New-York daily tribune., 1861-08-26


that forced the acceptance Of three months mA,
and which will forever render the country slow
in raising an efficient army at any unexpected
moment. The vicousness of the system has been
made too painfully apparent within the la't six
months, to need further elucidation now. The
experience of several wars shows that the peO-
pie are always ready to undertake them, but that
the Government is, from the beginning, system
aticaly destitute of material with which to prose.
cute them. Men and money we possess in abun-
dance, but of methodical preparation, nothing.
These facts inform US why, with 80 vast an ag-
gregate force, our battles continue to be fought
by bodies Of men so disproportiOnately small.
Such bodies, it is true, wrought prodigles in our
war with England, conquered a peace with Mex
leo, and have achieved brilliant victories over Re-
bellon. But painful apprehension preceded every
battle, because of insufficient force. An ample
one might have saved battle by proving to the
eufemy that resistance would be futile, while it
would have made each victory more overwhelming.
If we have the men, let US concentrate them where
they are needed.
The casualties occurring in the Mexican war,
as ascertained from official documents, oford
striking evidence of the gross exaggerations as to
the number Of killed and wounded, which flash
over the wires with the first news of an engage
ment. All who now have friends in the army
may well refuse to believe them. The case OF
Bull Run is q very striking illustration of their
wanton falsty. That Of Springfield is equally So.
First reports Of this kind are enormous lies.
Sickness kills far more than glDpowder, while q
large portion Of the missing either come strsg-
Cling in, or turn up ss desertep. At the siege
of Vera Cruz we lost but ~ killed, and had 81
wounded; at Cerro Gordo, out of $500 men en-
gagged in that sangunary battle We had but 90
killed and $50 wounded. In four other actions
where III, 207 men were engaged, we had lo9
killed and SG5 wounded. Our loss was heaviest
at Molino del Rcy, where out Of 1881 regulars
we Lost 1875 killed. with $50 wounded. AT Che
pultepec aud the City Of Mexico, where the
whole number on duty was 5,30i men, our loss
was ISS killed, with G73 wounded. In the nu-
merous skirmishes with Mexican scouts, suerillas,
&c, we suffered an additional loss Of ~ killed
and 293 wounded TO which may be appended
Gen. Taylors losses on the Rio Grande, 72 killed
aud ll7 wounded. The beet authorities do not
make the whole number killed in the Mexican
war, or dying from wounds received in bat
tie, more than I,0O0 or the wounded exceeding
1900. IL was sickness and the hospitals that
mado the havoc. The regular force, numbering
q, ,922, lost 1873 by discharges for disability
while the 1882 volunteers lost 200 on the same
ground-not by death, though doubtless their in
ability in many cases ended in that way. The
ordinary deaths among tie volunteers amounted
to 6,256, and among tho regulars TO a,7I3, a
frightful total, from causes incident to army eI-
posure in most unfriendy climate, Of 1920, or
nearly three times as many as were KILLED and
wounded in battle OF the regulars, 2,s49 de-
serted. and Of the voluntoets 1876. Ii must be
borne in mind that most Of tho battles in Mexico
were fought against immense odds, whose de-
.tructivo energies were increased by their posi-
ton within fortresses bristling with cannon, and
planted on almost inaccessible nights. Comparing
these battles with those already fought with tue
Rebels, the latter appear to be no better marks
men than Ne MeIicaus.