IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) 1.0 I.I 11.25 i 12.5 US m l&i 12.2 !g JAS IIP WMU U 11.6 6" c^ ^ o / Sciences Corporation ^^ <«^'i». 23 VtfBT MAM STMHT WnSTm,N.Y. 145»« (71«)S72-4S03 -SS ■Ji Sd nwi /m CANADA: IS SHE PREPARED FOR WAR? OR A FEW REMARKS OM • w Vwi mp- BY A NATIVE CANADIAN. TORONTO: PRINTED AT THE LEADER & PATRIOT STEAM-PRESS, 68 KINO STREET. 1861. t " THE NECESSin OK SUPPORTING A DEFENSIVE FORCE IN CANADA. The following pages are written with the intention of bringing before the notice of the Legislature and tlie public, the various arguments in favor of supporting an efficient defensive force in this Province, and with the full belief that if the subject is properly cousidered, investigated and understood, that the majority of politicians of every pcjrty, will arrive at the conclusion that it is advisable that Canada should support a well organized Active Force. The subject may be divided under two heads : 1. The different reH.sous which render it advisable to have a Militia Force. 2. The best system by which one can be organized and maintained. I. A military organization should be supported in this Province for two reasons : 1. In order to raise a military spirit in the people. 2. To be prepared for war, offensive or defensive. In the first place tlien, the greatest and most patriotic statesmen of ancient and modern times, have been deeply impressed with the necessity and advisability of encouraging and maintaining a warlike and military spirit, among the people over whom they were called to govern, fully sensi- ble of tlie fact, that where a nation loses its warlike virtues> and love for national and military glory, it must, sooner or later, inevitably succumb to some more warlike invading power, after vainly endeayoring to protect its rights, and preserve its liberties, with the arms of foreign mercenaries. If we look back to the annals of History, to the great Empires of antiquity, whoso wealth, grandeur, i)opulation, extent and resources, liavo never been equalled *n modern times, and whose greatness strikes lis with admiration and awe, and causes us to be amazed that tliey ever should liave decayed and fallen, we can trace the cause of their destruction and annihilation, to the increase of wealth, the increase of luxury, the entire loss of military and national spirit, and to the attacks and invasions of poorer, more valiant and more courageous nations. The Roman Law required a service of ten years in the Legions, as an indispensible qualilication for entering any public office, or performi.ig any public functions. It was to the assemblage of civic virtues and military spirit, passed from institutions into manners that the Eomans were in- debted for their greatness ; when they lost those virtues, and when, ceasing to regard the military service, an honor, as well as a duty, they abandoned it to the mercenary Goths, Heruli and Gauls, the loss of the empire became inevitable. The powers of Modern Europe all acknowledge the necessity of encouraging this spirit. In Prussia, every young man is obliged to serve for three years, after the age of twenty and before twenty-five, in the regular army; by this means every male subject is drilled, and has a knowledge of military duties for life, and a mili- tary spirit is thereby infused throughout the whole nation. The benefit of this system was clearly shown, when Prussia declared war against Napoleon after the campaign of Mc'S- cow ; tor immediately on the declaration of war, the whole population took up arms " en masse" to achieve the inde- pendence of their country and overthrow the enemy of their liberties. Sir Archibald Alison speaking of this circum- stance, says: — "The scholars of the universities, the pro- "lessors, the burghers alike took up arms: the cares of " interest, the pursuits of science, the labours of education, W u « <; (( u u< (( « v " wei'o forgotten. Art was turned only to warlike prepara- *' tion ; genius to fanning the universal ardour ; industry to " forging the implements of destruction. Korner gave vent '' to the general enthusiasm in strains of immortal verse, " which were repeated by thousands and tens of thousands " as they joyously marched to the points of rendezvous ; " while the women universally sent their precious ornaments " to the public treasury, and received in return similar " bijoux, beautifully worked in bronze, which soon decorated *' their bosoms, bearing the simple inscription, ^* I gave gold " for iron, 1813." In a short time none but old men and boys " were to be met in the streets ; not an ornament, but those '^ of iron, was to be seen either in dress or in the shops. "Thence has arisen the famous order of the Iron Cross in '' Prussia, and the beautiful Berlin bronze ornaments, so well " known and highly prized in every country of Europe. " It must be confessed that chivalry cannot boast of a " nobler fountain of honor, nor fashion of a more touching "memorial of virtue. Nobly did the Prussian youth on "that crisis