Montgomery County sentinel., 1882-03-17

The following article, entitled "The Gray
better led than the Blue" we copy from the
Wayne Independent, published at Honesdale,
Pa, BENZ. F. Haines, editor and proprietor.
Mr.. Haines is native of this county, and
was born and raised in the neighborhood of
Darnestown. The object Of the article is
evidently to discourage the proposition be-
fore Congress 10 place that great national
GUNNER" Gen. Grant, on the retired list
of the army with the modest pay of $13,5OO
per year:
Official reports of the War Department
ut Washington show that from 1861 to 1860
the number Of men furnished TO the Union
armies was 1862 ,132. After the middle Of
October, 1861, the Union forces actually un-
der arms were never less than oO0,OOO men,
and often exceeded 100000. When the
war closed more than 100000 soldiers were
mustered out.
According to the most reliable Conled
crate authorities there entered the Rebel
armies, during the entire period OF the war,
not to exceed 900 men, while the eifec-
tive forces actually in the field, at any one
time, never exceeded 100000 men. This
statement is strongly corroborated by the
fact that the aggregate white population Of
the eleven states which first entered into
the rebellion, was, according to the census,
| less than 6000,000, or less than 100000 of
males. Out Of that amount Of population,
not more than 100000 men capable Of bear
ing arms, could have been drawn.
To just apprehension Of the case, as
above revealed, it should be remembered
that of the aggregate Union forces, 1885,
1872, 173,079 were colored men enlisted in
the south, and formed into regiments, and
that, in addition, 92,576 colored men were
enlisted in the south and credited to north
ern states, making in all 265,655 colored
troops raised in the south for Union SER
vice. Besides, the border states, Delaware,
District of Columbia, Kentucky, Maryland,
Missouri and West Virginia, puts 255,858
white men into the Union armies.
From these facts it is manifest that the
Confederates, during the whole term of the
war, had only one man in their ranks TO
the Unionists four and two-thirds; and that
in the last campaign the Unionists had more
than five men in the field to the Confederates
one man.
In financial resources the north had a
much greater advantage over the south than
it had in men. Hence, in equipment, cloth
ing, provisions, medical attendance, and the
like, the Union soldiers were better supplied
than the Confedcrates.
These are most important considerations.
When the ultimate history of the Rebellion
shall be written, the facts stated will be
given their full weight, no matter whose
fame may be obscured in consequence.
Is it true that in actual service four Union
soldiers were not equal to one Confederate,
and that it took the addition of a fifth Union
soldier to enable the loyal side TO overcome
the disloyal? This is one way of account
ing for facts as they appear upon public
records No man, in the exercise of a sound
judgment, will entertain, for even moment,
that this is a fair and just solution of the
matter
1t would seem that only one rational sou-
ton of the problem is possible. If the Union
soldiers were as good, man for man, or in
any degree approaching that proportion,
then it must follow irresistibly that the
Rebel soldiers were much better led than
the Union forces.
1t is much more charitable, as we'll as
patriotic, to impeach the skill OF few COM
manders than to brand with inferiority the
1859, 1872 men who upheld the Union cause
in the field