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2g2 THE LEADER. [Saturday,
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l'Armn. Mii^t-s this TJnitkd Kino-pom.—A...
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(Ppett Cntmtn.
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[iN THIS DEPAOTMENT, AS Alt OPINIONS, HO...
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There is no learned man but will confess...
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VINDICATION OF THE PEACE POLICY. Sib,—Th...
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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
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. Notes Oi ;Wae. By A Soldiee. ¦No. Vi.—...
his line to that close combat , which it would be his main object to bring about with as little delay as possible . When once that close combat begms , the hostile cavalry mav be left to decide whether they will gallop from the field , or attempt ttf press into the wttee ; they will , then be- incapable of executing charges , except against the reserves , which would expose them to the hazard of being completely surrounded . During the advance of the line , the general will take care that the enemy ' s cavalry is carefully watched , and that the attention small force of
of the officers of his probably artillery is particularly directed towards them , or towards the point from which they may be expected to appear . As soon as they seem to be p reparing for an attack , every available gun should be brought to bear upon them , and if rockets could be obtained , they would be very useful for this purpose . In this way it would sometimes be possible to check the advance , or throw them into disorder , but if the reception of a charge should appear inevitable , preparations must be made according to circumstances . In some cases , a movement similar to that described in the charge
down a street might be practised ; a row or clump of trees , a ditch , would serve the purpose as well as brick walls , and frequently there will be large spaces of ground impassable for cavalry , which would afford shelter to considerable bodies . And in some cases a battalion would perform a systematic manoeuvre of dispersion , prepared to rally again on the first opportunity . And the moment the pace is slackened—and it cannot be kept up very long , particularly with nothing to be chargeo . in front—a rush must be made among them toy a body of swordsmen , the first attack followed , up , and a succession of charges in all directions made , which will soon disperse , in a confused and crest-fallen condition / those who
escape being cut down or captured . I have supposed throughout the previous observations that the national army is provided with no cavalry , or with an insufficient force to meet the enemy ' s horsemen . The main principles are these—that cavalry , except during their charge at the gallop , are incapable of overcoming well-armed foot-soldiers , and that in most cases it is very easy to avoid the force of the charge .
It is true that a hastily organized national force could make no long stand against regular troops , with tke same method of fighting and with the same weapons . In order to produce the machinelike steadiness required for the unnatural and artificial system of tedious manoeuvres under fire and stationary shooting , it is absolutely necessary to crush the soldier's intelligence by long training and severe discipline . And this description of training and discipline , though certainly cultivating and strengthening their
passive endurance , and making them superior on their own terms to undiscip lined bodies , has the effect of totally sinking the individual in the mass , of destroying each man ' s confidence in his own courage , strength , and skill ; making him rely for success on the preservation of exact order , and rendering him liable to sudden panic , and totally unfit for close fighting . To these drawbacks must bo added the worthlessness of the musket and bayonet in a hand-to-hand combat , and the distracting , stupifying , stultifying , and demoralizing effects of a " well sustained" musketry fire .