discharge their duty to their country and " mankind. Could old Frederick have risen from his grave, " he might well have been proud of his people ; and patriots " ot every future age will recur to it as one of the brightest " spots in the annals ot history." France is essentially a military nation and always has been, consequently she was able to maintain a war under the first Napoleon for twenty-five years against the whole of Europe, and at the present day on account of her military power, her attitude, her acts, and her foreign relations, are watched by the civilized world, with greater attention and anxiety, than those of any other nation. A late Kew York paper speaking of European politics, says : " The history of " Europe is now centred in the history of one man — that "political raophistopheles Louis Kapoleon. He towers " wizard-like over every Court in Europe, and like Jupiter " he may bo said to even shake the world with his nod." 6 England, at tlio last moment, impelled by peremptory necessity, is also encouraging the military spirit, by every possible means, and has now a volunteer force, which re- flects the greatest credit on the wisdom and forethought of the Government that encourages, and the patriotism of the people who support it. General Jomini, one of the greatest military writers, speaking on this subject, says: "Nothing which may " augment the prosperity of • country ought to be forgotten " or despised ; it is even necessary to honor skilful men and " tradera, who are the first instruments of this prosperity, but "it is neceaeary that this be subordinate to the great " institutions, which make the strength of States by " encouraging the masculine and heroic virtues. Policy " and justice will be agreed in that for whatever Boilcau "may say of it, it will always be more glorious "To " brave death in the steps ot the Ctesars" than to fatten on " the public miseries by playing on the vicissitudes of the "credit of the state. Woe to those countries where the " luxury of the contractor, and the stockholder, insatiable " of gold, shall be placed above the uniform of the brave " man wh^ shall have sacrificed his life, his health, or his " fortune, in the defence of his countiy." The Right Honorable Wm. "Windham, in a speech before the House of Commons in 1806, says : " A state of war is in " itself a slate of evil, we wish not for it : we would fain avoid ". it : we would be at peace could we be so with honour and " security to ourselves. But whether at war or in the most " profound peace, let us never neglect to encourage and '' maintain a military aptitude and spirit in the people. " History teaches us that in all nations, and times, the ex- " tmction of this spirit has been rapidly followed by the loss " of every other national virtue." It is manifest, therefore, in view of the examples of hidtory, and the opinions of skilful and prudent statesmen, and politicians, that ovory one muit admit, that it is moit advisable, to use tlio greatest exertions to infuse a military spirit in the people. The best method of encouraging this spirit in this province is by organizing an efficient active Militia Force, which would be composed of young men, who, after servii\g in its ranks for a certain number of years, and after having learned the military duties, and imbibed military ideas, would leave the force well drilled, and make way for younger men, who, in their turn, would be instructed in military discipline, so that in time the great majority of the able bodied men of the country, would be prepared to take the field at a moment's notice,in vindication of their rights, and in defence of their liberties and independence. It is to be hoped therefore, that the Legis- lature will be impressed with the urgent necessity of organizing an efficient force for this reason alone. I iples of itesmen, n. To he prepared for war y offensive or def&MVoe. There are many individuals having no other ideas in their minds than the love of wealth, luxury and ease, and without a single spark of that patriotic and Loble spirit which leads men to sacrifice their lives, their health and their fortunes for their country and for its national honor, who on reading the foregoing remarks, would ridicule the idea of any one suggesting that we required a defensive force in the present civilized state of the world, and could not believe that a man could be found in these enlightened times with so great patriotism, and so little varice and sordidness, as to place liberty and national giory, above wealth and ignominious ease. To these I would suggest that the late war in the Crimea, the late wars in Italy and the present prospect of war in the neighbouring republic, prove that, notwithstanding the dreams of visionary philosophers, and the hopes of philan- 8 tliropists ; the millenium is not yet arrived ; the lamb can- not yet He down in peace with the lion. Science has per- formed miracles to procure cDraforts and luxuries ior man ; literature and art have exercised their