The Placer herald., 1862-02-01
order that they may again be placed under
the protection of the British flag.
Signed, LYONS"
Civis VS.. Miles---The Situation.

| NA'0'
Civis VS.. Miles The Situation.
| In the "Tabe Talk" of the New York
Sunday Mercury, the ignorant and pre-
sumptuous civilian who presumes to criticise
the manner in which our military affairs are
being conducted" is severely and properly
rebuked:
"War is science that never associates
itself with such commonplace objects as
frock'coats and stove,pipe hats in fact rel
cent observation inclines us to believe that
it is almost exclusively composed Of brass
buttons and conical moustaches, with now
and then a shoulderstrap, and cap shaped
like disocated thimble. As we have said
before, the civilian does very we'll in his way;
but it is simply absurd to imagine that he
knows anything about the customs of war.
Suppose, for instance, body of ten thousand
Union troops in Virginia should come sud
dealy upon rebel battery of three guns
and fifty men, what should be done? With
the ignorance peculiar to his class, the civil
lian would unhesiatingy r,spond, that the
ten thousand Union troops should immedi
ately walk over and take the battery.
Miserable stupidity! Suicidal imbecility
Fiendish Abolitionism That would be a
nice way to do it, indeed Would the fellow
have another son to Richmond" War is a
profound science and requires long study
and experience. In such case as we have
hypotheticated, the only true military plan
of proceeding is as follows:
Upon observing the rebel battery of three
guns and fifty men, the Union troops must
at once retire to their tents, and place pick
cts in good places to be shot. The regiments
must then have an election for colonies, and
the commander must write to Secretary
Cameron for instructions concerning the
treatment of slaves. They must then recon
noitre in force for six days running, retiring
back across any river in the neighborhood,
and losing as few men as possible. MEM.
Be very particular in this matter-aIways
retire across river.) The next four months
must be occupied with reviews and balloon
ascensions, interspersed here and there with
reports from the sanitary committee. A
reconnaissance in force must next be essayed,
to be followed by return to camp. Every
thing being now ready, the whole force must
advance upon the battery 10y the most diff
cult route discoverable, and if the battery is
still there, it will be brilliantly captured,
provided the fifty rebels have not been re-
inforced.
The national "stuation" is supposed to be
worth about two millions a day, and may be
defined thus: The Army Of The Potomac
enjoys good health, and reconnoires in force
as often as possible-besides producing one
review a week and several balloon ascensions.
The army Of Western Virginia also reconno-
tres in force often enough to keep its anx
ious relatives posted in a knowledge of its
existence. The Army of the West remains
true to the spots that gave it birth. For
tresses Monroe, Halteras Inlet, Fort Pickens,
and Port Royal are still ours, and our great
grandchildren will probably behold Charles
ton and Pensacola in our possession.
Such being the situation" it becomes
civilians to mind their own business and put
their trust in brass buttons. As one of our
intelligent contemporaries justly remarks,
the advance of the Union troops in Virginia
and elsewhere is merely question: of time
though the answer to said question may be
matter of eternity. Let us have patience
and wait few years. This miserable rebel
lion is destined to be terribly overthrown in
the end
"-because
What is to be will be. as what has been was"
COURAGE OF THE WALRUs.-The walrus
is an obstinate animal, and does not fly on
the approach of man, on the contrary, form
ing themselves into body they 90 and
meet him and resist any attempt on his
part to proceed. When a company Of trav-
eers meet these animals on the Shore they
are forced to fight their way through them,
and if they are pelted with stones, they
| knaw them with their teeth, and afterwards
attack the man with redoubed fury, rending
the air with most tremendous growing.
These animals seem to be fully aware of the
effect of united resistance and attack, and
also of the utility of keeping in masses and
ranks, for should any one of them attempt
to retreat, those in the rear fall upon and
compel him to keep in the ranks, or kill
him. Sometimes it happens that, when one
walrus attempts to stop another, who is re-
treating, they all suspect each other of be
ing inclined to fly, and, in that case, the
contest often becomes universal. When
two are fighting with one, the others come
to the aid of the weaker side. While they
are thus fighting on the land, others that
are in the water raise their heads and look
on for time, till they also become enraged,
swim to shore, and join in the combat.
CoLLECTIoN OF THE WAR TAx.-The San
Francisco Herald has the following on this
subject
One of the first duties of the Legislature
will be to provide for the collection of the
War Tax The congressional law permits
the State to adopt any plan of taxation
which may be deemed most advantageous,
and it has been suggested to us that, in view
of the calamities by which we are surround