New-York tribune., 1867-06-26

The Confederate army undoubtedly reached its
highest point both in numbers and efficiency IN the
early Summer of 1863. when the movement into
Pennsylvania was commenced. AT the close OF
March. before all preparations had been made, the
returns show nominal force of $4,000 Of whom
34 900 were present and PSI 600 present for duty.
Probably about 10000 were added during the next
six weeks 10 the Army Of the East; that may
safely say that al the middle OF June there were
little more than 10000 the muster rolls, Of whom
10000 present for duty. The army, especially
that under Lee in the highest state Of efficiency
The recent victories at Fredericksburg and Chancel
lOrsyile had inspired them with perfect confidence
in their own invIDcibility The COnfederacy at
that time like an athlete IN the highest condition of
training. Fully One-haf of the men of military age
were enrolled in the army. If we take into account
those exempt by inirmity, those employed IN the
various civil departments and those detailed directly
10 perform labor in the various military work k-shOps,
IL Is hardly Oversatement TO say that every able
bodied man was enrolled OF these seven ont of ten
were actually present, and six ont Of ten were
present for duty No people could long sustain
sch strain. In the first week of July they suffered
losses amounting 10 fully 10000 mon. At the end of
the month Lee had only II 900 for duty out of the
100 600 with which he had set ont six weeks before
and in a month by every eXertiOn he could get to-
Ceher only 1900 more, and out of this 5000, all
told he forced 10 send 1900 of his best troops
20 the West. If the Autumn campaign of 1863 in
Virginia had been prosecuted by the Union com
mander with anything approaching vlgOr, there Is
no reason TO doubt that IL would have closed the
war; for Meade had an army fully double that of
Lee When in the Spring of 1854 Grant opened his
in August when the siege of Richmond was fairly
opened he had, counting in those present with him.
though still nOmually belonging to the Department
Of North Carolina, less than 5000. From this time
the returns show how prevalent became desertiOns
from the Confederate armies at the East and
West. In August ont OF nominal force OF $4,000,
there not 10000 present for duty in
all the At the close of February, the date of
the latest report in Our possession Lee ont OF nOm
nal force Of 100000 had present but 1900, and for
duty but 5000. More than half were absent wholly,
and little more than third were present for duty.
When he finally abandoned Peters burg and Rich
mond, it is doubtful whether he had 5000 men all
told.
We Judge that in all 100000 different men were in
the Confederate ranks during the war OF these We
do not believe One-half are alive this day. Once IN
the ranks there was no escape except by death, DIS
ablement from wounds or sickness, OF desertiOn. OF
the JOOO OF the Confederate soldiers yet alive, no
man can say what proportion are wholly or IN great
part disabled by wounds or disease but II is safe TO
say that in three years the South lost by the war
alone fully One-thrd Of its ablcdbOdicd white male
population. A great part of the accumulated wealth
OF the people was swept away not merely changing
from one hand to another and SO IN the natural
course of things certain 10 be Tedistributed but alb
s0uely annihlated. Not merely the created wealth,
but the means of creating il has been destroyed We
think that there is not i'll all history the record OF
attended by such utter disaster These facts are
quite sufficient TO account for the great cry Of dis
tTess which surges up to from that unfortunate
gOn. The mills of the gods have ground swiftly but
they have yet ground exceeding fine With the ghast
y array befOIe Of the figures which have been set
forth in this paper have little sympathy with any
man-even though he may have suffered the loss OF
his best and deaTest-whO will now lift up hand OF
voice TO aid and console the suffering people OF
the South. If they cOmmitted-as we believe they
did-a grievous wrong, most gTievously have they
answered for it.