The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1884-07-31

rich in the experience Of two wars,
and from him receive almost identi-
cally the same set of answers. How
can we explain such unanimity of
opinion? Gentlemen, the only way l
can explain it to myself is that it must
be of their trade that they have been
speaking, and they speak from its prin-
ciples." Then, growing more serious,
the aged general-in chief said, impress
sively: Gentlemen, this matter has
now, unfortunately, gone beyond pol
itics, and has become military ques-
ton. Most unfortunately it is so, most
unfortunately! and now soldiers
must settle it. Such being the
case, since. unfortunately soldiers
must settle it, you must allow
the soldiers to do what they know they
ought to do, and you must be careful
not to force them to do what they ought
not to do"
"There have n DIV arrived and are in
service seventy-fivc thousand three
months men. There are rapidly COM
ing in three hundred thousand two
years and three-years men. What the
soldiers know ought to be done is this !:
The three-months' men should be used
to guard The District of Columbia-the
whole District of Columbia. The two
years and three-years' men as they ar
rive and as they shall arrive should be
placed in large camps of instruction at
strategic points along the frontier, say
sixteen thousand men at Fort Washing
ton on the Potomac; an equal force at
Annapolis, Md, another here in the
Capital; another say at Frederick, Nd,
another at Cumberland, Nd, perhaps
another at Pittsburg, Penn; certainly
one at Wheeling, Va, and one at Mari
cite, Ohio; also at Cincinnati. Ohio
Louisville, KY; Cairo, ILL.,, and other
points on the frontier. There they
should drill and drill and drill and dis
cipline, guarding always the frontier
Meantime our gallant little navy should
do all that it can to keep up a block
ade of the entire southern coast.
"By the last days of September, or
the first days of October, we can have
the gun-boats ready on the Ohio River.
By way, Mr.. Secretary" said he, turning
quickly to Mr.. Cameron, shave you or
dered for me that naval constructor !
asked you for, to go under my orders
to the West?"
"No, General, not yet," said Mr..
Cameron; "but, General, I can furnish
you with as many steamboats, as you
want on the Ohio river within seven
days by contract"
General Scott said, little impatient
~. "Mr. Secretary, do not want there
even one old rotten contract steamboat.
I want gun boats, built to draw just as
many feet of water as I say. to carry
just as many guns as l say, and of just
such caliber as say. Sir, there is
plenty of material for such gun-boats
on those Western waters; there is plen-
ty of mechanical skill there, and, sir,
there is plenty of timer
Mr.. Cameron fastened to say to the
Chief: General, you shall have every
thing you want"
General Scott Thanks, Mr.. Secre-
tary. Every thing want is all that
I want! Thanks! Well, then, want
the best practical naval constructor in
the United States sent Immediately to
Louisville, Ky, to design and see con-
structed gun-boats. These boats can
easily be finished before the first frost.
Our southern friends, seeing the govern
ment apparently content with guarding
the frontier, may not believe they are
to be attacked, and may relax in their
preparations. In any case our prepare
tions being made on sound principles, ]
would have, by the 1st day of October
next, assembled at the junction of the
Ohio and Mississippi rivers an army Of
$50, 900 armed men. would send that
western army, accompanied by the gun
boats, down to the Gulf of Mexico! Al
the same time [ would send this army OF
15O, 900 men hence to Richmond by the
right road!
eff you act thus, if you allow the
soldiers to do what they know they
ought to do, I will answer for it that
the Government of the United States
shall have its flag and its authority rec
ognized throughout the land, every inch
of it's territory, by the 4th day of next
March, or at the latest by the 4th day
of July following. If you do not thus
act; if you make the soldiers do what
they know they ought not to do; if you
push these three-months men into bat
tie just as they are all thinking of going
home; if you push the two and three
years men into battle just before they
shall be organized, you will be beaten
in the first general action of this war
You will consolidate what is now an in
surrection, and make a rebellious gov
which rebellious government
you may be able to put down in two or
three years; but I doubt it!''
Such were the words of Americas
greatest soldier in May, 1861. We all
know the result. For the moment he
succeeded in delaying rash movement.
But later on the aged chieftain, worn
out by the pressure brought to bear
upon him, yielded to those in authority
and those assumed to direct the authori-
ties, and he in an evil hour consented to
see sound military principles set aside
and replaced by ignorant assumption.
The three months men were pushed
into battle "just as they were thinking
of going home;" the two and three
years men were pushed into battle,
some of them before they were fairly
organized. We were beaten in the
first general action of the war. The
instruction did not become a strongly
organized rebellious movement, which
the government of the United States
did not succeed in putting down in two
or three years.
Thi1 Was Wnna ans Wav