Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1861-09-06
THE TWO ARMIES.

| In grouping together a few obvious facts
! concerning the land forces Of the beiligerents
! in the pending war, our object is to encourage
men OF tie first class, but none other, to join
! tue national army.
| l. Our rank and file, under the recent law Of
Congress, are better paid than any other troops
| In the worid. Thirteen dollars per month for
privates would be deemed extravagant by any
| foreign government.
2 The officers, regimental and line, are with
some exceptions, nearly as well paid as those
| in European nations. Rus r American battle
felds have 50 of5en proved the high read to po.
! litical distinction, Jue pecuuiary compensation
| is deemed ample by ambitious men.
| ). Though there is no sufficient reason why
| our troops should not be better fed and housed,
! and more tendeTlY cared fer when sick and
wounded, than they now are, they are nearly
as well provided for in those respects the
! best armies Of the most martial nations Of the
world, while in each of those particulars, our
! camps and hospitals are undergoing s'eady
! improvement.
4. Our volunteers are composed Of as good
| fighting materials as ever foiloJ+ed a Clieftsin
90 the field. Thev combine the st5aduess and
! stubboTnuess Of he English, with the dash and
/ daring Of the French. Indeed our army com
/ pTises large numbers Of men from the races
/ whence European governments have recruited
/ their best soldiers, such as Irish, Scotch, Ger
mans, French, HuugaTiaHs, ita ials, and The
| like, and It has in its ranks both etHceIs and
pTiydtts v no have performed deeds Cf yaiOr
in some of the hottest engagements on the
other side cf the Atlantic,
.. Though il is doubtless true, that under
the feTV0T Of he first outbreak Of patriotic en-
tbusjasm, some officers hastily assumed the
commands for which they have since proved
incompetent, this error viii be cured SO soon
as seveTer tests oe qualification come 20 be
rigidly and impartIally applied. Stern measures
will be hereafter employed tc select as leaders
Of our columns men worthy of the brave and
intelligent masses who are TO follow.
So much for tie salient features Of the FED
ersl army. Let US sean those Of the Rebel
Tces:
1. They have excellent fighting materials in
/ the Southern States. Though their soldiers
hsve not the general intelligence, nor ne cool
vaioT OF those OF the North, nevertheless, the
men Of that section are accustomed to the use
Of deadly weapons, are proveTbIallY reckless
OF human life, and exhibit in a large measure
that dsTe-dsviiism which il potent 10 a sharp,
heavy, desperate contest.
?. Their officers, both OF the higher and low
er grades are, we presume, fully equal to ours
Of the old army. Secession carried of the
greater share of educated military men. We
incline TO the opinion that r larger proportion
Of men from the higher and more conspicuous
ranks Of society, held military Offices in the
Rebel army than In ours. Doubt ess there is
quite as much, perhaps more, esprit du corps in
their line Of officers as in ours.
3. The rebels are now superior to us in cav
airy. The South and South vest are famous
for furnishing bo d riders. The comparative
II pTim tive condition of the country in regard
to railways, stage coaches, and o her means
OF public conveyance, makes them a nation Of
accomplished equestrians.
4 IL sharp shooters, expert with the rife,
they excel the better cultivated and more in
dustTiOus States Of the Northeast, whose peo-
pie are too busy in improving their farms, sail
Ing their ships, and running their mills, to idle
away their time in bunting.
5. AS to the important arm OF artillery, the
ConfedeTates have plenty Of heavy guns which
they stole from Us, besides many Of smaller
csibeT. They are also able TO manufacture
considerable quantities. And they have in
lher ranks some Of the best aEtllerists and en-
gineeTs in the old army. Sumter and Bull Run
have proved that they know how to use cannon
of large and light caliber.
g. They are undoubtedly troubled to obtain
a full supply Of musketg, rifles and rcyolvers,
Of the most approved patterns, notwithstand-
ing the large quantities they h'ched during the
reasonable administration Of FlUVd. But thew
have several hundred thousand of the best
arms recently manufactured at Springfield and
HaTpeT's Ferry, and with the machinery stolen
from the latter aTmoTy, they are able to turn
out very efficient article. They have man
ufactory in South Carolina, called the opal
mettO ArmOTy," which furnished some Of the
best muskets used at Bull Run.
Z. As 10 provisions, ID ugh the blockade, If /
efficiently enforced, will deprive them Of some I
luEuTies, fruitful season will supply tasm
probably with an abundance OF "hog and /
hominy," the greatest staples upon which those |
who compose the body of their army, have |
been accustomed to rely.
s. Finally, we think they will fight, and fight /
too, because they go into battle |
with halters around their necks and gibbets |
before their eyes.
Such are some OF the chaTacteristics and re-
sources Of our foe, and thus he appears when
placed in juZtapositicn with our owa brave
army. Though be has little credit abroad, and /
feeble monetary means at home, ne will strug-
gls with the desperation OF despair to acquire
the one and supply the other. Let Us not IN
ierTate either bis genius or bis proWess. Rath-
sT let us feel that 10 overthrow him is no holi-
lay task, but will require the use Of all the
appliances and advantages authorized by the /
lsages Of war. Knowing that be is engaged /
10 a waRtOn rebellion against the most benefi- /
cent government on earth, let us be CheeTsd 10 .
he work Of subduing his revolt by the Tehec-
ion that we are thereby promoting the cause .
IF civil and religious freedom for ourselves .
and for all men.