The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1861-05-29
The Defence Of the State.

the call OF the Confederate government for volunteer
IS universally acknowledged. The first reqgfsIton
/ 5000 men was filled almost Immediately. When tn
extended plans and projects of invasion of LfcolnreI
dered further estents necessary, and another requ
sltion OF 5000 men nadetpon Louisiana, the nob
sugar State exceeded the number stipulated. Ere TIL
fully thirteen thousand troops have either left her boz
deFs for the service of the south or are awaiting tn
orders OF the governmental Montgomery, to learn the
destination There be but one opinion of the sci
denial and heroism displayed by Louisiana in this crisis
I Nevertheless, prudence should admonish us OF til
indispensable pgoprety Of retaining amongst us pre-
portion OF drilled and disciplined companies orpurpose
/ of home defence In the eagerness and ardOr of GU
patriotism we should forget the duty we owe to GU
own State and city, well to our common country
We must have something tangible TO depend upon Il
case Louisiana should be invaded or threatened witt
invasion by way of the gulf Mississippi river, north
western frontier of the State The Baton Rouge AdvO
cate which has turned its attention to this subject say
there are certain than ten thousand men within
the State now enrolled in companies, uniformed ant
drilling as Home Guards. This little army OF HOME
Guards would form nucleus around which our whole
avaableforce could rally when needed but yet the time
OF need may be the very of battle, and then raw
undiscipned militia however gallant and brave vii
make but poor shelving in any other than guerrilla
war This is unquestionably true, and it follows there
fore that every within the prescribed age capable
bearing arms, should be enrolled armed equipped
drilled for effective service The mode proposed by
the Advocate is as follows:
The militia law should be put in force Every
parish in the State should at once enroll divide into
companies and enforce weekly squad or company drill
OF every man capable of bearing within its limits
Company egimenta brigade and division officers should
be Immediately selected from the very best material
without regard oany other consideration than capacity
regular company drill once week in every parish
throughout the Stateshou required-no mere meet
ing at the various precincts to talk over matters-bu
general regular assembling Of the militia to undergo
days drilling. Every officer should see that each man
appeared armed with effective weapon and that no
one shrked duty Once amonth every parish should
eall together for battalion regimcntal drill of the
troops within her E4ts Two months would not elapse
before the crowd Of militia in Louisiana would present
warIike and formidable appearance a home army
would be at hand Of at least thirty thousand armed
drilled, ununifomed men, capable Of being concentra-
ted in bodies of ten or fifteen thousand men at any
point of threatened attack within the State
Militia laws, proclamations etc. would be useless now
anda mere farce as in former times of peace were not
the people filled with willingness to obey with spirit
and yigor any general order to the above effect
There is lull in the storn-shall the full meas
ure Of its warmth, that may break upon US at ans mo-
ment find unprepared-with an army of fifteen thou
saad in the field outside the State mobiscd State
guard Of ten thousand uniformed Home Guards, and
upwards Of thirty thousand organised drilled and efcc
tive unjniformed militia on hand-to meet an enemy
that may cross our State line. In doing this we will
have done our duty-not before.
The first two contingents will take care-have taken
care already of themselves They are ready; but what
Of tile last-the militia. Not a weeks delay should be
made i'll putting these hurried suggestions into effect
they worthy of consideration and who is there that
doubts they are
We regard these suggestions as rminently judicious
and practical. These not the times when any con
siderable portion Of the community can be permitted to
fosego all military discipline and to rely upon others for
the protection Of their persons and property. Every
ableabOdicd adult should possess an effective weapon
and should be instructed how to use it. Persons not
familiar with military matters apttO talk very vaguely
and specifically about them There are many amongst
n who think that if northern army everfound its way
% New Orleans it would be repulscd with great saugh
cr and probably would neverreturn. Wethink sol too
provided the male population of city are sufficiently
incurred with knowledge Of tactics to be prompt and
stGicntln the movements and evoutions which such an
emergency might require, and provided, likewise that
ue Suppyo small arms andheavy ordnance is at hand
But let this important and undeniabe truth never be
orgotten that within thirty days rigorous discipline
thousand soldiers overmatch for three times that
lumber of raw, undriIled recruits Now an attempt to
invade New Orleans is not an impossible event and tits
he bounden duty Of the authorities to guard against the
This can bebest accomplished by eufouc-
NJ the militia law and requiring every adult capable of
gearing arms to belong to some company of Home /
}uard and to drill periodically We concurmost heart
" with the views of our able Baton Rouge cotempoarv
nd trust that 10 time whatever will be lostin carrying
hem into effect The militia of Louisiana consist of
very not afflicted with some inrmity precudiur
he performance Of military duty between the ages Of
s and -. n. 0. Pee.
1t is certain that the city Of Richmond Va, stands IN
cry great danger. Here in Richmond there are those
Tho would not havcthe fact alluded to- lest the enemys
ttenton should be attracted to it. But while we play
his ostrich part, the eyes of the whole north fixed
n this one point Among AL the newspapers received
the last few days from the foreign and hostile cOun
iCs banded against us on the OthersGe of the Potomac
lereis not one that does urge the sending of twenty
lOusand of the best troops Washington to seize this
ity Here, SAYS the northern press in chorus here is
ne civil, military, political and financial centre of the
reat State; seAe Richmond and she will for time, at
east be paralysed in all her members and our submis
Onists will take advantage Of the panic to the
election of the ordinance of secession so that Virginia
nall be ous, after all. While we talk of the occupa-
on of Alexandria, the defence Of Harper's Ferry and
orfolk, they think only of Richmond, and if they
rke at all it is reasonable to suppose that they will
lake blow at the heart.
And if they come to Richmond we NAV be well as
lred that they will come the way the enemy came
British-by yoyk river, and By no other
ay. There is the assaabe point the map shows that
zpegenCe and history have made the fact public to all
lie world except ourselves. A march by land from
lexandria drought difficult country, and over the
lost warkc population of the continent i dreamed of
no body but ourselves. The route by Aqua creek
IN be cut short at Fredericksburg by few hundred
ounfs fpoWder under the briggs ofhe Rappahannock
look no farther. Nor did the enemy come up the
arrow andimperfect channel of the James river when
icy came, nor will they come up now. But they will
they did and will always do in future sail or steam
rough the deep and straight York disembark their
oops IN little more than days march Of the city and
Ike the chances of resistance Any numberof steam
$ can be loaded with and artillery at Washington
Id come to the mouth of the York. at least, without
ore trouble than on morning excursion. There it
true, resistance will commence. We hear that the
rtihcatons of the river have closed it, hope So
every one hope so-for it has been fourteen months
nee the legislature appropriated million to the fortiG
tions of the State; and this moment the prudent
purse is to hope that it has been we'll spent on York
yer where it will be all well needed If the enemy
cceed in passing them, it has only one trouble more
Id that is grand battle with all the force that our
enerals bring into the field below Richmond which
i'll be decisive of our fate That it will be sanguinarv
I'd desperately contested scarcely be doubted by
" Few will desire to return from that scene if
e battle lost, for who would care to live and see
hat would happen in his home next day? Our men
ould certainly fight; generals men of conduct;
erhaps we could concentrate such numbers as to over
helmathe INVADER even if he brought the flower of
deral army in the vanof wide awakes and dead rab-
is But the stake is tremendous that no chance
ould be thrown away. Richmond must be kept at all
yards, and energy may render attack it onlya vic
ry for US bearing fruits bright as defeat would be
IDsaI,s -, L.,