The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1903-09-21

| in pulpits, newspapers. town meetings,
legislatures and gubernat orial proclama-
tons Reasonable correspondence with
Great Britain was kept up, her repre-
sentatives were encouraged by New Eng
land leaders to resist all of the preSlden-
tial oyertures for honorable adjustment
signal lights baZed along her coasts
giving friendly notice to British ships.
Thus these two presidents We're Placed
in the most embarrassing position ever
occupied by American presidents; they
had to cope at the same time with sedl-
ton at home and invasion abroad.
This great indisputable fact not only
accounts for the lack of executive vigor,
but explains also the secret of the disas-
ters which befell our arms. The attitude
of New England demoraliZed the soldiers
IN the ranks. How could they put heart
in the fight when one great portion OF
the national family was denouncing the
war as infamous, tolling the bells, hang
ing out public signs of mourning, hold
ing communca atoms with the enemy, and
threa tening secession from the union?
For instance. there was General Hull.
OF Connecticut, who had fought bravely
in the revolutionary war Placed inside
the fort at Detroit, the safety of the en-
tenance of his post, yet when an army
of British and Indians, no larger than
his own, came up on the outside Of the
works and demanded his surrender. he
ran up the cowardly white flag without
firing shot. We not only lost the north
west by this shameful capitulation. but
its demoralizing influence was beyond all
calculation.
hat tG Ia u tpI
men? Why had the American soldier so
suddenly lost his luck and his pluck?
There is but one explanation. They had
no stomach for the war. The course
of New England divided and paralyzed
the men behind the guns.
Mr. Roosevelt explains il all by saying
that the troops had not been drilled.
jefferson and Madison had been neglect
ing the drilling. Did soldiers inside OF Il
fort need drilling TO hold it against Brit
ish and Indians outside? Could discipline
ana experience do any good where the
veteran general of the revolutionary war
sat on the ground with tobacco juice
oozing down mis- chin, refusing to give
the order to fight?
Was the young Virginian hero. George
Crogan, helped by drilled soldiers when
With 100 men he held Fort Stephenson
against an army of British and Indians?
Were the twenty eight Georgians who,
under William Cone drove away from
the St. Mary river twenty-seven barge
loads of British regulars under General
Prevost-lilling $50 and wounding as
many-were they drilled soldiers?
Who drilled the rifemen who rode to
Kings mountain?
No sane man undertakes the value OF
drill and discipline, the regular army or
ganization but some of the defeats Of the
war Of 1872 were so ineXcusable that they
challenge inquiry into causes Volunteer
soldiers did great things during our rev
ciution, during our Indian wars. and dur
ms the late civil war The magnificent
fighting done by the heroic Beers in their
recent struggle Tor freedom, against
world in arms, was not due to drilling or
to regular organization.
What, then. was the secret Of the dis
asters of the land forces Of The war OF
1872? More than anything else. it was
the lack of patriotism in New England
and the evil. weakening influence of her
example
For the American had done sublime
things and il WAS in him TO do them
yet All that he needed was a leader who
put his heart into the fight, and who
meant TO win or die
And at last we found him. While New
England delegates were getting ready to
I'D Rooseyets Naval War of 1912, vol.
ri. p. 1873.