The Montana post. [volume] (Virginia City, Montana Territory [i.e. Mont.]) 1864-1869, 1864-09-17

dent OF the Boston Journal presents the
following view of our military situation {;
The census of 1850, with emigration and
the annual increase Of births, gives us a
population Of 81 ,0O0, 900 in the Summer of
1854.
Of this population 100000 of whites
and 3,OOO,OOO of slaves exist in the rebel
districts, and 30, ,00O, 900 of free men are
TO be found in the loyal districts. The con-
test is now between forces standing in the
ratio Of to 80, with three ready to aid the
successful party.
In comparing more closely the relative
strength of the two districts, we fluid that
one half the whites are males, one half of
the males are under l6, and one hah of the
residue, from old age, youth, physical in
trinity or sickness, unfit for service in the
field. In this State we have never been
able to bring more than 10 per cent. for the
capacity of the rebel districts, it is liber-
al allowance. In the Southern districts
which are said to be loyal or have been
subdued, such as Missouri, Kentucky, Ten
nessee, Maryland and portion of other
States, there is white population of 4, 90
1900, and it is a fair presumption that four
per cent, Of the population, or one-third of
the fighting men of these regions, have
joined the rebel armies. We cannot allow
more, as the rebel conscription has opper-
ated but little if any on those districts.
The war has been in progress for three
years, and an allowance of 10000 a year
for the excess of young men growing up
over men becoming superanuated or dying
by ordinary disease, is very liberal al
lowance. Further, by the best information
in our possession, the rebels have lost in
the last three years, down to the 9th of
May last, by deaths in the field, camps and
hospitals, by wounds and captnres-and
most of this is conceded-l20,00 600 year,
or 360, 600 men.
During the present campaign, since May
LIST, Lee it is understood to have lost TO-
900 men; and johnson, Magruder, Forrest
and others, at least 10000 more. The fol-
lowing gives the result: Rebel force at
the outset, twelve per cent. of 100000
whites, 4SO, 700; four per ceut. of 1000, 900
whites in the Southern districts loyal, l60,-
600; young men growing up in three years
in excess of deaths, 10000. Whole num-
ber of men able to fight from the start, 730,-
900. Rebel losses in three years to May
LIST, loss in the field and by sickness, at l2O,-
600 a year, or $50, 900; rebel losses, East
and West, in the present campaign, 100,
600; owners of plantations, artifcers, dri.
yers, refugees and men who will not or can
not fight. at least, 5000; balance in the
field or hospital, 1876 900. Total, 730, 600.
We thus have remaining rs the whole reb-
ell force, either in the field or fit for service,
and to be relied upon, 1875 200; from these
we may deduct at least five PEI cent. or
10000 for the sick in hospital. And we
have fighting men is, 900. OF these there
are west of the Mississippi, at least 25, 900;
with johnson, As 900; with Forrest and
others, l0, 900; at Mobile and in the Caro-
linas, %, 900; with Lee and on raids into
Maryland, IS, 900.
To crush these we have at least 10000
men, and if We deduct for furloughs and
men in the field, and of these we have in
front of both Lee and johnson at least
twice the forces opposed to them, at laast
30O, 900, the residue holding the Missis-
sippi, the coast of Carolina, and the COM
munications and depots in the rear of our
main armies.
If our Government will but keep these
armies up to their present strength, and
keep down, as they can (below 200), the
price of gold, the result is certain. For the
last two months we have disposed of our
foes at the rate of nearly 50, 900 per month.
Should we continue to move with the same
degree of dispatch, the present campaign
of 1864, at it's close, would leave few foes
in arms or able to renew the contest.