Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1864-01-21
A FEW n1sToK1cAL ia prs ARour wa

We take the following article from that excelleDt
journal, the Augusta (Ga) Chronicle + Sentinel:
All history gees to prove the truth of the aphors NJ
the Bible that the battle is not always to the
meaning the most From the earliest records
OF history to the present day. the smaller number has
won at least three battles OF four Success in war
depends on efficient organic alton, and steady discipline
courage and endurance in both soldiers and officers
Few men have possessed the capacity to esabsh
these things in large army.
The Roman Legion consisted OF about g. 900 men
consular army was two Legions, or about 10000
men. This number was sometimes increased by their
allies and slaves to twenty thousand With this force
they conquered the world. A French corpse darmes
composes about 20 900 meD, and yet Napoleon was in
the habit of saying, that he could not find even
Marshal who could handle that number. No officer in
this country, has fought battle with many as
| 200 600 men under his command.
The fact is those halt million arHies are usually the
Victims if not of the cannon, of pesence, famine and
mutiny Organic atom" the right man in the right
place." at the right time, and properly equipped. Or
ganz alton s the SOUL the life and strength of army,
and it is thing that money "the snews OF war" can
not buy at any large scale. 1t is not in the
market lime brain and skill necessary to create
it. Lst if the facts of history do not sustain
Us in these views:
The Athenaus, with 10 900 men, defeated Persian
army of 10000 at Marathon, and with not more than
three times that number won the battles of Plated and
Salais and drove five millions OF invaders from their
soil.
Alexander overrun Asia with one third the number
of the forces that opposed him.
When the Swiss Cantons determined to strike for
their independence, with 500 they defeated 10000
Au.tians, under the Arch Duke OF Austria a. Nor
gsren. With equally disproportionate force they
fought sixty pitched battles and maintained their indie
pendencs.
When Edward OF England invaded Scotland, with
100000 men, he met and defeated at BAnnockburn
by Bruce at the head of 1000 halfarmed Highland.
ers.
In A. D. 1900 Macmillan Of Germany, Louis XII
Of Francs, Ferdinand OF Spain, and Pope Julius H.
formed the infamous League Of Cambray for the dastruc
ton of Venice With heroic resolve, Venice took the
field against the powerful combination. Superior force
might in the end have Overpovered her, but Providence
the side Of the right ID scord and dIssenson
broke among the Confederaes their armies were de-
eated aud Venice preserved.
The little city OF Leyden wthstood the whole power
OF Spain, at the time the most warlike nation in
Europe
The Prince OF Orange at the head OF several small
provinces of Holland, not OF them larger than
Virginia county, maintained their Independence against
e the powerful monarch in Europe, and defeated
t own, and commanded by John OF Austria and Alex
ander Farnes the greatest military leaders Of the
6 age.
2 / But why multiply instances? Does not our own
2 revolution teach the same lesson No can doubt
the historical truth. The of gallant struggle
the side Of right and justice, against wrong and OPP
i preston, is almost inevitable. A virtuous and gal
liant people in good have failed. If we
right, and do not alter, must succeed-weak az
may appear, and strong the Federal govern
may Let then rest assured that the bat
tie is not with the strong, bat to the Vigant, the
e tive and the brave who fight for right.