The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1862-08-09

The President, as most of our readers
are already aware, has made q call for
BOO, 900 more men. These men are to be
drafted; and whatever proportion of the
100000 volunteers previously called for,
may remain unenlisted after the 18th inst,
are also to be drafted. So week more
will end chance of enlisting for the present,
except, We presume, under the existing
arrangement for enlisting men to fill up
the old regiments
Let rs see how great an army these va.
rious calls will put in the field.
Present strength Of the army (abouD 100000
Late call for volunteers 10000
To be raised BY draft. 3W,QOO
Enlistmeuts to fill old regiments, say 10000
fetal LOO, 900
Facts, figures, and uncontestible stats.
tics show that, when the Confederates
have put every available man in the field
between the age of Is and IS. they connot
have over 100000 Certainly with mill
lion of men against these, and our vast
naval armament in addition, the war ought
to emil in less than nine months.
And it will. Last spring our present
army was at the b ght of its efficiency,
numbering nearly 100000 effective men.
At the same time the rebel army was not
believed to be over $50, 900 strong-a force,
however, considering their greater faciliti.
es for rapid concentration, about sufficient
to meet our armies in equal numbers on
the field. Yet for three months, every
thing met in our favor. The victories of
Pea Ridge, Donelson, Shiloh, New Madrid,
Island No. 10, Yorktown, williamsburg,
Winchester, &c: &c, followed in rapid
succession; and it was then felt and ad.
mitted even by the rebels, that an effective
blow at Richmond would have ended the
war; But at this time, with faulty I'M
heard of, the President placed Mcclellan
before Richmond with a force, as his own
dispatches show, inferior to the enemy,
and compelled him to approach that city
with siege works, thus giving the rebels
time, by draft and their wholesale con.
scription system, to recruit their army to
the highest figure, while On our side the
insane order was actually issued by secre
tary Stanton to stop rseruitingi
The consequence was, that our army
now dwindled down by casualties in battle
hard service and sickness to less than
4oo,oOO men, and still rapidly wearing
away, was no longer able to maintain the
offensive against the rapidly swelling hosts
OF the rebels, and found their hands full to
hold what had already been won. And
this state of things was suffered to linger
or until Congress adjourned. The rebels
at first astonished at at length became
emooldened by our strange inactivity, have
actually dared to assume the offensive,
and In few unimportant directions have
gained upon u.s.
But, thank God! there is to be an end
of this. With Halleck at his right hand
to arouse him, the President has at length
fully walked up to the demands of the
situation. When the rebel army is at its
height of its strength and efficiency
when neither the last man is exhausted
to further swell their ranks, and when
even thus, they can barely hold the Union
forces at bay, the President is taking
efficient steps to hurl 100000 more Union
troops upon them. The rebellion has
now reached its climax-their supply Of
men, at least, if not of other means have
been drawn upon to the highest point
Henceforth they must decrease, while the
Union army is on the sure and constant
increase. Can the event be doubtful?
BY the series of victories in spring the
rebels were driven out of Missouri, Ten.
nessee, and half of Virginia, and their
boundaries materially contracted in orth
Carolina, Florida. and Louisiana When
the new Union levies enter the field. and
the earthquake shout of victory again
runs along the line of our invincible hosts
how much tighter can the Union Gordon
be drawn before they are reduced to SO
small space that their crushing is inevi
table. Virginia must be surrendered ne xt;
North Carolina will fall an easy and viii.
ling prey. Arkansas is isolated and must
| soon be stricken from the Confederate
map. Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama
are already nearly "repossessed," and
10000 men added to Grants army will
soon consummate the job. Texas is iso
lated, and will not avail as a place OF
refuge. Then the hills of Georgia. the
swarnps Of South Carolina, and the ever.
glades of Florida will remain as their last
hiding place Are we over saneuine I
Will not few victories like Fort Henry
Donelson, Shiloh, and New Orleans &C.
complish all this
Let US take courage! The victorious
tramp of our armies is on the eve of being
resumed. The war has again become
earnest. A few sharp, quick, effective
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