The New York herald., 1870-11-21

The present war IA Europe shows in a re-
markable manner the agency Of railroads and
the telegraph in the operations and result of
such conflict This mighty power of our
times determines, it may be said, the victory
on the side of the belligerent that knows how
to use il best. We have heard and read
much of the art Of war, and, no doubt, it is a
great art but in this age war owes great
deal to scientific discoveries and appliances.
Great generals in all ages have understood the
importance OF celerity Of movement and the
rapid concentration of a large force at
given point. To strike before the enemy was
ready, and with overwhelming numbers, has
bsen the strategy OF all celebrated command
ers. The first Napoleon was particularly dis
tinguished for this. But it was not till our
time-till q few years ago-that armies could
be moved by locomotive speed or intelligence
communicated with lightning rapidity. Rail-
roads and the telegraph have revoutionized
the art of war.
The American republic was one of the first
nations in discovering the Importance OF these
modern agents in war and in using them on
large scale, as it is first in the development of
all progressive ideas. As soon as our late
civil war began to assume vast proportions it
was seen by the sagacious military chiefs of
the Union armies that the railroads and tele-
graph must perform an important part in the
conflict. The wide extent of country over
which the war was spread made the use of
alo nd tho
here than where war is confined to narrower
limits. But they are not less available and
valuable to belligerents whose military opera
tions are confined to a more limited area.
Both sides in our war appreciated the useful.
ness of these agents and used them, but the
rebels were unable to do so to the same extent
as the federals. They had not the same
resources for constructing and maintaining
them in order. And it was this advantage
that contributed in great measure to the
SUCCESS OF the Union armies and to shortening
the war. To construct and keep in order
railroads and the telegraph was made special
service and separate department in the
war. General McCallum was placed in
charge of it, and had large force
Of men siS.cially detailed for the work. Where
the Union armies could seize railroads in the
enemy's territory they were appropriated
where the railroads had been damaged by the
enemy to obs.ruct the march of the Union
armies they were promptly repaired, and
where it was important to construct new lines
they were constructed with surprising
rapidity. The engineer corps and a large
body of workmen under General McCallum
went in advance of the armies for this purpose,
and right upon their heels followed the troops
with the necessary materials of war and COM
missary supplies. Sometimes these lines of
communication were opened or put in order
with such speed that large force, with all
the necessary supplies, were concentrated at q
given point within as few days as it would
have taken weeks or months to bring up in
former times. Had it not been for the rail-
roads, which facilitated army movements
SO greatly, and tho telegraph, which eommu-
nicated intelligence instantly, the war, instead
of being ended in four years, might have
lasted ten or twenty, and even then the
result might have been different.
About the same time, or, to be more precise,
year or SO before we developed the great
utility Of raj roads and the telegraph in war
the French used these agencies very success
fully in the war with Austria on the soil Of
Italy. The Emperor, Napoleon the Third,
showed great vigor then, and brought up his
fine army and materials with remarkable celer-
ity. The rapid, sharp and overwhelming flows
struck at Austria until the conflict closed with
the peace of Villafranca placed France in the
first position, and made Napoleon hero. Aus
tria was not in situation to use these modern
improvements as effectively as France, or she
did not comprehend as well the Importance of
them. If we come down few years later,
to the war between Prussia and Austria, we
find that Austria was still behind the times,
while her adversary was up with them. The
rapid movements cf the Prussians through
the use of the railroads and telegraph, over
whelmed the Austrians before they were well
prepared. The result was the victory Of
Sadowa, which opened the gates Of Vienna
to the Prussians and made them supreme in
Germany.
But the most astonishing effect of using the
railroads and telegraph in war is seen in the
present conflict between Prussia and France.
In fortnight after the declaration of war by
Napoleon nearly half million of men on both
sides were marshalled on the Rhine border.
It seems incredible how these immense forces,
with all the proper complement Of infantry,
cavalry, artillery and munitions, and supplies
of all kinds, could have been brought there in
so short time. In few days, as soon as the
fighting commenced, it was evident the Prus-
SLAMS had used the railroads and telegraph
more effectively than the French. The conse-
ouence was succession of brilliant victories
for them, such as the world has never witnessed
ancoro Jt apnoors surursinV now lookiny