genial influence over his life and manners, and commerce has brought nations geographically remote from each other, into the most inti- mate relations; and yet the root of all evil, interests, passions and ambitions are as actively alive in promoting discord, as at the darkest periods of the world's history. Again, in order to live in peace and remain in peace, we must be prepared for war ; and if the philanthropist, the merchant, the luxurious, the wealthy and the indolent, wish for peace, let them use their exertions to preserve peace, by getting such laws passed by the Legislature as as will put the Province into a good state of defence ; but let them not encourage war by leaving the cotmtry in so unprotected and defenceless a condition as to excite the cupidity and provoke the attacks of more powerful and more ambitious neighbors. In support of this doctrine, I will quote from the Earl of Derby's speech, on the funeral of the late Duke of "Welling- ton. " I am sure, my Lords, that the greatest and paramount " object of this country is the maintenance of a firm and "honorable peace — ^but I am no less convinced ot the " necessity, upon that principle which it was the late Duke's " constant duty to inculcate upon successive governments, " in order to maintain the security and the permanence of " peace — Lhe necessity that every nation should hf,ve within "itself those means of self-defence and of self-dependence, " which would not provoke aggression by their weakness, " more especially if to that weakness, is added the possession " of unbounded wealth. I trust that we shall bear this in " mitid, not in words only but by actions, and in our policy, *^ and that sotting aside all political and party considerations, "we shall all concur in this opinion, that in order to be « i " peaceful, England must be powerful, but tliat if England " ought to be powerful, she ought to be so only that she " may be the more secure of peace." It has often been urged at an argument against Canada supporting a Military Force, that as we have not the pre- rogative to declare war, to conclude peace or make treaties, and as the whole power to perform these functions vests in the Imperial Authorities, that therefore the Imperial Gov- ernment ought, in justice, to maintain an armed force in Canada to defend us from her enemies and protect us from the effects of her wars ; heretofore, Gi'eat Britain has done 80, but in 1855, on withdrawing the greater portion of her troops from this part of the dominions, she handed over to the Canadian Government the Ordnance Lands, an immense property, comprising large tracts of land, located in every County in the Province, and of the enormous value of $6,000,000 upon the express condition that Canada would maintain an efficient defensive force. Tiie Provincial Government have received this property, have appropriated it to different purposes, have given away tracts of it, have in fact been exceedingly generous and benevolent with it, and at the same time have a militia law on the statute book of the Province, which reflects but little credit on the government which Introduced it, on the Parlia- ment which passed it, or on the country over which it is to apply. A large tract of the ordnance land has been appropriated for the Government Buildings at Ottawa ; other portions have been set apart for Reformatory Prisons and other public institutions at Isle aux Noix, Penetanguishene and Amherstbuigh, and land has also been given for Monuments at Queenston Heights and Chateauguay. Now although the ordnance lands do not at present produce any rental in comparison to their immense value, nevertheless the fair annual value of the portions appropriated for various 10 purposes by Government, sbould be set apart to the credit of the militia fund. It is obvioasly necessary for the honor of the Province that we should apply faithfully, the pro- ceeds from these lands, to the trusts upon which they were conveyed to our local government. I will exclude iheee remarks on the ordnance lands, by quoting from an article in the Montreal Gazette of the 7th January ; referring to the appropriation of the ordnance property, the Gazette says : " A public man who would rob a public trust without '* even the poor plea of having any need to do so, would "rob a hen roost without being impelled thereto by the "pang of hunger — the public man who holds ideas or " principles so dangerously loose, so contrary to the law, " and the established morality of all civilized nations, is the " last who should be permitted to hold any situation of trust *' near the Provincial Treasury. It is very bad that "doctrines so shameful should be scattered among the " people, by a political leader in the broad, sheets of a "newspaper. What right have we to take trust lands for " the site of our Parliament Buildings, for making parks " around the monuments of the heroes, whom we delight, "and do well to honor and hold their names in sacred " memory, and not pay for them. That would be to