The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1878-12-17
PULPIT AND PLATFORM
MODERN WARFARE


] Sach was the title of Major j. NJ. Could
lecture delivered ia the Y. M. G. A Course las
evening.
The lecturer began by calling attention to tn.
different modes of fighting practiced in variou.
modern WARS, and noting that like all things
the art of war is progressive, and needs off cer
OF the keenest intelligence to keep pace With
its Improvements. The war of thu rebellion,
OF which he proposed to speak particularly, was
in many points unlike the wars which preceded
it, and in turn, many of its fe .tures will never
bs repeated again.
Nothing has chsngad the character of mod
ern wars more than the impfo yements 10 fire.
arms. An old fint-lo musket was exhibited
to the audience, and its short imperfect range
and other defects commented on. It had been,
however, the weapon of Frederick, Bonaparts,
Wellington, and cur. own army in Mexico
Consequently, at the breaking ous of the re.
bellion the theory and practice of war, as we'll
as the experience of our officers who had served
in Mexico, were all based upon a weapon vastly
inferior to the one about co be used MANY
serious bunders came from this.
Next was shown the muzzle.loading Soriog-
field rife, which, with others similar was the
principal weapon during the rebellion Tt
could be loaded quicker, would shoot farther
and more accurately than the flint LOCK, conse-
quently when it was tried in actual service, it
was found that the attacking party being soou-
or and longer under fire stood greater chance Of
destruction than ever before.
Numerous instances were cited where great
loss OF life had occurred 10 an incredibly short
time from the failure of the comm aDder to REQ.
ognze the difference which had come from
change of weapon, or from his inability to pro-
vide against it; Rockers charge at Frederjcks-
burg, and Pichett's at Gettysburg being not-
able examples.
The principles Of diminishing wsrs explainad
aud cOntrasted With the imposing advance
elbow to elbow Of long lines or dense masses
OF troops Ths great d5strustivecess of the rifs
had compelled greater regard for personal
safsty. A story was told of revolutionary
soldier who was stgmatized through life as
coward for getting bohind a tree. while in 1864.
under Sheridan, the best company in the lectur-
efs regiment was sent against the enemy with
the express order not to expose themselves.
Battles had been fought by skirmishers and
gradually new order of fighting was evolved
10 our armies, South as we'll as North, in which
the "elbow to elbow system was discarded for
troops under fire and the soldier allowed to be-
In a measure independent and to GEEK his own
safety as we'll
The breech.losdlug RIA was naxa exhibited
ana It's tremandous destructiveuess spoken Of
The Maiie-s1toJuef Oougfess increased VI W.
,n;n;shed the regular army they would not leg
1sfrse hsss-otficers into civil life since 10
ease Of another war we should want enough
left to teach the volunteers
NOTES
G. B. Croft will deliver his lecture oa 'Imag-
inatioh" at Grand Army Fl ali Saturday even
ing, when the BENEDICT, the Top, the victims
of vanity, fiattery, rum, the tragediaa aud ope-
ra singer will all De delineated. Tickets are for
sale at Hawes' and Stock bridges,