Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-04-29
LET HAVE PAIIENCE.


There is already a clamor against the
government because our army has not
been started to cuba. and it is frequently
said that I'VE did things better in lSGl."
Now. lets see if we did.
South Carolina seeded before New
Years Day; Mississippi, January 9th;
Alabama and Florida, January 10Th;
Georgia January 18TH; Louisiana. Janu-
airy 9th; Texas. February 1st; Virginia
April 18th; Arkansas. May 9Th; North
Carolina. May 2Oth, and Tennessee, June
sth.
Each State. as soon as it seeded, he
gan to arm and equip itself for war.
Whether there were fewer or more vol
unteer companies in existence then than
now We cannot say; We know of no sta
tistics upon the subject. But it is an
undoubted fact that the John Brown
raid had given a great impulse to the
formation of military organizations in
the South. Richmond. for instance,
though then a city of but 5000 inhabi-
tants. had more military organizations
at the breaking out Of the late war than
1t has now. However, TO resume, the
Gulf states and South Carolina had
armies in the field before Virginia passed
her ordinance of secession. Fort Sumter
surrendered April 18Th; but the battle of
Bull Run--the first engagement of much
-consequence--did not take place until
July p, 1861. Some OF the southern troops
who were there engaged had been in the
field for six months
President Lincoln issued his call for TO-
900 troops as soon as Fort Sumter fell,
and the responses were immediate.
Plenty Of men offered, and were soon ac-
oepted and put IN the field. yet the army
that was believed to be the best the
Union had. after making brief stand at
Bull Run, fen into hopeless panic and
ran back to Washington utterly de-
noTai2ed. And thereupOn General Nc
Clellan was put I'm command Of the Army
of the Potomac and began the work OF
REORGANIZATION and discipline. Several
hundred incapable company and regi-
mental officers were forced out of the
service. There was inccssant drilling and
marching. but il was not until the spring
OF 1862 Mcclellan felt that h had his
army in lighting condition. Then ne took
ship and Landed before Yorktown. and
moved up the Peninsula. and began his
warfare upon Richmond. The men in
his army. who had fed like sheep at Bull
Run. did splendid fighting in the battles
around this city. They were driven from
position 70 position. day by day, until
they reached James river; but they in
fiicted terrible losses upon us And as
for our own army. valiant aud enthusiastic
as il had always been, we doubt if it
could have stood in 1861 the shot and
shell. the grape and mimic balls. that
were showered upon it in its charges on
The Federal breastworks in 1862.
However, all that is ancient history"
now. We recall il but TO say
IL is not a fact, as is generally
supposed, that the troops OF either
army rushed from their fields and
workshops TO battle in 1861. Most OF
them had had several months training
in camps of instruction or in the camps
round about Washington and Manassas.
General Miles, who was himself a volun-
teer, feels that IL would be criminal I'm
him 10 make a false start. and the con
sentative people Of the country would
have him be sure he is right. and then
80 ahead.
ON this general subject we find tho
following in the editorial columns of the
Norfoik Nirsinian-Pilot of yesterday:
why don't they lombard Ha.sna 90
why don't they land forces ana oocupv
C"ba. storm MORO Castle. and wine the
spahlards from the face OF the earth .,
a htte patience, gentlemen: the world
was not made In "a day Because this
Ap'1 does not argue that the war is
10 ne an April shower Ii reoulres
uine TO thoroughly organize cam
palsn' thousand and one apparently
shaD but nevertheless. essential de-
ta!is must be looked after. The
government Is evidently preparing 20