exhibit " ourselves in a beautiful position before the world, it is bad " enough to flaunt and boast in pamphlets, (&c., of the great "things we do for defence — to strut about in borrowed " plumes, when the Imperial Govsrnment pays almost the " whole cost of our militia force. But to steal from and rob " a trust for lands for our Parliamentary Buildings, and for " parks around the monuments of our heroes, and then go " flaunting that about, would, we submit, be carrying the '^ bad joke a great deal too far." 11 i II. The lest system hy which a Militia three can he organized and maintained. In the year 1855, during the administration of Sir Allan McKab, Baronet, and under the auspices of that gallant soldier and patriotic statesman himself, with the able co- operation of that well tried militiaman. Col. Tache, Major Campbell and a few others, a militia law was passed, under which a most efficient volunteer force was rapidly being organized, and during the three years of the existejice of that law, had given the most astonishing proofs of its increasing prosperity, when just as the corps had got into a serviceable state, the militia law of 1859 was passed, which in effect destroys the efficiency of the force, for it is morally impossible that any useful organization can be maintained under its provisions. In ^ct had it not been for the auspicious visit of His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales to this continent^ the Active Force would have become ere this, but little moio than an organization on paper; the loyalty, nevertheless, and the esprit-de-corps of the volunteer companies led them to incur a large additional outlay in equipping themselves, being determined to use their utmost exertions, to place themselves in a position to pay honor and devotion to their future sovereign, tho son of their beloved Queen, and to conceal as far as possible from the illustrious strangers the effects and defects of the system under which free and self- governing Canada expects to support a militia. The Militia JForce should be composed of the three arms : 1st. Cavalry ; 2nd. Artillery ; 3rd. Infantry ; and it is to be hoped that during the coming session the Legislature will repeal the present law, and revive the old law, so as to support the same amount of the three forces as was formerly maintained. 19 Ist. The Cavalry. As the present act curtails this arm of the service to a greater extent than either of the other two, I shall enlarge more fully on the argumentb in favor of that force than would be necessary under other circumstances. The Militia is peculiarly a defensive force, and we should bear this in mind in arranging the formation of it. If. therefore, the experience of ages, and the examples of history are considered, it will be perceived that no arm of the service is so singularly adapted to the purposes of defence as the Light Cavalry. All the great invasions of ancient and modern times have succumbed to the attacks of the Light Horse. Alexander the Great understood this, and refrained from invading the territory defended by the Scythian tribes of horsemen. Darius penetrated into it and perished. The legions of Marc Antony and Crassus sank under the incessant attacks of the. Parthian horse. The heroism of Bichard Cceur de Lion, was of no aysilf. when opposed to the innumerable squadrons of Saladin. The expedition of Napoleon to Bussia, was defeated through the exertions of the Cossacks and other light cavalry of the Russian army. And it is a striking proof, of the lasting influence of general causes, on the greatest of human un- dertakings, that the overthrow of the mightiest armament, which the power of civilized man ever hurled against the forces of any country, was in reality owing to the same causes which in every age, have given victory to the nations of horsemen. It was by his cavalry that Hannibal conquered at the Ticino and Cannse, and Kapoleon at Austerlitz, Jena. Borodino and Eylau. Hyder's horse almost drove the English into the Madras surf, and the English dragoons decided the fate of India at Assaye. A charge of French horsemen at Marengo gave }!^apoleon an empire — another of the English light dragoons on the flank of the Old Guard at Waterloo hurled him to the rock of St. Helena. 