1812 And 1861

The magnitude of the acsle upon whioh ie war now raging in this country is indneted is appalhng, if compared with lose that have preceded it. Tlio war of ie Keviilutioïi was relatively a mere suo ession of skinnishes. The war of 1812, ïoasurcd botli as regarda numbers and be field of opera tion, shriitks into conemptible insignificance, besido the giautio operations that are going on ut the reien t hour. If we look baek to the ïistory. more espccially of the war with Coglaud, and compare its leading inoients with of the conflict now rag ing, we shall find that it hardly rises to the dignity of modern reconnoisaance. - The ' battlcs ' dwindle down into the veriest martial ementes; the casualties are few, and the numbor of prisonfirs taken in victorious engagemnts, counted rathcr by hundreds than thousands. We cite a few incidents from the war of 1812 to show what petty affairs ively, were some of the most brilhant ïctories achieved bv our anus. The first "battle" of any importance vas that of Brownstown, near Detroit, ought August 9th, 1812. Our foroo was only 600, that of the British and ndians eombined, 700. Our loss was 8 killed and 63 wounded - that of the nemy 160. Gen. Hull's " army," whieh disgraceully surrendercd, numbered tweuty üve ïundi-ed men ; while that of the enemy onsisted of only 700 English, and 600 .ndians. No wonder Gen, Broek, who ommanded the latter, wrote to Sir Gco. 'rovost : " When I detail my good forune, your Excellency will be surprised " At the battle of Queenstowu, two olunins of 300 men each, did about all he fighting on our side. Gen. Van Rencllaer, in ïiis report, says: "One tliird of he men, idle, might have saved all'" - As it was, some loolccd on, whilo "many ied into the woods,'1 lea ving their brothen to their fate. At, the siege of Fort Erie, tlio English hrew 2000 red hot sliot, without hurtiiür a man. Our loss was uuly four killed and seven wouuded Brigadier Gen. Sniitli abandoned his favorite project of invading Canada West, beeause, although he had been preparirig the greater part of the sumnier, and had energeticilly drummed up volunteera, he had sueceedod iu colieeting only 1500 men ; and he did not think the expedition would be suecessful uuless he had 1500 more. At the battle of York our force was 1700 ; that of the enemy 700 English, and 100 Indians Our loss was 300 in kilW, 300 wounded and 200 prisoners. This was one of the most briiliant of our victuries, vet it is not to be compared with tlie battle of Belmont, or that of Bali's Bluff, either as regards the urn3or eniraged or the losses sustained At the battle of Sacket'a Harbor, the enemy's force was 100 - ours 500. Their loss n killed and wounded was 150; ours 154. Among tbe trophies taken by our troops were the Bntish standard ai d m-ice Over the latter Luüg a huuiau scalp ! Coro Perry's victory on Lake Erie was esteenied a "big thing" in its day ; yet his whole fleet only consistid of 54 2uns and 2 swivels; 'bat of the enemy, G3 guns and 2 swivels! Our loss iu killed ajid wounded was T23; tkat of the enemy, bas uever been deiiuitely knnwu At the battle of Chippewa our loss was 328; tbat of tbe enemy 514. At tbe battle of Fort Erie our loss was 84 that of tbe enemy 582. At the battle of Baltimore, tbe enemy's forces numbered from 7 to 8,000, ours was probubly less tban balf that number. Our loss was about 170 in killed wounded and miesing. Even tho battle of New ürleans looks insignifieant to eyes that have witnessod a reconnoisance on the Potomac, 16,900 strong. and a review of 70,000 troops. - ïbe British foree, iucluding gailors and marinea, was about 15,000 ; tliat of Gen. Jackson ' '200, on the left bank of the river, and about 800 distributed in posi tions bard by. Our losa was 7 killed and 6 woundcd tbat of tbe enumy 700 killed and 1,400 wounded. It ís safo to say thafc notwitlistanding the torpor of a largo sliare of our arrny. nd tbe taunts tliat we have thus far been playing at war," a greater numbcr of ves have been lost within tbe past five months tbun during tbe entire "War of 812."