The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1864-12-27
Sitlyuon0 1ispattk.
TUESDAY MoRNING DECEMBER 2, is6l
Two remarkable articles, upon the

Richmond u Aig. As they seem TO De
the result OF profound study, ana are
very encouraging, we propose 10 give
summary of their contents, having no
room to publish them 1" "Tfe"so,
The belief has been very widely eht
tanned that tho arms bearing population
Of the Conlederacy is exhausted. Tins
be1ief-common to US and the Yankees
has had the effect of depressing our PEG
pie and stimulating the Yankee. II =
utterly erroneous. The materials OF
which armies are composed exist around
u. in sufficient abundance not only to
keep up our force to its present stand
ard, but to enlarge it beyond what it has
over been. This is proved by comparing
. data derived from the statistics afforded
by the census of 1860, with an estimate
Of losses ard diminution Of resources
sufficiently large to cover all decrease
in the supply OF arms bearing men,
For example:
The white male population of ali the
Confederacy, leaving out Kentucky and
Missouri, was, in 1860, fraction lcas
than 2,SU0, 900 OF this male popula-
ton, fraction less than 800, 900 were
between the ages Of Sevaltecn aud fifty
The persons who have arrived at the age
fraction above S0,0G0-a moderate
computation We MiqA. Add these mum
bers together, and we have, in round
numbers, 1880, 900 fighting men. AL
lowing 900, 900 for the average natural
mortality OF four years, and We still have
$780, 900. Bul great deal OF the Con
tederacy is in the hands Of the enciny
1t is compated that this occupation de
priyes Us Of $40, 900 men On round num.
bers) between the agea of seventeen and
fifty. These are to be deducted, and
they leave 1850, oo0-say, III round
numbers, !, 100, eco. II these are undel
estimates, they may be supplied by troops
from Missouri, Kentucky and Maryland,
and refugees from those portions Of the
other States under Yankee domination.
A farther deduction must be made fol
the casualties that have resulted either
in death or disability. This is done by
estimating the losses i'll General Lees
army for the last year. Putting 1t a
,000-which is crafty above tie
truth-and allowing 5000 for dead anC
5000 for permanently disabled, we hav,
10000 for that army. Making the sam,
allowance for the Army of Tennessee
we have "a, 900 for the two armies.
is fair to make the same allowance fo
all the rest OF the forces. SO that the entire
disabling casualties amount to 30,00o,-
To these add fifty per cent tOr mortality
peculiar to campS--l5, UuD. The hole
loss then may be computed at -, coo
men for this year But it has bceI
much heavier this year than 1t Was in
ring the other three y ears Of tie war. i
rs fair to say that IN 1861, when Their,
was little fighting, the loss was $4,000
in 1862 and 1869, 10000 each--so thai
the whole loss from disease and battl,
has been 225, 600, Add to this 90, COZ
for prisoners. Total, $4,000. TAKE
this |, 100, 900, and we have S25, 600
Allowing 100000 for eXempt3 and le
tails, and there is still fighting popu
lation of T25, 900 meni Allowing ont
out Of every three for details, and WI
still have 100000 men; more than tn,
Yankees ever had, and enough, if EN-
bodied, to drive every Yankee out of tn,
country in three months, and keep then
out We have not followed the mum
bers of our author fully, because h,
aims at exactness, while We use onl,
round numbers.
Such we believe to be very nearly
true statement There can he but on,
thing wanted to secure undoubted sue
cess. That one thing is the spirit of tn,
people. If they will use the advantage,
they have, THEN triumph is certain Blu
If the spirit is gone, ten millions Of sol
diers, armed all in proof" will do II,
good. We are pretty confident that TIA
time has not arrived as yet Looking a
the actual situation, We are far from be
ing discouraged, We hold, at this mo
ment, far more territory than We did thi.
time last year--a proof that, upon sum
ming up the whole, the campaign Ina.
been greatly in our favor At the open
ing OF the last campaign, Grant invaded
as with an army SO large that the Yam
KEGS thought he had nothing to do bu,
to march into Richmond. Sherman had
the command at naltnp apl r,n,