13 The greatest generals of all ages have expressed them- selves in favor of Cavalry. Hannibal was fully sensible of their prowess and knew how to profit by it, and it was not • till after the victories of this formidable general had de- vasted Italy, that the Komans began to improve and increase their cavalry ; on this point Polybius expressly says : " The " Carthaginians owed, not only their victory of Cannte, but " all their more early victories to the preponderance of their *' cavalry, and thereby gave a lesson to all nations how ** advantageous it is to surpass the enemy in cavalry." Gustavus Adolphus encouraged his cavalry as much as possible, studied their manoeuvres and was the first general who regularly formed his dragoons in three ranks instead of six or eight. Count Tilly also kept up a splendid mount- ed force. Charles XII. occupied himself most particularly with his cavalry, in the year 1707 he rode two horses to death at a review of a regiment, and in 1705 he himselt compiled a regulation book for the use of his cavalry. Frederick the Great had a higher opinion of his cavalry than of any other force, and won the greater number of his victories with that portion of his army, as at Rosbach, Zomdorf, Prague, Leuthen and Hohen Friedberg, in this reign, under the command of the celebrated General, Seidlitz, the cavalry reached the highest perfection, and was truly invincible. Montecucuili knew well the superiority of cavalry, " The most important act of an army," says this General '' is the battle, and the most eftectiv6 force which operates "therein, is the cavalry, it must consequently decide the " event, if the cavalry is beaten the battle is irretrievably " lost, if on the other hand it is victorious, the victory is " always complct?." The Great Cotide had the highest opinion of the prowess of cavalry, and leading his own horsemen, won the battle of Kocroy, 19th May, 1643: and 20,000 men of the best 14 infantry of that time, which under Charles the Fifth, and Philip the second, had made Europe tremble, were almost entirely destroyed by a cavalry force alone. Torenue also favored the cavalry ; in 1653, when the Archduke and Conde invaded Picardy, and threatened Paris with 30,000 men. Turenue marched to oppose them with 10,000 cavalry and 6,000 infantry, showing from their proportions the high value he placed on the cavalry, and his opponents seemed to agree with him, for they retreated out of the country without risking one general engagement. Marlborough depended on his cavalry to gain all his victories ; Blenheim, Bamilies, Oudenarde and Malplaquet were won by that force. The passage of the lines of the Mehaigne in 1705, was effected by Marlborough in person at the head of his cavalry. The passage of the lines of Bouchain in 1711, was accomplished in a similar manner. Napoleon says : " My decided opinion is that cavalry, if led by equally brave and resolute men, must break infantry." [see Las Cases VII. 184.] An opinion contraiy to that often received but supported by not a lew of the memorable facts recorded by history in all ages, and which, coming from such a commander, who so well knew the value of both infantry and artillery, is well worthy of the most serious consideration. Colonel Macdougall, commandant of the Royal Military Staff College at Sandhurst, m his work on the " Theory of "War," says : " Ko formation of infantry can resist the shock " of horses ridden, as English dragoons do ride, in earnest — " who, that has read of the charge of the Light Cavalry " Brigade at Balaklava, but believes implicitly, that that •' splendid chivahy would have swept away any infantry " formation as foam before the hurricane, many saddles " would have been emptied, doubtless as many were, but '* the survivois would have got in as the survivors did, and " there would then have been short work of the infantry. 16 This opinion seems to be supported by many examples where cavalry alone have defeated both infantry and artillery, as at F^re Ghampenoise, on the 25th March, 1814, where several French squaies were completely cut to pieces by the allied cavalry. At the battle of Dennewitz, 6lh September, 1813, the Prussian Cavalry cut down two regiments of French Infantry. At Beidau, on the 1st May, 1809, the regiment of Baden Dragoons, under the command of Colonel Von Heimroth, made a charge on a battalion in square, which it completely annihilated. At the battle of Cateau, in Flanders, 25th April, 1794, Colonel Prince Von Schwartzburg, at the head of six Austrian and twelve English squadrons, attacked a column of French Infantry. Two thousand men were cut down, twenty-two guns, twenty-nine ammunition wagons and 136 horses taken, together with Ohapuy, the General command- ing, and 277 men. On the 22nd August, 1796, the Archduke Charles, with cavalry alone, beat Berndotte at Teiningen. At Melazzo, the victorious Austrian infantry, notwith- standing their fire and steadiness, were surrounded by the Spanish cavalry and cut to pieces. The Duke of Vendoms, with his cavalry aloav'i- ^annihilated the Spanish Infantry at Marseilles. At the battle of Mons-en-Pucelle, the cavalry of Philip the Fair attacked the Flemish Infantry. Their leader, William Von Julich, and the greater part of this infantry perished on the spot. During the war with Persia, in the year 1867, the 3rd Bombay Light Cavalry charged a square of 600 Persians, (well formed and undisturbed by the fire of either Artillery or Infantry,) rode through them, went threes about and charged back again, killing or wounding all but twenty, IC who wore taken prisoners, affording a frightful example of tlie destructiveness of cavalry at the present day. It has been said that cavalry are of no use in this Pro- vince, or in any conntry where