The New York herald., 1879-08-30
NEW YORK HERALD SATURDAY AUGUST 3d. lsaTRPLE SHEET


best spirit not only this discussion but the larger
question of policy involved in the proposal to abro-
gate the existing arrangements as to the hsheries
HIS successor VIII. doubtless. represent with equal
good sense and good feeling the wishes of his coun-
trymen.
WHY THE EVENTS OF THE CIVIL WAR IN THE
UNITED STATES OUGHT TO HAVE BEEN
STUDIED BY BRITISH OFFICERS BEFORE THEY
WENT TO SOUTH AFRICA
From the London Daily Telegraph
Since the siege of Paris. which terminated in the
capitulaton of that gay capital in the January of
1871. all European nations with standing armies have
been content to accept the military organization Of
Germany for their model and to imagine that
nothing in the shape of material coulde of any
value unless adopted and employed by Won Moltke
and his subordinates. 1t is alleged. indeed that the
German organizer of victory. who is said "to be
silent in seven languages" contemptuously dis
missed the American civil being un-
worthy OF his contemplation. the ground
that "it was struggle between two armed
mobs. guided by ignorant and incompetent
commanders" We far from wishing
to claim that the srategical and tactical lessons Of
the American war deserve to be weighed by pro-
found military experts. who ind in the endless
moves and counter-moves OF military chess players
an incentive t. such study as has always delighted
the greatest masters OF the art of war. We
are glad to observe that. despite Won Moltke's
sncer, u general order has been issued from
the Horse Guards. prescribing that among
the subjects for examination at the staff
Sherman in 1864. from Chattanooga to Sa-
vannah. is to be included. The Memoirs Of Gen.
Johnston AFFORD annie atsr;n s"r Eaa,,s cru,
DENTS and it is ndisputable that the federal
mander disposed OF an amount OF material. ire
spective OF human combatants. which il without
parallel IN the history of modern In his inter-
esting narrative Of this campaign General Sherman
tells US that occasion the rebels tore eight
miles OF the railway track in his along which
his supplies were carried and that in seven days.
thanks to the stout arms OF 10000 soldiers, the line
replaced. 1T was by such acts OF extraordinary
energy. he remarks. "that We discouraged
tsn was waste Of aSar 20 bsrp ie
bridge or tear up the track when. they knew
that we could lay it back so quickly They supposed
| that we had men and money without end. and that
we always kept on hand duplicates of every bridge
and culvert OF Importance But the most impor-
tant OF the lessons taught by the American aud
enforced by every report emanating from the pens
of its commentators is that srmies," in Frederick
| the Greats well known phrase. "lnove upon their
bellies. and that efforts requisite tor
equipping. supplying and moving even one corps
Gdmee Oh 2oooo men which advances nifty miles from
its base into an enemy's country.
ITS MAGNITUDE.
In order fully to understand the magnitude Of the
supplies in men, horses, mules forage. rati0ns
medical stores, ammunition aud cartridges employed
by Sherman in his famous "March to the Sea, !" we
recommend candidates for adniission to the STAFF
College to get hold of the volume which contains the
annual report OF Mr.. Edwin NJ. Stanton. the Secre-
washington
upon March l. 1865. 'The vast efforts made" says
Mr.. Stanton. "the wonderful resources in men aud
material developed. the manner in which
agricultural and mechanical products of
the Valley of the Mississippi were laid
under contribution in feeding. supplying and NOV
ing great army in advance of three hundred
miles from its secondary. and four hundred and fifty
miles its primitive base described in this
volume" 1t is noticed that the opinion originally
held. to the effect that army could be maintained
except within reach OF navgabe river or railroad.
haa raf he Of rhAa uf1n
during the American war. The volume in question
also gives information upon the means aud cost Of
manner of repairing and .reconstructing rail-
roads in hostile country, which is great
interest to soldiers and engineers 1.-The results"
we are told. remarkable triumphs OF military
and engineering Skill crcditable to the system under
and men engaged in the work and to the country
which has displayed such energy and such
in defending and asserting its integrity careful
study OF the campaigs OF 1S64conducted in the East
by General Grant and in the West by General Sher-
man-teaches US. indeed why it is that tn American
war entailed upon the victorious federals such
| outlay as never before incurred by any nation
during single year. while ut the same time the vol
urne entitled -Four Years with General Lee" from
tho pen of his chief staif. General Walter Taylor
exhibits the corresponding efforts made with far in
ferior resurces by the defeated Confederates
| LESSONS THAT HAVE NOT BEEN LEARNKD.
It will be patent to all who diligently set them
| selves to mastering these amazing reports that
neither army could have kept the field but for the
| assistance derived from that admirable and hardy
| beast OF burden, the mule. With characteristic
/ tnapctude TO auOpt the teachings lnculcated by
| foreign wars. our military authorities embarked
upon the hostilities which not yet concluded in
Zululand without seriously considering how the
transportation difficulty was to be met in u sandy
| and inipcnetrable country, covered with bush and
| singularly inaccessible to our advancing troops
| The mule was obviously the most valuable four
footed servitor that could be employed under these
| circumstances, and we commenced the war without
having . single available animal OF this kind ut the
| disposal OF Lord Chelmsford 1t not until the
close Of last February that sixty mules. which had
| been tentatively employed in doing garrison work
| Mt
| and upon the '.slow to embark" princi-
| OF these animals for the scene OF action.
No one seems to have been aware that. according
| to Mr.. Sianton's report. the number OF mules and
| horses employed by the federal army was about
| equal, and that the quartermaster's trains,
| drawn exclusively by mules. averaged one wagon
| to every twenty-four men in the field. The sup
| ply of animals Is said to have been ''about i've
| hundred per y, which is also tho average
rate of their exhaustion and destruction. Tho
ducton of the United States. supplemented by large
draughts OF animals purchased in Canasia. showed
| itself able to meet this immense drain upon its
mules and horses, "and the stock. judging from the
current prices given in the fourth year OF the
belrays no signs OF diminution." 1t il we'll known
| to our military authorities that our own equine
resources utterly inadequate to meet u strain
! equal to one-tenth of that imposed upon
| the federals and Confederates while, as re-
| CARDS mules. 1t is impossible to institute
any comparison between ourselves and the great
transatlantic Republic. We have been compelled to
make good our deficiencies at q cost which is in
proportion the hardness OF efforts, and 1t Is
to be hoped that when the South African war Is
completed our military authorities will not relapse
into that chronic condition OF unreadness which Ii
costly 1t Is repreheusible large mule train,
such Sir Garnet Wolseey had many opportunities
OF observing during the American war. ought to be
organized without delay, and it IL certain that tho
superior cheapncss ana toughness OF the mule. Us
compared with his nobler halfbrother. ought soon
to tell favorably upon the army estimates.
vnTrNc ADNrSnpnNn,S STrTCrDp