The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1862-10-31

cution among the Yankees" How many
have been imported | can not tell, but surely
large number. In explanation ofmy igno-
rance upon this point LET me state this fact.
For some months after the blockade was de-
clared, vessels from Europe were running
II constantly, and the southern papers boast
fully told of their success. The confederate
authorities saw the evil of this publicity, land
many months ago prohibited the notite of
such arrivals. Hence We see no mention of
them recently. but it is a great mistake TO
imagine that there are none. The constant
arrival of new European arms and ammuni-
ton. the private talk in well-informed cir
cles. the knowledge of the latest European
news. and especially the letters from confed-
erGte emissaries regularly received IN the
South, convince me that the blockade is by no
means perfect From tie innumerable IN
lets all along The southeastern. coast, and the
perfect knowledge possessed by these rebel
pilots, If is perhaps impossible that il should
be so. The wisdom of The South in compell-
ing the papers 10 omit all meniion of the
E-cts IN this case is most unquestionable.
Well would il be for the North If the press
were restrained from publishing thousand
tk!ngs. which do the readers no good, ard
which constantly give aid 10 the rebel leaders.
"As 20 small arms, the energies of the
South have been more fully developed II
their manufacture than is dreamed If by tie
North. As early as April, 1861. Memphis
had commenced the alteration Of lmmens-
quantities of flint lock muskets, sent south
during Fioyd's term as secretary of war.
h.4n
Cession was a completed fact there. New
Orleans turned out the best rifles j ever saw
in the South. They were similar TO the
French MIME rife. furnished with fine sword
havonets. The Louisiana troops were most
" armed with these. Al Nashville and
Galla,:n, Tennessee. riffs we've also made,
and suppose IN every considerable "ity in
the South. In addition, il should be known
that thousands Of government arms we're in
the hands of the people, all through the
southern states how they procured them l
do not know. These were gathered up and
altered or improved, and issued 10 the troops.
Many Of the regiments went into the field
armed with every description of guns. from
the snlal-bore squirreriiie and double-har-
relied shot-guns 10 the p0:lderous Queen Bess
musket and clumsy but effective German va
ger. The regiments were furnished as fast
as possible with arms Of one kind and the
Others returned TO the factories 10 be classi-
| fed and issued again. Sword havonttS were
fitted TO double-hlrreled shot-gun>. making
them a very effective weapon Others were
cut down TO a uniform length of about twen-
ty-iour inches, and issued to the cavalry.
Common hunting rifles were bored out TO
carry Mime ball, twenty to the pound. and
sword bavonets fitted TO them. One entire
brigade of Tennesseeans, under Gen VIM H.
Carroll. was armed with these guns.
in short, at the beginning of the year
/ 1862 there was rather surfeit than any
scarcity of arms all over the South. Indeed
the energies of the entire people were en-
iployed in the production of every description
of small arms. and the enthusiasm displayed
rivals the example Of ancient Carthage in Ter
last .ruitless struggle against the Romans
And this enthusiasm peryades all classes. i
doubt not. if the bow was considered weap-
on OF war now, the fair maidens of the South
would gladly contribute their flowing tresses
for bowsirinss. if necessary, as did the wom-
en- of Carthage. Their zeal and Selfdenial
are seen in The fact that the ladies have Civ
en- vast amounts ofJeUelry to be sold TO build
sunboais, Notifications, &c: the women of
Alabama actually contributing 100000, as
estimated, for the col struction Of a gunboat
10 protect the Alabama river Does the read
er ask, Why such sacrifice They are in ear
nest. They think they are fighting for prop
ell,. home and life