there are not large level plains to fight on ; this objection conld only be raised by those who know nothing of cavalry tactics, and are nn- acquainted with their nses ; for some of their most important duties are to cut off convoys of provisions, to forage, to act as outposts, to obtain information, to harrass the retreat of the enpmy, to cut off stragglers, and to finish victories ; they have even been nsed to attack entrenchments, as, for instance, by Marlborough, in the lines of the Mehaigne, where the dragoons under his command threw their bundles of hay into the ditch and filled it, rode across on them and stormed the entrenchments mounted. The Cuirassiers of Napoleon stormed the great redoubt at the battle of Borodino, the account of which I quote in Alisons own words : after the French Infantry under Prince Eugene had made several ineffectual attempts to storm the great redoubt, "Napoleon resolved to make a desperate '* effort to regain his advantages in the centre ; and while " the viceroy reformed his divisions for the assault, Caulain- " court, in command of Montbrun's division of cuirassiers, " which he had assumed, as that General hadjustbeen struck " down by a cannon shot, was directed to penetrate through " the Russian line, and wheeling round, enter the entrench " ment by its gorge. ' You will see me immediately dead " or alive,' was the answer of the brave general, and he set '* off at a gallop at the head of his followers, and the glitter- " ing mass was soon lost in the volumes of smoke as he " approached the entrenchment. The Russians, hastened by " all possible means to support the point of attack, the corps *' of Osterman was placed in front, and the regiments of the "guards Preobazinski and Semcnowskoie, were stationed as " a reserve in the rear. Caulaincourt advancing with the It i " utmost rapidity, overthrew the regiments of Russian horse, " whom Kutusoff had opposed to him, while the great *' redoubt continued to vomit forth an incessant fire upon itt " assailants. Eugene with his infantry was advancing to " the attack ; the bayonets of his troops were already gleam- " ing on ita slope, when tlie columns of the cuirassiers were *' seen descending through the clouds of smoke which envel- ** oped the entrenchment ; its sides seemed clothed in glitter- " ing steel ; and the fire from its summit, after redoubling " in fury for a few seconds, suddenly coised. The flames of "the volcano were extinguished in I aod; and the re- ♦' splendent casques of the French cuii assiers appeared when " the smoke cleared away, above the highest embrasures of " of the entrenchment." If, therefore, the opinions of the greatest Generals and soldiers of ancient and modern times — ^men who have also shown themselves to be accomplished and skilful statesmen — are considered concerning the cavalry force ; they will be found to be directly opposed to the ideas expressed by the Honorable John Sandfield Macdonald in the House of Assembly on the occasion of the passing of the present militia law, and it can hardly be believed, though appear- ance might lead one to suppose so, that the members of the Legislature considered the honorable gentleman above referred to, a better judge of the eflUciency of any branch ot the service than those men who had passed their lives in the active occupation of arms, and who had risen to such emi- nence in their profession, that their names have been handed down to the admiration of posterity, while the statesmen and politicians of their times, have ages past sunk into the obscurity befitting their secondary position. It is sincerely hoped that in any future Legislation on the subject, the members of the House will give greater weight to tiie opinions of scientific soldiers, than to those of a civi- lian who cannot fairly be expected to have the same knowledge of military matters as experienced generals. B 18 Yeomanry could be very easily raised and kept up in Canada, where the farmers and farmers sons have horses of their own and know how to ride them ; these men are also permanent settlers in the country, and as a body are its principal proprietors, and when drilled they remain in the Province and would always be useful in case of war or invasion. It is to be hoped that the Legislature in discuss- ing the question will remember these facts, and call to mind the great utility of the Yeomanry, for the purpose for which the militia is required. 