Year: 1862

war;


Now that the war has assumed such col.
,ossal propo tious, aud there is every
prospect that it will continue at least for
one or two years longer, many OF the loyal
citizens of California are anxious to have a
hand in it, aud only await orders from the
War Department TO enrol themselves 10 the
Union army. The late reverses to the Union
cause, instead of disheartening. but renders
them more determined TO sustain the Gov
crnment; and If need be, and the movement
is set on foot, we think regiment can be
raised in the State, of men who will pay
their own passage TO New York, provided
they can have the assurance of being mus
tered into the service when they get there.
A few are preparing to go, with the view OF
joining regiments from other States, but
they would much prefer to be with reg
iment made up exclusively of Calfornians.


We notice by the San Francisco papers,
that the Sd and 4th regiments, (Col. Con-
nor's and Col Forman's,) have each made
application to be taken East, and the off.
GERS and men of the Sd have su bscribed
some 1000 towards paying their passage
Why not send both of these regiments, and
raise another of picked men to go with
themf The three regiments would make
brigade; and California could certainly send
5000 meu TO the war, and have enough left
to keep peace on this coast. 1t would
probably take three or four months to make
the necessary arrangements to supply the
places Of the two regiments, bring them to
San Francisco, aud recruit and drill the
new regiment. In the mean time efforts
could be made to raise money by subscrip.
tion to pay the passage of the men to New
York. Doubtless the officers and men of the
regiments would all subscribe one or two
months of their pay, and if any thing was
lacking when the Legislature met, the State
might be called upon to make up the de-
ficiency. Other States have contributed
largely towards the expenses of war, and
California should be as liberal as her sisters
The brigade could thus be landed in New
York by the middle of February, without
extra expense to the Government, and be
ready for active operations in the spring.


The arrival of such force from this
State would have happy effect at the East,
particularly If they should arrive during q
period of .reverses to the Federal arms.
Their numbers, it is true, would not be suf-
feient TO make any material difference in
the result of the contest, but the fact OF
their coming such distance to the support
of the Government would have an encour.
aging effect.


There is every reason to believe that the
war will continue until the fighting popula,
tion of the rebel States are nearly all killed
off or disabled; and Judging from the past,
we must calculate that the Federal losses
during the war will be about equal to that
Of the rebels. There is little hope of main
tanning the national integrity at less cost,
and even II that price is paid, it is better
than the eternal war that must follow o di
vision of the republic. This cannot be
accomplished in one or two campaigns, and
the hardest fighting and most bloody battles
of the war are likely to take place during
next year. Ia this campaign California
should be represented by at least one
brigade.