I am very far from undervaluing discipline , training , and obedience ; the latter quality is indispensable in any armed body ; but a sufficient degree of precision in movement , and skill in handling their weapons , to enable them to conquer effectually a much larger number of regular Boldiora of all arms , could be given to a national levy ia three weeks . And even were armies to be furnished with the same weapons , and trained on the samo plan as is hero proposed , a national force would always be ablo to boat them . The regular army of an established governmont may bo actively engaged in the fiercest hostilities to gratify a sovereign's or a minister's ambition of conquest , to preserve the balanco of power , or
even in consequence of some diplomatic sq \ iabble , and in not one case docs tho army take the slightest interest in the cause of dispute . It may also sometimes bo omployod to quoll an' insurrection at homo , and then the cause of dispute is known , and perhaps partially understood , but in all probability the soldiers fight rather bettor and with more good will against foroignors in an unknown cause , than against their fellow-countrymen , wjiefcher they secretly sympathize with thoir cause ox totally disapprove of it . The regular
together for hire , or by conscriptionr In the first place , they would be , and more particularly in case of a just rebellion , a select body of the noblest and bravest of the country ; there would be more intelligence and knowledge among them , from a greater admixture of educated men , and they would all be animated by a faith and a definite purpose , and would consequently possess a more daring courage and more complete devotion than can be ever found among a body of men who are equally ready to fight by order in any quarrel , as a mere matter of business , unintelligently and dispassionately , and without presuming to think
advantages and good qualities possessed by such a force of volunteers over a standing army brought soldier ' s best impulses , highly respectable as far as they go , arise from habits of obedience , a sense of duty , and pride iu his profession and in his particular corps . But throughout these arguments I am always supposing that the national force would only be called into action , by some spirit'stirring and ennobling cause , such as resistance to an invasion , or the liberation of a country from foreign or domestic tyranny . What Would then be the peculiar advantages and good qualities possessed by such o fmnn r » f trrtl « Tifpats nvetr a standing armv brought
or to inquire . And in case of a brilliant success at the outset of a defensive or insurrectionary campaign , the physical force of superior numbers would be added to these moral advantages by the attraction of victory . The people would flock to the national standard with raised hopes , and with confidence in the plans and means of the leaders . Now undoubtedly this raw material would be rather dangerous than useful without organization , subordination , and . method ; but what is wanted is a system that shall turn its good qualities to account as auicklv as possible , and make the most of them ;
that shall give the fullest scope to a roused people s generous ardour , instead of compressing it by trying to use brave men like machines . A vain trial ! to put such half-wrought raw material in competition with tried and practised machinery , which by years of friction and practice has become capable of working , when confined to its own dull round , without creaking or getting out of gear . No , instead of competing with the old machinery , and trying to produce an equal effect with it at its own peculiar work , you must rush at it , and stop its work , make it creak , and put it out of gear for
ever ! " To conquer or to die" is not a mere rhetorical phrase : there have been and will be times and seasons when men are ready to accept the alternative . It is a senseless and disgusting waste of human energy and courage to compel those men to make " brilliant manoeuvres" —to change front in this direction and that—to shoot and be shot at for hours together , on the chance of the enemy getting tired first , and moving off "to fight another day , " leaving a few guns and waggons to
make it a glorious victory . Instead ot these interminable scenes of carnage and exhaustion , let us have a system founded on the natural feelings of human nature , and suitable to men to whom a just and glorious cause has given the very qualities which ensure success in a close encounter . Fighting a battle is a dangorous business ; let it be got over as soon as possible . Let brave and strong men be mado to take advantage of thoir bravery and strength , and not bo placed on terms of perfect equality with a diminutive ruffian , who carries a musket for pay .
Brave men will not bo intimidated and confounded by smoke and noise , or by considerable loss , when they have a clear understanding of what is expected of them and of what can be dono . With numerous extended lines , fewer will fall where a less number are exposed , and whore intervals exist through which many shots must pass . With rapidity of movement , united vigour in close
attack , and the skilful use of efficient arms , there is no disaster to be feared from ten minutes' oxposuro to all the artillery and musketry that can possibly bo brought into a battlo-fiold . And men who have a faith and a purposo ought to , do something more than moroly parading themselves as " food for powder , " and executing the daring and difficult manipulations of a ramrod and a trigger . And they will do more . 33 . v .
2g2 The Leader. [Saturday,
2 g 2 THE LEADER . [ Saturday ,
L'Armn. Mii^T-S This Tjnitkd Kino-Pom.—A...
l ' Armn . Mii ^ t-s this TJnitkd Kino-pom . —A parliamentary paper , just printed , shows that thoro wor « at work , in iho United Kingdom , on Iho 13 Mi of Juno last , 380 paper mills . Of thoao , U 04 wore in England , 28 in Irolund , and 48 in Scotland , tho numbor of boating engines at work in Englieh mills was 1267 , and eilont 307 ; in Scotland , 278 working and 8 silent ; and ia Ireland , 71 , at work and 15 eUont .
(Ppett Cntmtn.
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[In This Depaotment, As Alt Opinions, Ho...
