New-York daily tribune., 1865-12-18


drama of the war-clear, fresh, and concise.
Gen. Meigs shows US the business OF the stage
manager
We learn, then, that our Government during
the war had at its command over 10000 miles
of railroads. OF this, 1,7G9 miles were exclu-
sively military, and managed by the Quarter
masters Department. During the last year OF
the war there were G22s miles Of telegraph;
but as an illustration of how the armies swayed
backward and forward-never, however, sway
ing beyond the grasp of the electric wirc-he
tells us that there were $1,000 miles aban-
doned, torn down, and reconstructed during
hostilities. The facility with which these roads
were put down and wires put up may be
learned from the fact which Cen. Megs
mentions with natural pride, that the
Etowah bridge 625 feet long and 10 feet
high, was built in six days, While the
Chattahoochee bridge, 740 feet long and 80 feet
high, was built in four days. During the last
year we used pa, 1O2 horses and 56,8l5 mules.
These poor, dear creatures were hardly ridden,
especially when the merciless genius OF Sher-
dan controlled the cavalry Of the Potomac.
How feariully he rode his men will be appre-
ciated when it is known that horse did not
last man more than four months, and that his
army had 10 be remounted three times year.
TO feed these horses when in Grants army cost
81 coo, 900 a month. Fifty years ago the whole
government did not cost more than what was
last year paid for forage for the horses of one of
It's armies II cur readers are anxious to know
how much the horses of an army eat, Gen
Meigs will inform them. During the war we
gave them nearly 23,00O,OOo bushels OF corn
about 100000 bushels Of oats, more than
|. 500, 900 tuns Of hay and q, ,0OO tuns OF straw
This does not include what was gathered from
the country. 1t was enough, Heaven knows
for il cost us over Sl55. .C00,0 Horrible life
and blood exhauster, War! How many schools
this would have built how many miles OF rail-
road to the Pacific! 1t was eaten up by Slay-
cry in its vain struggle to live.
During the last year Sl05, ,0l9, ,4O6 was paid
for clothing and eQuipage The boys were wei
clad and shod. They had about 400 600 jackets
but. being much OF their feet, insisted upon
Having over 5000, 600 each of trowsers'
drawers. and flannel shirts. They were well
protected. too. as Uncle Sam gave them l'14O,
O3i wooden blankets. 10 keep oil the dew, ana
rain and snow. Nor were they allowed to be
Thirsty. for oyer 100000 OF cantccns were
strained 10 their knapsacks. Between 2,VOo,OW
and 5000 900 Of boots and shoes kept the stones
from cutting their feet, while at least 5000
go Of stocking, kept their ever-tramping ice'
easy aud warm. About 100000 Of knap
sacks and haversacks held their food and
clothing A, they marched, THEN country
glory wa reflected from 10000 flags, while
their hearts were made merry by the music o.
400 iile, the shfill call of i,ocD bugies, and
The rolling Of nearly 1900 drums.
We feel we cannot follow the thread of the
Quart, ,nnasior.Goncral's interesting narrative
~i,bout " rit,ug an editorial long "a his re-
port He gives IL one or two thoughts which
are flll Of truth aud even poetry. Men say Ma
poleon reyoluiioni1ed modern war. Gen. Meig'
show, us that Stephenson and Morse and Wat
have rcvolutiouiled The strategy OF Napoleon
Hereafter new agencies must be considered, anC
the peaceful engineer who runs his road through
hill and valley lays down military lines o
attack and defense. lie gives orders to future
Nspoleons The last idea We shall take from
the repor, IL an argument on behalf Of Pacific
railroad. To carry bushel of corn over u'
Plains as far a. Utah by the present method
costs the Government about $l7, and the move
ment Of military stores over the Plains last yea
amounted to more than $G,000,000. This i
alone the interest ON SI00000,0O0. So that th'
item of military supply alone would almos
build the road. Can We make any better argu
ment than thi.