measure will decrease the number Of oh-
GERS and pro7ortonably diminish the ey-
pcnscs Of the army.
1t is sail of Napoleon by .Jomini, that,
ia the cam ,aiga Of lsl5, that that great
general on the l,t of April had 4 regular
I army of 300 900 men. Ga the first OF
june he had increased this force to 4l4,-
600. The proportion adds Jomni, " had
he thought proper to inauglrate vast
system Of defense, would have raised 1t
to 700, 900 mcn by the lst of Septcm-
bcr" At the commencement of this re-
beIIion, inauguratcl By the attack on
Fort Sumter, the entire military forces at
the disposal of this government was TO-
oo6 regulars, principally employed in the
west to hold IN check maraudlng Indians.
In April - 600 volunteers were called
upon to enlist for three months service
) AMI responded with such alacrity that
H1aN14 were Immediately obtained. Tn
der the authority OF the act OF Congress
of July -, lN6l, the States were asked
to furnish loGuUo volunteers to serve
f1r three Year.. er larin. tn war; anl
b tn aft approved ia 2'th 9f tn same
month, the allitou of 21,ooe mn to
the regular army of the t'nitel Stltes
was authorilai Tat FrsI,t Is that W
have now an army Of upwards OF 60o.-
900 men, L VT adj te tai, the number
Of the discharged three months vntan-
tcers, the ag.rce4ta force furnished to In
government since April last excel, 90
600 men
We have here an eyilenea a. thc woH-
derful strength Of eur Institutions.
Without eou-rfiptiou< lcyies. draft, or
Other cxtfaasliaJry epsiitioa5, w hare
raised grctter force than that winch
gathered by Napoleon with the all OF all
these appliances, was considered an evi-
dencc OF his wonderful genius and lef.y,
and of the military spirit Of the French
nation. Here every man l. interested III
tue government, anl sa,Aes t. It, d.tta-a
when DANGERS be-ct it.
By reference TO the records Of N"
Revolution it will be seen that Massa-
ehu,ett>, with population of three hun
drcd and fifty thousand, had at one time
iifty--ix thousand troop in tha field, or
over one sixth OF her people, tosc'
greatly exceeding the whole number OF
troops furnished hy all the Southern
States during tdat war. Should thePre,-
cut loyal STATE, furnish in ike proportion
which un loubtel.y would be the cas' =,
should any cmtrg,n'y demIaI it, the
) government could promptly pat into the
ned an army OF over three millions.
1t gives me great satisfaction to refer
to the crcdtab.e degree Of discipline OF
our troops, most Of whom We're, bat a
short time since engaged in the Pur~u't>
OF peace They are rapidly attaining an
efficiency which cannot fan 10 bring SUI
Iii