[ iN THIS DEPAOTMENT , AS Alt OPINIONS , HOWEVEE SXTEEHn ? ABE ALLOWED AN BXPBESSION , THE EBITQB NECBSSABILY HOLDS HIMSELF EESPONSIBLE FOB NONE . J
There Is No Learned Man But Will Confess...
There is no learned man but will confess lie hah much profited by reading controversies , Ms senses awakened and his judgment , sharpened . If , then , it be profitable for him to read , why should it not ,-at least , be tolerable for his adversary to write . — -Milton .
Vindication Of The Peace Policy. Sib,—Th...
VINDICATION OF THE PEACE POLICY . Sib , —The other day , I received a note from one whose contributions have , before now , graced your columns in which note occurs the following passage : — " The Leader came also this morning . Did you notice some verses in it entitled'Arm ! Arm ! Arm ! ' ?* I enclose you what will show my feelings thereon . " I beg to subjoin a copy of the enclosure referred to , by way of antidote to the said verses ; but , previous to xloing so , permit me a word or two upon Mr . Thornton Hunt ' s defence of his war-cry , which appears in your next number . Mr . Hunt says— - " But I note that we are born with -animal energies , impelling us to conquest . " Yes , it may be answered ; but to the conquest of ivJiat ? Do ' not the other energies with which likewise we are born , point out that "the conquest of a brother man ' s spirit , whereby his convictions of truth and justice are ^ eached , so that he either agrees to oo-opftrate with-you , or , failing that , agrees'to differ , is a far more noble triumph than the conquest of his body ? Is it not , moreover , a far more difficult , as well as noble conquest ? Is it not , indeed , an ignorant impatience of this very difficulty , which , for the most part , induces the resort to the vulgar and brutal arbitrament of the sword , which ,
haply , cuts the knot between you , but leaves the problem where it . was ; or ( since the faculties which might have accomplished the ta . sk have been neglected and debased ) leaves it even further from solution than before ? Hath not "Peace her victories no less than War ! " Assuredly , we need not cultivate our " animal energies" with a view to murdering each other , while evils , physical and moral , are rife around us , claiming our utmost energies for their conquest . The amazing thing with reference to Mr . Hunt ' s remarks is , that they are positively overburdened with illustrations of the thousand ways in which the said animal energies may be legitimately occupied , and so occupied to the top of their bent , while all the time he argues , from the fact of their simple existence , that they must needs be
exercised in crime / i . So much for the abstract question as to the final cause of our animal energies . The remainder of Mr . Hunt ' s defence of his anti-peace policy is nothing but a declamation against what he oalls " the vices ot peace , " but which have as little necessary connexion with peace as the opposite virtues have with war ; ana oortainly they receive as little quarter from the advocates and adherents of t > eace as from any other body
of reformers whatever . I believe , indeed / they receive less quarter from the leading minds connected witi what may be called the Peace Movement than iron almost any-other public men . As a matter ot pwin fact , I scarcely know one even among the sub ?™ " *** in this cause , who is not distinguished from his fellows by his uncompromising action against one or otoo form of such vices ; and individuals are before . my thought now , whose lives have been a continued , bw-i fico to effort in this direction . The active minds > n the cause of peace have therefore just ground oI 001 plaint that they and their principles should bo " ° " „ fied with abuses which they repudiate . " That poao , in short , which Mr . Hunt appears truly to luito J abhor , " ianolesfi hateful and abhorrentto thorn . ' > that the proper and effectual antagonism to % no * , >
a * he would inculcate , } n the vain-g lonous omv » mj bloody physical strife , or oven in " the manly , ' »« ., . breeding preparation" for it , is a P P ;{' V ^ l 0 they may surely demur without being justly ohiwfi « either with cowardice or guilt . It is more : it is a I position an abhorrent to them as are the vices n . i pounded to correct . It ia a hallucination so dolwi ^ of all tho laws of causation , that hatred or " * turpitude ia swallowed up in astonishment ^^ 1 * An allusion to lines sent to us , which appeared Bima - taneously in the Mornitty OAronich . —BD ,
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Citation
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Leader (1850-1860), March 13, 1852, page 16, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_13031852/page/16/
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