Year: 1861

Correspondence Of The London TiG,ea
WAsHtECToH, Oct. Z, 1861.


year ago we believed, the faith of what we


were told, that the United States possessed the


greetest, and above all the cheapest military organ.


Zation in the world. A million OF armed men could
be called forth in a moment by simple decree OF


Congress a national emergency. But we now see


that military organization may be very large with


cut being great, and very cheap without being
economical. Efficiency and certainty OF action are


the tests Of the strength of that which If the imrer


sonaton of the force Of nations and in proportion to


the numbers Of the possessed OF such qualities
is its power. Now the Northern States have a


population quite capable of yielding force of mil


lion of men, without any remarkable pressure. But,
though they have twice as many Inhabitants as the
Slave States is 10 my mind very doubtful whether
there are at this moment as many men arrayed TO
fight for the Union a. there lighting against IT,.
Human nature Iequiiea something more bolid than
distractions TO depend upoD and after all that can be
said about the beauties and advantages of the Union


the idea of it is an abstraction compared TO the actual
materialisin Of the independence OF the tenure Of
peculiar property Of the free trade and freedom from
heavy tariffs, for which the Confederates are con-
tending. "Uncle Sam is more tangible that the
Union. He is paymaster general and Lis rates Of
pay are high, but lie does not succeed in getting
what he needs except for bis sca service, which is
fed by the commercial marine, In state of great
depression, except the transport trade and the char
tered fleets. 1t Is very possible my computations
and estimate are erroneous, but am very much dis
posed to question whether, at the present. moment,
there are $50 900 men in the military service Of the
Federalist Government. / en-, however, equally
prepared TO admit that they will soon reach figure
not far short Of that voted by Congress; for be-
lieve, from what have recently seen and heard,
that there 10 war feeling among tho people of Indi
ana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Illinois, end
Wisconsin, stimulated by lavish expenditure and
founded ON national sentiment, that will speedily
furnish that and larger number OF men, strong
and physically capable Of solderiDg, however def
cent many of them may be IN the spirit OF obedience
and discipline. There ia one thing which to any
person accustomed 10 zee regular troops most srk
ing There is utter want OF what our officers call
emartuees' about the American citizen soldiery-
that indefnabie something which makes man but
ton hs coat cut his hair keep his clothes clean bold
himself erect, and walk with brisk elastic, yet rigid,
regularity fright In 'front.'" But fths, which, is big
ger matter than II looks more by and by. Fighting Is
very essential point of soldiers business but 70
be effective II must be done with regularity and In
concert by all the fighting men when they are or
ae,ea 20 do 30. The Americans will do their fighting
ihoiViouay ne ,vell as any men. IL remains TO be
,een ID what fashion they viii do their campaigning


1t IL quite certain that an army Of $4,000 regular in-
fantry, with proper compliments OF artillery and
cavalry, would be much more manageable than the
Heterogeneous mass now collected round Washing
Ton, nor could capable General find any difficulty
IN marching with such force TO Richmond, despite
Tue admitted courage OF the enormous levies under
beaaregard, Johnston, and the new Confederate
Geperal, Smith-whilom Street Corlmissiouer of
New-fork: Those familiar with the Indian mutiny
nurs recoiiect many instances of the superiority OF
VIC eepoy or sowar in single combat to the regular