The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1890-05-05
Was tho Northern or tho Southern
Army the Braver2

Which side did the better fighting IN the
war for the Unlon2 That question will prob
ably be debated for generations to come.
The admirable study OF Col w. F. Fox
upon the regimental losses in battle leaves
on the readers mind a general impression
that the honors OF desperate valor and
readiness to face death were well divided be-
tween South and North, while on both sides
there was deadlier fighting in proportion to
the numbers engaged than In the Crimean
or the Franco-Prussian war. The loss, for
example, OF Lord CARDIdAN's Light Brigade,
673 strong. at Balaklava, was 86.7 per cent.
In killed and wounded; that Of the Third
westphalian Regiment at Mars-la-Tour, the
heaviest regimental loss In the war OF 1870.
was 40 per cent. But Col. Fox gave list OF
no fewer than IS American regiments which
In single battles lost more than so per cent.
OF killed and wounded many Of them more
than go per cent, some more than 10 per
cent. Rather noticesbly. 81 Of these regi-
ments on his list are Northern and 26
regiments are Southern.
Still, this does not answer the whole ques-
ton as to superior fighting. and Brevet
Lteut.-Col. THEODORE A. DODGE OF the re-
tired list takes 1t up In the Century Mdgdsine
He assumes that the impression among
readers Is that the Southerner proved him
self to be the better soldier, and he aims to
show that this impression. though resting
OH ineligible deductions, is erroneous.
The North obviously had much the greater
resources In men and money; and since
the South nevertheless during four years
held up the cause Of secession on the field OF
battle, 1t would naturally be inferred that so
prolonged a struggle must have been due to
greater average courage and skill. But II the
resources OF the North were the larger. so
also was its task which was nothing less
than to conquer great area, Inhabited by
resolute people bent on independence Ac-
cordngly Col. DODGE reminds US that Great
Britain In seven years. with an enormous
preponderance OF resources, could not sub
juRate her revolted American colonies; and
II In reply the intervening ocean and the al
linnce OF France be mentioned. he further
shows that Prussia withstOod during seven
years surrounding nations whose combined
population was twenty times as great and
whose frontiers bordered on hers, like those
OF tho North on the South.
This illustration brings Col. DODGE to a
second reflection which Is quite as impor-
tant and which Includes one part OF the
answer TO his main question:
And though FEEpyRrcE. while equally brilliant in VIC
tory was Assuredy ~ eater than Gny modern captain
in reverse it might perhaps. DO claimed shat Ia VIZ
GINA Lax WAS al but much super 10 most of tho
Generals opposed him she rrHs'an King to Prince
KIRr- Field MArshAs Bao~SE aud DAYS. AMI the others
with whom Ito had 10 do 10
third point made by Col. DODGE IL that
until the year 1854, when the much-increascd
discrepancy Of the opposing forces greatly
aided the military task imposed upon the
Northern Generals. these forces ut the point
OF actual contact were often not far from
equal. To establish this proposition lie com
pLes he following table: