Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1862-03-05

lts UcCOiie
developed to such III extent us freely 10 meet
CUR future wants.
The policy Of enlistments for short terms
against which have steadily contended from
the commencement Of the war, has, in my
Judgment, contributed in no immateral de-
gree to the recent reyerses which we have suf
fcred, and even now renders it difficult to fu-.
nish YOU an accurate statem, mt Of The army
When the war first broke out many of ourpeo
pie could with difficulty be persuaded that il
would be long or serious.
1t was not deemed possible that anything
20 insane as persistent attempt to subj hjugaie
these States could be made; still less that
the delusion would SO far prevail as to give
to the war the vast proportions which it has
assumed. The people, increduous of a long
war, we're naturally averse tolong enlistments,
and the early legislation Of Congress rendered
it imprac:icable 10 obtain volunteers for u
greater period than twelve months.
i;ow that it has become probable that the
war will be continued through series OF
years, our high-spirited and gallant soldiers,
while generally re-enisting are, from the
fact of having entered the service for short
term, compelled in many instsRces to 90 home
to make the necessary arrangements iar .heir
families during their prolonged absence.
The quota of new regiments for ! &, var,
called for from the different States, are ~ rap
id progress of organization. The whole body
of new levies and re-enlisted meu vii proba.
bly be ready in the ranks within the neEt
thirty days. But, in the meantime, it is ex-
ceedingly difficult to give IN accurate state.
ment of the number of our forces in the field.
they may, in general terms, be stated 1T four
hundred regiments Of infantry, with prcpor
sionate force of cavalry and artillery, the de-
tails Of which will be shown by the report Of
che Secretary of War. deem it proper to
advert to the fact that the process of furlou2hs
and re-enlistments in progress for the last
month had SO far disorgsnized aud weakened
our forces as to impair our ability for succers-
full defence; but heartily congratulate you
that this evil, which | bad foreseen and was
powerless 10 prevent may now be said to be
substantially at an end, and that we shall not
again during the war be exposed to Seeing
our strength diminished by this fruitful cause
of disaster-short enlistment.
The people the Confederate States being
principally engaged in agricultural pursuits,
were unprOVlQeu " luc ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS vi
hostilties with ships, ship-yards, materials
for ship building, or skilled mechanics and
seamen in sufficient numbers, to make the
prompt creation of navy practical task
even if the required appropriations had been
made for the purpose. Notwithstanding our
very limited resources, however, the report of
the Secretary will exhibit to you a salsfacto.
ry progress in preparation. and a certainty of
early completion of vessels of number and
class on which We may confidently rely for
eonsesting the raunted control oil the enemy
over Our waters.
The financial system devised by the wisdom
az yonr predecessors, has proved adequate to
supplying all the WAITS of the Government,
Notwithstanding the unexpected and very
large increase of expenditures resulting from
the great augmentation in the necessary
means of defence. The report Of tue Secre.
tary of the Treasury, will exhibit the crafty
ing fact that We have no floating debt, that
the credit of the Government is unimpaired,
and that the total expenditure of the Govern.
ment for the year, has been. in round mum.
hers, one hundred and seventy millions of
doIlsyy; less than onethisd OF tho sum west