The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1861-09-20

number not improbable when we remember
that the insurgent leaders have ordered and
executed levy zen masse in all parts Of
the State Of which they have command,
taking every man between eighteen and
sixty. This would make total Of 100, 900;
and North Carolina. Georgia and Soute
Carolina have, without doubt, added morn
than 10000 to this total.
The statement that this vast army is
suffering from lack Of food or clothing must
be received with caution. 1t must be re-.
membered that Virginia is the strong point
of the rebels. Elsewhere they can afford a
defeat; to be routed 10 Virginia would be
death blow to their cause. 1t is highly
probable, therefore, that Mr.. Davis, who is
prudent commander. will sacrifice many
things to keep his Virginia army in good
condition. General Pillows troops may
suffer, and General McCulIoch may be
forced to retire into Arkansas for lack of
supplies; but the great army in Virginia
will be cared for to the last. 1t is we'll
known that the rebels used the months be-
fore the bombardment of Fort Sumter to
lay in great stores of provisions and since
then Kentucky has been unhappiIy neu.
trail ground, through which they have drawn
continually supplies of every kind, except,
perhaps, arms and ammunition. There is,
therefore, no reason to believe that the
army 10 Virginia is even reduced to corn
cakes and bacon. ~
In the matter of clothing they are pro.
baby 10 greater need. The South does not
manufacture and if our mills have been
taxed to the uttermost to supply clothing
for our armies, it is scarce possible that the
enemy can replace the wornout garments OF
his troops. But soldiers do not absolutely
need uniforms; they can fight in buckskin
and in homespun-in patched garments as
well as new.
The greatest need OF Mr.. Davis is proba.
oily wagons for army transport. His boast
of going to Philadelphia is only boast,
while be has not for bis army of 10000
men train sufficient for an army of 20, 600.
To Manassas everything is brought by rail-
road. But beyond Manassas bis advance
is clogged, if not made impossible, by the
lack of transportation material, and this
want it will be difficult for the enemy to
supply from bis own resources.
The blockade has doubtless produced in
the South scarcity in many articles, the
want of which occasion inconvenience and
even suffering. Some time ago they had
no matches 10 Charleston. Salt is selling
at six dollars per bushel in Richmond,
Buttons cannot be obtained at any price in
the Southern States. Shoes they need al
ready, and will need more bitterly as the
cold weather comes on and leather, in fact
is probably their greatest need, next to
army wagons.
But they have powder, lead, arms, shot
ard she'll, heavy guns in abundance, though
probably but small supply of light field
artillery-that most valuable and important
branch OF modern army; and above all
they have as leaders men of desperate for
tunes, who have embarked deliberately 10 q
most wicked undertaking, and who will
stop at no measures to obtain that success
which alone can save them from halter.
| We state these facts, not from any dislike
to the "reliable gentlemen" who are such
boons to anxious journalists, nor yet from
q desire to throw cold water on the nationa
enthusiasm, but because we believe 1t wisest
to bear constantly in mind that if we want
victory we must gain it for ourselves that
we cannot-as we ought not if we could
depend upon the exhaustion of the rebels to
achieve their defeat, and because we believe
that the most fatal error aH army or nation
can make is to underrate its enemy.