The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1862-01-15

ed. Of what avail is the fire of infantry
or cavalry against artillery and yet we
know tha: the latter are often taken bv
the bayonet and sabre.
Perhaps the exigencies Of this war
may prove that one battalion of men,
armed with long pixies, and another srm.
ed with shot guns or old fashioned squir
rel rifles and all with shor, swords or
bowie knives, will be more than a match
for regiment with Enfeld rifles. Our
country is not sn open level plain; and
our experience has shown that there has
been very little fighting at long distances.
Our gallant General Evans was so near
to his enemy, at Leesburg, that he wish
ed for double barrel shot guns and re
serve Of piktmen with knives nigh, easi
ly have been protected by an advance Of
ritlemen, and The nature Of the gr"und,
until the proper time for charge; which
would have been more destructive than
that OF any grenadiers in the worlds
Mnch precious time has perhaps been
lost already. Yet it is not too late, with
energy and determination. 10 accomplish
the great object oil arming with some
deadly weapon, all of the men of the
South TO arrange them according 10 the
nature OF their arms and 10 employ
them for the defence of the country :;
against danger, both at home and abroad.
IL we have not the arms required by the
prevailing system Of tactics, we can ac-
commolale cur system to our arms. In
that consists true military genius. When
was real greatness ever lrammelled 10y
i applicable systems
We have undertaken a war with many
elements Of military calculation against
US and now it must Le waged resoIute.
y, sternly, perses eringly, firmly, without
and problems OF the military art. We
must apply our Intellect and common
sense, and not act as f we were mere ina
chimes, or mathematical quantities. We |
must not be mere materialists, nor
Count wisdom as no member of the war;
Forestan presiencc, and esteem no art
But that OF hand the still and mental parts
That do contrive how many hands shall strike
What fitness calls them on and know, by
measure
OF their observant toll, the enemies weight
nor call these ''mappey closetwar;
So that the ram, that batters down the wall
For the great swing, and rudeness Of its poise,"
lis placed) "before his hand that made the en-.
gine
Or those, that with the fineness of their souls
BY reason guide his execution"
The most accomplished soldier is he, who
comprehends the principles Of bis science;
and knows how to apply them to the So
luton Of new problems, as they arise, in
the ever VARYING circumstances Of war.
The present is no time for pretension
nor conceit, nor mere conventional great.
ness. Every power, moral, physical, and
material, mus. be eXeSted to preserve the
State. The old forms Of peace, and the
habits OF society must be sacrificed for
the public safety. The sovereignty Of the
people must be vigorous, and supreme;
and if its independent action is fettered
by legal restraints, which might be mos,
wise in ordinary times, le, them be set
aside; as a man would strip off his
clothes to swim for lie in the sea-
".Salus popul suprema ler est" A peo.
pie to be independent must be united as
one man and that union springs from
the free will Of each, which voluntarily
and heartily sacrifices every selfish consid
Grafton TO the supreme authority of the
State; and resolves all duty into obedi.
ence to the constituted organs of the sov.
ereignty Of the whole.
Welcome then is the call of the Con
vention, at this periIous time. Let it speak
"llke the commandment ofa King" Its
grave responsibility, and its absolute pow,
er, will quenca the fires of personal am
bitIon, and the petty emula,ons of infe.
rior souls. Its purpose will be to consol
ida:e all the wisdom, sound thought, pa.
triotic spirit, strong hands, and materials
Of war in our beloved and iDsulteG and
ravaged South Carolina to cause inefli'
cheney and pusilanimi,y to give place to
merit: to arm authority with force, that
it may be more feared than the foe; that
1t may be supreme, and overcome all in
subordination, rebellion, or invasion With.
in the domain Of free and independent
people.
CAMILLUS.
Lancastsrville, Dec. Goth, 1861.
NoTE-The Charleston JT.rr,r,, of ,T,h j