Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1863-08-29
(From the Sacramento Union.]
Military Growth of the Nation.


Of military capacity upon the Union side.
Turning back to the Spring of 1861, when
the confident traitors opened their batteries
against the Government, it will be found that
the men who were conspicuous agents in
firing the Southern heart, held and expires.
srd a cheap estimate Of the fighting temper
Of those busy, toiling, trading communities
north Of the Potomac. In fact, while preach
ing the beauties of secession, some Of the ora.
tors of Dixie assured their ignorant auditors
that there would be no war, because the
fnnkees" had no stomach for the struggle.
Others were confident that if President Lin.
coin dared to take up the gauntlet of the
Palmetto knights, Southern army could i'm.
mediatcly march for the Nortl, and dictate
the terms of peace in Philadelphia. The con-
ccted Bcauregard sneered at our first raw
levics as an armed rabble led by an octoge.
naIian," adding that the person who corld
doubt the issne of the contest must be dcmen.
ted. We have been subject to taunts on ac-
count Of the ninety days prophecies of Secre-
tary Seward-predctions probably designed
to serve diplomatic purpose; but it is the
simple truth to say that, at the beginning Of
the war; there was scarcely n rebel orator or
editor who did not predict the decisive tri.
umph of the usurpation, by force Of arms as
we'll as by foreign recognition, before tho
close of the first year of the contest. Foreign
critics sneercd at the military movements of
both belligercnts. We were told that volun-
trers would not submit to rigid discipline; !;
that we had no leaders capable of handling
large armies, and that our battles would be
nothing more than skirmishes. Allowance
can be made for tho ignorance and intense
prejudice of these foreign critics. But how
are wa to account for the absurd boasting of
jeff. Davis, Beauregard and others who had
fought side by side with Northern soldiers in
the Mexican war; Were they blinded by
the nists of conceit, or were they deliberately
deluding the ignorant masses of the South
| The truth was that while there was abundance
or personal pluck on both sides, when the re-
bellion began, neither belligerants was pre-
pared to carry on war on a grand scale
Both found immense difficulty in organizing
armies, suhjccting the volunteers to discipline
and selecting competent commanders. The
advantage of preparation was with the rebels
They were drilling and scraping lint while
those who represented the North were toy.
ing persuasively with olive branches of peace
horses aud more practiced horsemen for the
cavalry service than We could command. A
more decided advantage still was with the
rebel side. They had a definite purpose and
their leaders were Jealous in seeking GER
tain aim. Our Generals-except the earnest,
resoute Lyon-wpre compromise men, who
affected to discredt the idea that the rebels
really wanted to dissolve the Union.
We often speak Of '6l as our year of pre-
paraton. We have never ceased to prepare
to improve our plans and organixation-to
correct our early mistakes-to grow in fight.
ing capacity and knowledge Of the art of war.
The strife has bred its own Generals-men
capable of handling large armies, and Of ex.
laus!ing the resources of attack and defense.
We have no Napoleon-for such Generals
are century plants. Old Europe, with her
chronic wars and huge armies cannot boast of
n General of a higher order Of ability than
Soult Or Dessaix. Allowance must be made,
also, for the natural difficulties Of the country,
the lack of typographical knowledge, and the
use of new artillery, requiring special study.
Our infantry, cavalry and artillery will now,
we think, stand the test of comparison with
any in the world. The foreigner has ceased
protest against the terribly destructive char
acter of the battles fought. As for the plan.
tation opinion Of the capacity Of free States
to sustain a protracted war without financial
ruin. to Withstand the array Of "Southsrn
steel" to send horsemen into the field able to
meet tho troopers Of Stuart, to fight successful.
ly beyond the cover of gunboats, and to SUBJ
jugate traitors, we imagine there has been
mighty, but tardy, revulsion. But one battle
has been fought upon Northern soil South.
ern cities carefully fortified and defended. have
been captured and held. Our cavalry have
defeated Stuart's horsemen in dozen fights
and raidol the South ina style never equalsd
by the enemy. We have repeatedly attack
I'd and driven the foe from tho strongest po-
sitions. and the majority Of the battles fought
in the open field have terminated in National
victories. Finally, while thu slave States
have been devastated. and their power Of rails
ing armies exhausted, the free States have
maintained peace within their borders, enjoy.
ed an extraordinary degree Of prosperity, and
shown that, should the emergency require it,
they can put another army in the field out
numbering the huge masses Of the past and |
present campaigns. A more decisive vindi.
cation Of democratic institutions could not be |
desired. Benefcent in peace, they have de-
monstratcd their tendency to strengthen the
sinews of war. 1t is now said that the South |
is the weaker section, and that she has dis.
played wonderful ability in maintaining the
struggle so long against superior numbers.
But the leaders and orginators Of the rebel
lion contended that the slave States were the !
strongest, and they never would have begun
the fight if they had not thought 30. They
asserted that We were nation Of sordid ira
dcrs. whose numbers would not avail in con