Daily Democrat and news. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1859-1864, 1861-12-04
The Opposing Forces.

nearly million OF men. For nearly
nine months this force has been coming
together from the various States and
taking position for battle. But large as
the Federal force now IS, it is daily..be-
coming more apparent that the number
is entirely unequal to the work on hand.
An idea Of the strength OF the respective
armies will be gained from the following
figures taken from the Warrington cor
respondcnce Of the Chicago inns
"The Mon force now in the field is
supposed to be as follows: At and near
Washington, including the detachments
Of Banks and Stone, 10000; at and
near Fortress Monroe, under Gen. Wool,
$4,000; at Por, Royal, under Gen. Sher-
man, including reinforcements sent since
the attack on Beaufort, $4,000; at Saint
Lonis, Cairo and Paducah, under Gen.
IIalleck, $4,000; at Louisvlle,and other
points in northern Kentucky, under Gen.
Buell., 10000; Under Gen. Burnside aud
Gen. Butler, 10000; under Rosecrans,
in Western Virginia; 10000; under
Gen. Kelly, at komney, 5000. This
makes force Of 355,O 900 troops, which
is Of itself an army Of gigantic proper
tons.
"To oppose them, the Confederates
are known to have the following forces
in the field: Beaurcgard's army Of the
Potomac, 900; Gen. NJ gruder's force
NJ Yor ktown and Big Bethel, $4,000;
Gen. IIuger, at Norfolk, 10000; at Sa-
yannah, 80, 900 at Charleston, 10000
at New Orleans 10000 at Mobile, y
900; at Galveston, 5000 at various
points on and near the Mississippi, in
GLIDING Columbus, Hickman, the forts
between the latter place aud Memphis,
Union, Humboldt, Jackson and Grand
Junction, Is 900; at Bowling Green, Cum
berIand zap and other strategic points
in Kentucky, $4,000, in Western Nir-
ginia, under Floyd, 1000; At Winches-
ter, cooperate against komney, 10000.
This makes force Of $4,000 troops.
The correspondent goes on to state
that these are stubborn facts-that these
troops are in the field and are occupying
the finest stratcgctic POSITIONS on the
American continent. 1t is probable that
the writer is within the range Of truth,
yet supposing the rebel force is not
greater than our own, it is very evident
that to ensure success our army must be
largely increased. The rebels arc not
coming forward to fight our armies, and
in order to crush the demon rebellion it
must be hunted down in its own Terri
tory. To do this as it must be done it IS
not only necessary to have superior
force, but we claim now IS we always
have, that the Federal army must of ne
rebel States This IS not Ge. eau. ." there ere
is sny discrepancy. in point of bravery or
personal strength. AS tar as that goes,
the contending parties are evenly bal
anced. We 60 to fight them on their
own ground and the battle fields viii be
of their own selecting. Every time we
gain point, as for instance Manassas,
Richmond, Charleston, Mobile, New Or
leans, Mcmphis,and SO on, We must nee.
essarily leave strong force to protect
them, thus using up a strong force at
every place, while the rebels keep their
men in force. This is upon the SUPPOSE
ton that we gain every battle, which is
not probable. Ii we do not, then we are
still wanting to greater extent. Our
army while moving forward, will require
an immense force to supply it with pro-
visions, which must for the most part
come from the North. Such will not be
the case with the enemy-at least not to
so great an extent.
There seems to be no other way left
but to increase the Federal army by at
least one half Of its present dimensions
and probably double. We have not yet
proven our ability to make successful
forward movement into their territory,
and it should never be attempted with.
out some prospect Of success. To do
this, it is becoming very evident that a
large additional force must be called out
by the President.
The OFFICE OF SUTLEn TO he ABoL.
IsnED.-lt is reported that Senator
Wilson Of Massachusetts, who is chair.
man of the Senate Military Committee,
has determined to introduce a bill i'm.
med'ately on the opening of Congress,
to abolish the office of Sutler in the
army. He has been impelled to this by
reason Of the extortions and abuses prac.
ficn6 npnn Tho ooll:o., T..