Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1861-05-31

A Few Historical Facts About War.

When Frederick said Providence is always
on The side Of the strong battalion, he never
meant that Providence favored mere brute
numbers.
Ali history goes to prove the truth of the
sphorism Of the Bible, that the battle is not
always to the strong, meaning the most nune
rcus. From the earliest records of history to
tls resent Cay. the smaller number has won
g. least three battles out CT icur. Success in
war depends on efficient organization, and
steady discipline, courage and endurance 10
both soldiers and officers. Few men have ever
POSSESSED the capacity to establish these things
il c large army.
The Roman Legion consisted of about 5000
men. A consular army was two Legions, or
about ~, 900 men. This number vas some
times increased by their allies and slaves TO
twenty thousand With this force they con-
oue-ed the world. A French corps d armes
corposes about 10000 men, and yet Napoleon
was in the habit Of saying, that he could not
End, even a Marshal, who could handle that
number. No officer, in this country, has ever
fought a battle with as many as 10000 men
undcr-his command. Is there one living who
can do it? The Charleston 'Courier" says:
1--WE may have many. Our President Davis,
NAV be one. But q dashing Colonel might
fail as the chief even Of a corps Garmee.-
Scott the renegade generalissimo Of our enc
mics, who deliberately makes war on his na-
tive State, has shown that he is utterly incom-
petent. Not to speak Of his miserable blum
de,s 10 the Florida war, nor Of his waste Of
life 10 Mexico, at the fall of ~Churubusco; if he
had been there at his proper post, instead Of
being miles of, and ordered the Palmettoes to
pursue tho Mexicans when they retrented, and
supported them with all his forces, Mexico
would have been captured that night and the
slaughter of Molina del Rey, Cnapultepec and
the Garita de Belen saved to US. But Scott
was not there, as Taylor would have been.-
He vas probably playing whist, and quarrel
ing with his partner. Scott has the name of
being a consonmate general; but l am not
aware that be ever commanded fifteen thou
sand men in battle, or was ever in a battle with
SO is7so a force on his side. Most Of his bat
,izs have been fought with less than hslf that
uum5sr.
Few lh;ags ere to be taken for granted in
war, aud least of all, the ability or want Of
abillty Of tncers. Gen. Scott certainly has
rot proven himself competent to handle large
boa:::cs Of men, and judging his talents BY other
displays Of them. think we nced not appre-
heud that he has brains enough to lead any
large army into tie field and hght it effective.
~. VINO then? Wool, Harvey, Sumner,
Stsp:oe-pshaw!
Tho fact Is, these half million armies are
simply %humbugs, and are usually the victims,
if not OF The cannon, Of pestileIce, famine and
nutiny. Organization 'the right man in the
right ~place," at the right time, and properly
equipped. Organization is the soul, the life and
the strength of an army, and it is a thing that
n.nsy. ";ne sinews Of war;" cannot buy at
once on any large scale. It is not in tie mar
ksI Time. brain and skill are necessary to
c,e,te it; and very large armies, your hum
dred, two and five hunored thousand soldiers
In one army over have been and ever will be,
in dispite Of skill, brains and time to use
them, little more than a horde, q military
mob, that a single legion need scarcely fear.
Lot US see if the facts Of history do not sus-
tain US in these views. The Athenians with
TO- 600 men defeated q Persian army Of 80, 900
at Marathon, and With not more than three
times that number won the battles of Piatea
and Salanis and drove Eve millions ofinvaders
from their soil.
Alexander overrun Asia with one.third the
number ofthe forces that. opposed him.
When the Swiss Cantons determined TO
strike for their independence, with 500 men
they defeated 20, 900 Austrisns, under the Arch
Duke Of Austria, at Aorgarten. With an equal.
ly disproportionate force they fought sixty
pitched battles and maintained their indepen-
dcnce.
When Edward o. England invaded Scotland,
with 100000 men, be was met and defeated at