Current:

Leader (1850-1860), 13th March 1852, Edition Town of 2, Page 252, Untitled Article

Page 252
Page 16
16 of 24

On this page

  • Departments (1)
    • d)fMt :$mm.
  • Pictures (1)
  • Text (7)
  • Transcript

    • 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.

      Additionally, when viewing full transcripts, extracted text may not be in the same order as the original document.

      Untitled Article

      his * line to that close combat , whioh it would be his main object to bring about with as little delay as possible . When once that close combat begins , the hostile cavalry may be left to decide whether they will gallop fromthe .. field , or attempt to press into the nt 6 l& ; 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 fine * the general will take care that the enemy ' s eavalrvis carefully watched , and that the attention

      of the officers of his probably small force of artillery is particularly directed towards them , or towards the point irom which they maybe expected to appear . As soon as they seem to be preparing for an attack , every available gun should be brought to bear upon them , and if rockets cduld 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 cavahy , 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 charged in front—a rush must be made among them by a body of swordsmen , the first attack followed lip , 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 Jiave supposed throughout the previous observations that the national _ army is provided with no cavalry , or ^ with an insufficient force to meet ihe 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 the 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 undisciplined 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 distractinir , stupifvinff , stultifying , and demoralizing

      effects of a " well sustained" musketry fire . J am very far from undervaluing discipline , training , and obedience j tho 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 Boldiers of all arms , could be given to a national levy in three weeks . And even wore armies to be furnished , with the same weapons , and trained on tho same plan as is here proposed , a national force would always be able to beat them . Tho regular army of an established government may be actively engaged in the fiercest hostilities

      to gratify a sovereign ' s or a minister ' s ambition of conquest , to preserve tho balance of power , or oven in consequence of some diplomatic squabble , and in npt one caso does tho army take . tho slightest interest in tho cause of dispute . It may also sometimes be employed to quell ¦ an insurrection at home , and then , tho cause of dispute is known , and perhaps partially understood , but in all probability tho soldiers light rather better and with more good will against foreigners in an unknown cause , than against thoir fellow-countrymen , whether they secretly sympathize with their caueo or totally disapprove of it . The regular

      together for hire , or by conscription r 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 dispassionateland without presuming to think IT tim ¦

      soldier's best impulses * highly respectable as far as they go , arise from habits of obedience , a sense of duty , and pride in 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 ihe liberation of a country from foreign dr domestic tyranny . What would then be the peculiar advantages and good qualities possessed by such a force of volunteers over a standing army brought

      y , IU m , r mtVI ** r J . ^ M "T ~ ^^^^ w y — * m m ^ w w — - w w —~ - - * y - — — . - — ——; ~ g- ^ to inquire . And in case of a brilliant success at the outset * a defensive or insurrectionary campaign , the lysieal force of superior numbers would be added these moral advantages by the attraction of etory . The people would dock to the national andard with raised hopes , and with confidence the plans and means of the leaders . Now unmbtedly this raw material would be rather tngerous than useful without organization , subdination , and method ; but what is wanted is a stem that shall turn its good qualities to account siiiinij-lir- « ia 1-u-toaililck anA rnairf * i \ hi > Tnnfi +. < vf f . TlAm ?

      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 « aen are ready to accept the alternative . It is a senseless and disgusting waste of human energy and courage to compel these 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 dangerous business ; let it be got over as soon as possible . Let brave and strong men be made to take advantage of their 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 con ^ founded by smoke and noise , or b y considerable loss , when they have a clear understanding of

      what is expected of them and of what can bo done . With numerous extended linos , fewer will fall whore a less number are exposed , and where 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 ton minutes' exposure to all the artillery and musketry that can possibly be brought into a battle-field . And men who have a , faith and a purpose ought to do something more than merely parading themselves as * ' food for powdor , " and executing the daring and difficult manipulations of a ramrod and a trigger . And they will do more . E . V .

      D)Fmt :$Mm.

      d ) fMt : $ mm .

