Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1862-01-24
THE EFFECTIVENESS or THE
ARMY.
The fortIfcation bill was passed.

\ recent number Of Household Words
contained the following paragraph:
"Thero can be no doubt that heavy riding
whips would be more formidable weapons IN al
warfare than the cavalry swords now in use. In
the sikh war, arms, hands and legs Of British
soldiers Topped of by the enemy on all sides,
while the English swordsmcn labored often in
vain to draw blood. Yet the Sikhs used chiefly
our own cast of dragoon blades, fitted into new
handles, and sharpened until they had razor
edge, and Worn in wooden sclbbards, from which
they were never drawn except in action. In such
scabbarls they we're not bluutcd and they we're
noiseless They made noue Of that incessant
clanking which almos: browns the trumpet or
bugle, and quite the word Of command, N our
own cavalry regiments, and which, unless the men
wrap lay about the steel, renders any attempt at
a surprise by cavalry perfectly useless. The
wooden scabbards II was found upon inquiry. are
even less brittle than steel outs. A sikh at Chill
hanwall4h galloped up 70 the horse artillery, cut
down the FIRST two men an1 attacked the third. lie
seeing that bis comrades had been unable 70 save
their lives by the use Of their blum. swords, left
his sword 10 the scabbari and fought yf his as
ssilsnt with his riding whip. logging away the
Sikh's horse, 20 keen the fatal sru at sa'e dis-
tance. 50 be savrd himself.
Il this had happened IN the American
army what q s'r,kng illustration OF the
utter iuclecuven--s 81 our training would
have been mad. out OF IL. Luckily, how
ever, it occ rr-d in the famous Br rtish army,
that terrible array, the very sight OF
which is expected tp brighten u all
out ol our wIt>. In the American reg
ulIr service the men are furnished with
81 ms, and are expected q Keep
their >llrr- sHari 'u-d @, a keen rig l. IS
the duty of Jh- inspecting elhc g., see .....
this bias been done y au.. O.. l. t4.
volunteer s,rylct uas cen -alle. ,el 30 ,,i
crably close discipline Of the same kind
Fremont'- army ga Missouri, composed On,
trciv Ui volunteers. was under u SUPERVISION
oi this kind, ami tue journal ui one OF hi,
e, published m the Atlantic Monthly,
shows ta4t they had regular fencing lessons
f. fy day
The idea II the writer quoted above, that
luy dull sword Is less formidable than rid
whip, Is peculiarly amusing. The
1luule,t sword, when welded by a strong
arm and determined will, may make
fearful glsh. But, allowing this story to be
correct, what must be thought Of the tram
ing OF swOrdsmen where \ sing.e barbarian
can cut down two men without resistance
The truth IL that, Notwithstanding all that
has been SAID IN depreciation Of our army,
is condition is equal 20 that Of anyElargc
army raised rapidly and for immediate use;
and, indeed, II IS much better trained than
could have hem expected Of nation almost
destitute Of P0per military teachers and
compelled to adGt all who offered, good,
bad and indlfsrcu As England seems to
be particularly au.ious to hurry over hither
all the troops she ON muster, let this story
from - Household Words be bcrne in mind
when boasts come thidlc7t across the ocean.
-N0rh Americau.