St. Landry democrat., 1893-09-16
The Cost of the War.
n. O. State!

\. ~. Sldtes
In political campaigns tue Republican
press and orators, with the view OF
arOusiUg sectional feeling, have raised
the cry that the South alone was respon-
sible for The war, and that it cost the
North a million of soldiers and billion
of dollars to save the Union. The New
York Sun, having it's attention called to
the matter, commenced to Investigate
with the view of ascertaining what the
war did really cost tue North in the way
of lives and treasure, and the re-
suit, which it has laid before its readers
after thoroughly examining all obtain
able statistics, is highly interesting. 1t
says:
The popular idea that million soldiers OF the
Union lost their lives during the war, or direct
ly in consequence of the war, is encouraged by
many persons who know better, because 1t suS-
gests such exag geratcd notions OF the magni-
tudc of the struggle and of the number OF men
actually engaged in military. operations III the
Northern al miles, as to afford an argument or
excuse for Il pension system in which extraya-
gance and dishonesty find plenty of room. The
number of officers and men actually killed in
battle in all of the Union armies during the
four years Of war, barely exceeds 5000. The
number of those who died Of wounds during the
war is less than $4,000. The number that died
OF diseases, either resulting from the hardshlps
and exposure of warfare, or the incident OF
natural mortality in great body Of men, is
about 1000 for the four years. Adding even
the 900 cases of disappearance. conveniently
causes" the total of mortality among the Union
troops during the war is S04 900, or less than a
third of the million supposed by many people
to have persisted on the battlefield
The purpose OF the present article IL to put to-
gether some of the items of expenditure and
loss clearly and directly chargeable to the war
account; in other words, to establish mini
mum estimate OF the money cost OF preserving
the Union. If we were to go into the matter OF
consequential damages, such as tho paralysis OF
certain branches of business the suspens ion OF
trade with the Southern States, the extinction
of a large part of our maritime commerce, the
enormous loss resulting from the arrest Of the
normal increase Of population aud the peaceful
deve,opement of the nations resources, We
arithmetic to that of vague conjecture aud un'
verified speculation. That is not our III
tentiOn.
After reviewing the enormous sums
expended by tue government to main
tain its armies ia the field, paid by
Northern States in the shape of boun-
ties, raised by private individuals and
associations for the comfort aud care of
the soldiers, the amount paid for pen
sions and the war debt, tho Sun offers
recapitulation of the different items OF
expenditures showing as near as it is
possible to ascertain what it cost the
North to carry Oh the war anu prevent
the eleven Southern States from Sc
ceding.
The fact that the total cost was near
ly eight aud one half billions of dollars
is simply astounding, and proves beyond
tho shadow of doubt the truth OF the
Suns assertion that the loss of life was
a mere bagatelIe compared to tho loss
of treasure. ,
At the beginning Of the war or rather
according to the statistics of 1860, tho
entire valuation Of all tho property in
the eleven Southern States was $780,
DOC, 600, and therefore the cost of the
war was three billions greater than the
total wealth of these States.
The following is the recapitulation Of
the Sun, which has been 50 carefully
prepared that its correctness cannot
we'll be disputed.
Current war expenses. ..-.. $3,l44,975, Os7
Bounties other than Federal. 2s5,9A ,12s
Estimated private contribu-
tions.... ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. 100000
Loss of soldiers productive
labor. ..................... 1,O17,241 200
War claims of various Sorts. 600
Interest on war debt. 1855, 1927, l02
Pensions on account of civil
Observation-Disclosures. 1851, lss 500
Total 1s6 O17