      Untitled Article

      VINDICATION OP 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 ! Ajml 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 doing so , permit me a jarord or two upon Mr . Thornton Hunt's defence of his war-cry , which appears in your next number .

      Mr . Hunt says- —" But I notejtlat we are born with animal energies , impelling us to conquest , ' * Yes , it may be answered ; but to the conquest of what ? Bo 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 reached , so that he either agrees to co-operate 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 , haplv , cuts the knot between you , but leaves the proht

      blem where it was ; or ( since the faculties which mig have accomplished the task 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 rem arks is , that they are positively overburdened with illustrations of the thousand ways in which the said animal energies rifey be legitimately occupied , and bo 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 tn crvme / 1 * 1 So much for the abstract question as to the fcnai cause of our animal energies . The remainder ot Mr , Hunt ' s defence of his anti-peace policy is nothing but a declamation against what he calls " the vices ot peace , " but which have as little necessary connexion with peace as the opposite virtues have with war ; ana certainly they receive as little quarter from the aclvocatfis nnrl n . rllifirpmt « nf nftane as from any other Doay

      of reformers whatever . I believe , indeed , they receive less quarter from the leading minds connected witl what may be called the Peace Movement than irom almost any other public men . As a matter ot piam fact , I scarcely know one oven among the subordinates in this cause , who is not distinguished from Ins »»?* J by his uncompromising action against one or otm » form of such vices ; and individuals are betoro my thought now , whose lives have been a continued fljen fice to effort in this direction . The active nun * n » the cause of peace have therefore just ground 01 con plaint that they and their principles Bhould bo went fied with abuses which they repudiate . " Tliat peace , in short , which Mr . Hunt appears truly to ' I ** *" abhor , " is no less hateful and abhorront to them . *> " ; +. I 10 +. + i >« nrnnA ^ nn / i nflWiml antacroniBm to tliat " « " >

      as he would inculcate , in the vain-glonous cluvatrv bloody physical strife , 6 r even in " tho manly , new * breeding preparation" for it , is a proposition to wine they may surely demur without befng juatly o ^^ Jl . either with cowardice or guilt . It is more : iMs a F position as abhorrent to them as are tho vices it w P pounded to correct . It is a hallucination «> deflpwn of all tho laws of causation , that h * tred ° \ . ? a J n \ W . turpitude is Bwallowed up in as tonishment ot «^ i-

      Untitled Article

      Papbu Mnxa in thb Unitkd Kinodom . —A parliamontary paporj just printed , shows that there woro at work , in tho United Kingdom , on tho ( 18 l ; h of Juno last , 380 paper mills . Of thoso , 804 b wore in England , 28 in Ireland , and 4-8 in Scotland , tho number of boating engines at work in English mills was 1267 , and eilent 107 ; in Scotland , 278 working and 8 silent ; and in Ireland , 71 at work and IS eilent .

      Untitled Article

      There is no learned man biit will confess he liah much profitedby reading controversies , his senses awakened and Ms judgment sharpened . If , then ,: it be profitable for him to read , why should it not , at least , be tolerable for his adversary to write .- ^ Mii / roir .

      Untitled Article

      [ IN THIS DEJARTMEST , AS AM OPINIONS , HOWEVEE EXTEEHE ABE ALIOWID AN EXPEES 3 ION , THE EDITOE NBCESSABHT HOLDS HIMSELF BESPONSIBLE FOB XONJB . ]

      Untitled Article

      252 ' ¦ TKB I / EAPP , CSATgRpAY , . • 1 ¦ . ¦¦¦ . ' ' ' ^!—— . ^ —!— LJ _ L ^ " . . ' ' " ¦ ' ¦ 'i ' " " - ' - ¦ . ¦ ¦ ¦ ' ¦¦¦¦¦¦¦¦

      Untitled Article

      ? An allusion to lines sent to ub , which appeared simultaneously in tho Morning Chronicle , — Mv .

      Untitled Picture

  • Citation
    • Leader (1850-1860), March 13, 1852, page 252, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1926/page/16/