Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1863-11-14

day and three pounds Of fodder when he got It, which
was rarely three times week. More than half the
horses ia his regiment in condition than this
one The Colonel Of another regiment estimates that
his men have bad than average OF two horses
each priyate OF smother regiment Is now furloughed
N purchase his spslh horse Two brohers, (privaes)
In another regiment have used seven horses between
them aud one of them informs the writer that the men
IN hs average at least three horses EACH and
that there s only retaining the same horse a. when
mustered into service. 80 gris--3zit .ec,,
Woud h NOT appear that common sense should have
susrested that since hundred men, mounted on SER
yicesbie horsee were clearly more useful than three
hundred on animals rendered unseryiceabs through
want of food, and since the forage on which three
horses thus starved would have kept one In proper or
DER that it would have been advisable 70 send hair OF
thirds OF the cavalry to some region In the rear
where forage abundant sf
Az for the regret about cavalry not being able to
concentrate, OF It's Chief misorunes has been con-
centraton everywhere but upon the battle field.
In view OF the peculiar Of the country IL was
obviously advisable to attach small bodies Of horse,
viz mounted rifles aud cavalry TO every brigade when
detached or strong, to every division when weak
Thus surprises would be prevented, the harvesting
picket duty lghtened, and the scarce opportunities
curing for effective charges aud pursuits profted BY
II Il true that BY this disposition few commands above
thu, of Major or Colonel would have been
toQether and there would rarely have been one FOR
even a single Bigodier-General, because when as
0omDle0 LOT buo PutP"-S' ~ ae'S1 S~P@-@
enoe has shown that the eff ctud of these can be
madswtn iron few hundred 10 q couple Of thousand
men. 7@f
But on the coattary, ell cavalry was ooncentra.
ted 70 afford large ccmmauds, IN imitation OF the En-
mics destined TO act in the champaign countries Of Ell
rope, following thus their example where We should
not whilst studiousy Deglecting 10 follow where we
should By the toiner plan, We might have saved, pos
sbly some thirty thousand horses should have had
an effective monntsd iorco AID cavalry, for whom W.
w. G. and Others would have been spared the trouble
of apoOgz ng, bu. We should have had no big reviess
and Major Generals, &c. = HEs.s1,..
Isit is We have the Msjor.Generals, Brigadier Gen
erals and reviews, but no cavalry -
W. W. G. lAments t&at The cavalry Of the Army Of
the Potomac have fair opportunities of drill and
training and remarks that cavalry reqaire more Of both
than Infantry, even where the men already good
riders before they can charge boot to boot aud rally
after charging to the sound Of the bugle. 49,
Now does it not occur TO the reader, that half or
twohrds of that cavalry would have been profit
ably employed during part Ut the last two years in
caIps Of instruction. acquiring the necessary drill than
halt starving thsmselvee and contributing 70 halt ttafve
the remainder and impair their effciencyi n .fi ~
Nv. W. Gn right In asserting that il takes longer
drill and training to make a cavalry than an infantry
soldier providing the ride, and perhsps
about as long If is to be taught the OF the sword
and 10 be thoroughly trained 70 rally to the bugle.
But firstly, there are in all wars where cavalry has
and of cavalry leaders When operating on vast plains
and in large bodies perfectly trained cavalry, led by
experienced cavalry officers, and when besides that
aiming they have the experience of few charges,
against cavalry scientifically handled will rally to the
b1re directly aer charging, because they have learned
TO their cost that when they have broken and put
suing hostile body they liable to be cut up root
and bra oh by the OF q willy adversary-hoW
ever email and however inferior bu preserving or
der-and because q cavalry commander OF that des
eription never allows the opportunity OF charging bis
forces in ono body. But where this science is not re-
sorted to and where the nature OF the ground OF
other circumstances does not Isrm of it, bold charge
agAinst even very superior numbers is very apt be-
successful and if successful requires no rallyiDg.
The enemy once broken, all that cavalry have to do
Il 10 purtue capture and slaughter. 81
There charges are always the most bloody and the
most fatal to the vsnquished. The officers who lead
them best are not always fitted for what may be termed
complicated charges-they are even Distinguished by
the name Of one sargs men, whilst frequeI ty Il hap
pens that the skilled and eipsrienoed leaders Of COM
piicaied charges not good for The one, home,
reckless charge Providing The soldier Is already
good rider, for this kind OF work to may be trained
with great rapidly. 1t is the only kind OF charging
are likely to require firstly, because unless n few
ceptiOnA cases. she only kind which the ground adults
Of and secondly, because there is scientific cavalry
70 which our own wouli be opposed. .l.-
As for thu charging 900. to boo it never occurs be-
mpract.caDe, even gu l6Vel pains OIL
Europe, or any where but o. parade grounds.
The training, both of mel and hors.s, TO obey the
buge ia most Useful even when there is no necessity
to rally after charging; but alas! whsre are the pu
ges TO obey or raly tos The want of them impars
the efficiency on the field, and prevents the improve
ment equally of our field artillery a,d infantry as sk-
nshers so important every where IN modern warfare,
and SO peculiarly important here, where in the war OF
INDEPENDENCE they fret originated, aud whence the
system was imported into Europe by the French revO.
lutonary generals who, as non-comnissoned officers
aud privates had witnessed their effect. Jourdau and
ot1ers 5fft iH.
Being 80 necessary to infantry cavalry and artillery,
all of VII oh arms can work efficiently with buges alone,
bat cannot without them, with any amount of es
and drums (Which they have not go) and considering
tlat we were short of all before hundred thousand
men had been raised by the Southern CoDfederacy it
appears to tae writer that with little foresight they
might have been obtained. That "the Powers that be"
looked ahead and are doing now there 0e rea
sopable doubt because in TACT it is capable Of cfea
proof 10
The Arst Secretary Of War announced from the ba.-
cony OF an Hotel in Montgomery, that within time
specified and which like Lervante) the writer chooses
to disrnsn6sr, the confederate flag would be planted
succs sslveiy in Washington, New York and in Faucu
Hall, Boston He did not, however, give the date Of
the yer, hough specifying the month aud d4y-so
as the writer hops t may come still TO pass More re-
GENTLY the GENIAL aud truthful Ex.A,torney General
authority Of our respected President that before the
SOth OF Der, The enemy will be driven by General
Bragg as consequence of the victory of lhckamsuga,
out Of Tennessee 1t Is not the province of the writer
10 enquire whether the Governor OF Alabama meant
the so of October lie October Of this or some flu
ture year. He merely wishes 70 enquire Ut being thus
estab isbed tat the Executive did look ahead why
did not proVds fSH the t ing of at least corps Of
Bugtr4, 20 that nsurT, artillery and cavalry should
not be wanting them nos.
Napoleon said. or is reported TO bave said, that
Though thero had been Hssysu-born Generals, there
never ives good drummer made under year. But
bugler is taught in hSf the time required for drum
mer, and, practically Olrsidered, ten ougers who can
sound inteiRiby 9als, worth, on the field or
in camp OF Instruction. exactly ten times more than
one moss accomplished bugler.
Since the Executive either knew, or must have sus-
peoted that this might have lasted IS it has dnne
over two years and half land il Is not quite over yet,
notwithstanding our mastery abandonment of rs.
soud, Kentucky and Tennessee it might by antcibA-