The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1863-11-13
corresponding Mum bers.''

The above phrase, says the Philadelphia
Enquirer, has been used during this war
ad nause0m. Do our troops win vic
tory? they did so over "oyerpowering
numbers" In fact, our soldiers have no
contests except with ''Overpowering num-
bers." Great harm results from this con-
slant reiteration of a mischievous catch
word. Especially is this true of the i'm
preston which seems to exist almost uni
versally among our soldiers that, in every
contest, they have been, and will be, called
upon to contend against the greatest
odds. Does LEE make an offensive
movement? of course he comes with
Overpowering numbers" Does BRAGG
receive reinforcements? He, too, has
overpOwering numbers There is not
single theatre of war in which we are
now operating, to which the public do not
give the enemy the superior force. And
our soldiers, from exaggerated accounts
Of the enemy's strength which they hear
and read, believe themselves called upon
to enter greatly unequal contest. We
know of no more unhealthy impression
which can prevail in camp than this
1t may afford good excuse for defeat or
add more eclat to victory to say that
OverpOwering numbers of the enemy
were met, but it certainly detracts from
the morale of the troops to have them
always expecting an encounter with
a superior force of the enemy.
Napoleon considered this one of the
most injudicious opinions which could
prevail among soldiers, and it was always
his policy to cultivate the opposite feeling
In q letter TO his brother Joseph, who,
from the Spanish Peninsula, was contiru-
ally asking for more troops, and excusing
bis defeats because Of the overpowering
numbers" OF the enemy, Napoleon sent
this reproof:
To represent the French as few and the enc
my as numerous discOurages us and gives con-
fidence to them; it is to give moral force to
the enemy, and to take it from ones self; for
men naturally believe that, in the long run.
the small number will be beaten by the greater
The most experienced General finds
it difficult. on the field of battle. to estimate
the cnemy's numbers; and the instincts of
every one IS to imagine them greater than they
really are. But when man is so imprudent
as to allow such ideas to circulate general
ly. and to authorize exaggerated accounts
OF the enemys stre' 9Th, every colonel of cav
airy who goes on q reconnaissance sees an
army and every captain of rolt;guers discovers
battalions. :" * The art of great captains
has always been to make their numbers
appear very large to the enemy. and to per-
suade their own troops of the enemy's great
inferiOrity This is the first time that Cen
eral has been known to depreciate his own
resources and to eXalt those of the enemy
* 1 desire that all means, direct and
Indirect, be taken to spread the highest opinion
of our numbers. Far from owning
that at Wagram had only 100. 400 men l tried
to prove that I had 22O CO. Constantly, in
my Italian campaigns. when I had only hand
full OF men, exaggerated their numbers; this
served my purpose without diminishing my
glory. The skill of my operations, including
that of exaggerating my strength. was after
wards recognized by Generals and intelligent
officers.