Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1861-1862, 1862-01-16
Calculation of Forces.

Calculation OF Forces.
When the Yankees d from Bull Run, old Scott gave
two reasons for The asht: l. That he the gretes,
coward ia TIE Norld Tor having been induced make
the advance before he ready; and That there
"a misc Luation q iOrces'-that Is, he thought the
Yankees stronger than they proved to be, and the
R.bels weaker. These yEc contradictory,
and yet they both nav De true The 6rt implies, that
rs knew he vasuot stroug enough, sud went into the
fight lgains. Us Judgment and beeA-~' be did not have
courage to resist the Glamour aud outside pressure; while
tAe second admits IA, he had made a calculation OF
forces VS. slts6ed Eth the calculation, ard therefore
made the advance which calculation shown by the
event to be a. be said "a mscacu alton" Though these
reasons clash dspOsedto allow them BOTH they
t4nd TO show the Oh scOuudre in his true eolOr,
lar and eosard both But it not Of him We intent-
ed 70 speak We leave him to the pursuing iares, who
& no. leave him. until be Is safely lodged in that iron
cage, which IS already prepared for him.
Since the failure Of that calculation seven months have
elapsed. How have employed the interval, We leave
to the enemy to tel Il Is not pleasant, to write about,
or sp,ak about or thnk about Blu; the enemy dOub,
proGed by the disaster to review bis calculation, and
end avOr to correct errors To that end he has been
diligently hbsriug gathering arms and ammunition, and
mastering men and teaching then 20 ride ~nd shoot
II PROCESSES 70 have raised an army OF 6s097l men,
equipped al points A; the time, be has bull
aud bought ships until be has large feet L is bis
present calculation that With this army and aeet be gill
be able TO make more successful demonstration against
the South than be did before. This time he will not be
inundated old Scott was, advance before he is
ready. For three months be hes been threatening
begin the advance partly Aay dscoutent at home,
ba. mostly 70 impose Us and conceal the fact that he
not ready. Bl: this game cannot be much longer
prAetised. The winter season Is that which he de-
sired for bis invasion Of the South. Il Is snd
more than half gone before be has made beginning.
We nav underrlte this ensny-if ue do, il is 4
grave offence against military rule; but do net
believe be has ever had Al any one time the half
Of 600 90 effective men in the field. We do not
believe that half Of those the best disciplined, know
bow 70 load gun or ride horse. We do not believe
t5ey have any heart 70, Oh. under any circumstance
They enlisted or principle or honor or glory, but
70 pdadar their own Government Their leaders have
k1o~u their ror.hles,lss all the time and have bus
tired aud taxed about an advance 10 prevent an a6-
vanes upoa them. Nov that they have submitted to
the disgrace which Eagland has pu. upon them, Il il
moral lGp oslol tfAL tLey can lace any decent Toe
II they had billy enough to be conscious Of their
dsEradAtOa, there might be come hope for them. Old
Critieadsn-mule bought though he be-is reported to
have uttered sharp cry OF anguish when be heard Of
tue surrender Of Mason ard Slie and the consequent
iafluy o. the Gag TO which be bad sold himself But
he AS born in Cd Short G;aSs and even mulecou.
trac: could not oKngush the instincts Of nature He
hJweyer, Is sol.ted case; not another member Of
the Committee on Foreign Relations gave sigu of con-
sciou5ness Of the national iniamy.
II it be an error TO undsTrate, may be quite as
grave one to oysrraie an enemy; aud eanno. d.
vest ourselves Of the impression, tina, have lot
greatly By this latter error. Not one in hundred Of
the Yankee, when hey enlist, know hoE to handle
gln; and that il an sr ike ri.hrg and swimming, not
often acquired after boyhood Many Of the guss taken
a. M,nas eoalained from Eve seven eharges-shoE-
iUg that the grs'ehss did knos hos to load gun.
They may be md, 70 do something better BY drill and
the time al.oz .hcm-uhich il much loss to US
hu, they never can compete With men Who have been
I'd to arms from their childhood 'Bu. IL ve persist n
rating Jhsm by mhn, equals, with their ST.
psrior numbers We shall be doomed forever 10 deien-
elve ngoriOus and runous war.