Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1864-11-22
Progress In tho Art Of war.

When the Crimean war began, the world was
astonished at the ma -ntude of the operations,
aud from time 10 time the accounts OF various
works carried ON for the purposes of the allies,
excited universal admiration and wonder We
remember the general surprise which was express
ed at learning that a railway had been built from
the port up ~ the front. This was regarded as
miracle OF military energy, and for long time
furnished material for comment on the advance
in the art of war. From 1855 TO 1861 there was
nothing to excite remark. The Italian war pre-
sented no new points. But since the commence
ment of the American contest the art of war has
made gigantic strides Railways for military
purposes are but the most common affairs, and
excite no special surprise or notice. The con
slant use OF the telegraph system. an American
invention. not only brings the whole wide coun
try into the War department, but follows the ar
mies.on their marches and extends ITS wires from
post to post on the rattle field even under fire.
and in the midst of the fercest trays. The tele-
graphic corps attached to the various armies does
not receive q 1.-THE of the praise to which it is
entitled tor its efficacy, bravery and usefulness.
The daniming up OF great river TO float
a iieet OF gunboats, Is an event which. had lis
counterpart occurred in ancient days, would have
furnished material for historians and epic poets
for a thousand years. The construction of iron
vessels is still an experiment, but the lavish ex
peiutuES anu great ruCCcSete WulCH nave III
some instances attended them, are among the
marked incidents of the period The battle of
the Monitor and the Merrimac is among the Ii
tanic occurrences of the age The great gun of
Gilmore. in the swamfs OF James Island. send
ing its huge death-dealing instruments miles
through the air. to fall and do the work of war
in the streets of distant city, Is of the mar
vels of this great contest, which few years ago
would have been deemed 80 little short of mrac
ulous to be at least incredible. The digging
of canal to turn aside the waters OF river and
make new channel for the passage of ships, is
not without precedent in the ancient DAYS, but il
i many centuries since the b0ldness of men has
been equal to undertaking such works rs have
been tried at Nicksburg and Dutch Gap.
There are few OF the prominent illustrations
which all have observed. of the progress of the
art of war in our day But in this, as in nearly
all other subjects, the visible and notorious facts
are not the surest indications of real advance
The Improvements, IN the mnutest particulars.
IN the equipment of men, the organization OF
armies, the character OF small arms, the methods
of preparing gunpoNder for transportation and
use. aud in all The countless departments which
20 10 make up the art OF war. have been more
decided and noteworthy in four years of war in
America than in forty years before this in the
whole world. The fact that we arc fast chang
ing into military nation seems now beyond
contradiction We have undoubtedly developed
new phase OF character Who can prophe>y
the results TO proceed from the Development
y. \ journal of Commerce