Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-06-10
AMERICAS FIGHTING FORCE.
d Exceeds That of Any Nation In Modern
Times.

Mr.. Samuel l.. Powers, in his pemo-
rial-day Grafton at Lexington, brought
out some interesting facts, derived from
official sources, showing the resources
of the United States in time of war, as
compared with those of other nations.
Mr.. Powers said In the four years
that followed the uprising of the South,
the people of the North furnished to
the armies of the Union nearly 3,000,-
600 Of men; and the South gave to the
armies of the Confederacy over l,000,-
eco more. From less than $4,000, 900
Of inhabitants IN tho entire country,
and within the space Of four years,
100000 Of men were under arms in
that terrible conflict. Contemplate the
fact, that one in every eight Of our en-
tire population, or one in every four Of
our male population, was actually en-
gagged in that contest, and you get some
idea of the terrible drain that the war
made on the flesh and blood of our
countrymen. In the entire military
history Of the world there is nothing to
be compared with that martial enthus-
asm of our people. The celebrated up
rising of the French people in 1913,
and that of nearly a century later in
their war with Germany, sink into in
significance when compared with the
tide that moved southwark and north
ward to join the armies of the Union
and Confederacy. 1t is the boast Of
Germany, the greatest military nation
Of modern times, that, with popula-
ton of Al 100000, she can in time of
war furnish an army Of $50, 900 men
but in the war of the rebellion the
North, with a population of only 49,
geo, 000, had in actual service at the
close Of that contest more than a mil
lion of men. The hero Of Appomat-
tox during the campaigns of 1864
and 1865, commanded more soldiers
than any other general since the
fall of the Roman Empire. We are
accustomed to think OF Waterloo as
the greatest battle Of modern times /;
but in six engagements Of the war Of
the rebellion, the loss upon one side or
the other was greater than that of We'll
lington and the allied forces at Water
loo. The loss of the Union army in
the battle of the Wilderness nearly
equalled the entire loss Of both armies
on the field Of Waterloo. No battle
has ever been fought on the continent
Of Europe with greater determination
or with as much loss as that Of Gettys-
burg. But the sacrifice of blood only
kept pace with that Of treasure. Our
war expenses during the last year Of the
rebellion exceeded 81 200, 000,0 900. The |
expenses of the great wars between
France and England during the career
Of Napoleon and the French Revolution
bore no comparison to that Of our war.
The greatest sum Of money expended |
during single year was by Great !
Britain in 1915, when it amounted to
sG3l, 000,0 900, or less than two thirds
Of the expenditures Of the North du-
ring the year ending in 1865. +.
For half century Waterloo had stood
in history, song, and story without a
parallel. Ii was reserved to the de-
scendants OF the men who fought
under the Duke in that famous en-
gagement to convince the world
that courage and tenacity had not
degenerated since the days Of Waterloo.
Gettysburg may fairly be said to be
the greatest battle Of modern times.
The numbers engaged exceeded those Of
Waterloo, the duration Of the battle
longer, and the loss greater. More than
one third of the Union army and nearly
one half of the Confederate were killed.
wounded. or missing in that engage
ment. The famous charge by Pickett
Oh the third day, and its subsequent re-
pulse. will live for all time in military
history. The famous "0ld Guard"
veterans in the service of France,
victors on many hard : fought
field, possessing 'the courage and
spirit peculiar to their nation and race,
wavered before the first volley from the
English batteries at Waterloo, and at
the second fell back in confusion. Bue
pickctt's division at Gettysburg, with
less men than composed the "0ld
Guard" advanced q mile under the
CALLING FIRE Of our batteries, Ms lines