2nd. Artillery. The utility of this arm of the service is too well established to require any lengthened arguments in its favor. There is not the slightest doubt that any one who may have studied military history, or have had experience in actual warfare will have perceived that the artillery is a very important part of an army, and that an army without it cannot ac- complish great victories. The artillery is at the same time an offensive and defen- sive arm, equally formidable. A strong battery crushes the hostile line and enables the troops which attack it to succeed. As a defensive arm it doubles the strength of a position, not only from the deadly effects of its fire from afar, and the moral effect it produces on the troops advanc- ing against it; but also by its destructive fire at close range, with grape and canister. It is also highly important in the attack ftnd defense of places or of intrenched camps, for it is the soul of fortification. Napoleon won the battle of "Wagram, when ho was almost defeated, by concentrating one hundred guns against the centre of the Austrian army to support the attack of McDonald's division, these guns destroyed everything opposed to them, and the victoiy was gained. Napoleon speaking of the artillery, says : " As to pretend- " ing to rush upon the guns, and carry them by the bayonet, 19 " or picking off tho gunners by musketry, those are chimeri- " Cttl ideas." "Tiiero is no infantry liowcver intrepid that " can without artillery march with impunity ten or twelve " hundred yards against sixteen well placed pieces of cannon " served by good gunners; before it could accomplish two " thirds of tho distance those men would be killed, wounded " or dispersed. We know not a single instance in which 20 "pieces of cannon judiciously placed and in battery were " ever carried by the bayonet." Artillery require however to be covered from an attack of cavalry, as a quick charging line of horse will suffer little from a common fire. In this province wo must have artillery if the militia is intended to be at all serviceable. If we were without that service, any invadin;? force by occupying villages and buildings, would turn thoLi into fortiilcations, from which it would be more difficult to drive them without artillery, than to displace them from strongly entrenched positions with it. We have an example of this in our own history, a body of sympathizers landed at Prescott in 1838, and by occupying a stone windmill and a few houses inflicted severe loss on the Canadian forces who attempted in vain to dislodge them, and held their position for some days until cannon wert. brought on the ground and caused them to surrender. Tho authorities seem to understand the necessity of sup- porting a serviceable artillery force — and as the Act of 1859 does not alter the law in any material points peculiarly connected with the artillery, the changes it requires in common with the other forces will be considered hereafter. 3rd. Infantry. The infantry is. without contradiction, the most important arm, since it forms four fifths of an army, and is the force which defends positions or carries them. But it it must be admitted, that next to the talent of a General it is the main instrument of victory ; it must be owned also that 20 it finds a powortul support in tho cavalry ftnd artillery, and that witl out thoir co-oporation it would often be much ex- poRod and able only to gain half successes. The infantry is the main portion of an army, the others support it. One of the principal uses of cavalry is to cover and support the infantry ; the artillery when it bombards the ramparts of a strong place opens a passage for the infan- try. The employment of engineers around a city besieged is to facilitate the approaches of the infantry. It is a service the most extended in its practice and employment of all others, and can bo used on all descriptions of ground, on mountains, or in tho iorests, where the other forces are unable to penetrate. Infantry has also been often able to defeat the attacks of cavalry. At the battle of Minden, 1st August, 1759, six regiments of English Infantry defeated sixty squadrons of French Cavalry. At the battle of Fuentes de Honor in 1811 the allied army retired by f>quares for more than two miles, repelling every effort of General Montbrun's Cavalry. The Turkish Cavalry were unable to penetrate into General Kleber's corps formed in square at the battle of Mount Thabor, in 1799. General Newerofskoi marched across the plains of Krnsnoi, 15th August, 1812, with 7,000 men in two squares, sur- rounded by French Cavalry, and although the French dragoons penetrated into the squares and cut down the Russian officers in the very centie of them, nevertheless they formed again, and repulsed the frequent charges of the Cavalry, and at length, in the evening, reached Korytnia with unbroken ranks, though with the loss of twelve hundred men and five pieces of cannon. Infantry should be maintained in this Province to enable the young men of the town and villages to be instructed in target firing and company drill, and the Government should 21 mako such . •'rongomontg that tho numbon of tho Rifle Oorps Bhonld be thoroughly taught tlio nature and use of tho rifle according to the latest rules of musketry instruc- tion. Upon the amount of skill displayed by the infantry soldiers individually in the use of their splendid weapon, must the general efficiency of the whole force collectively be calculated. The Infantry should be brought together as much as possible, and in as 'arge numbers as convenient to bo taught regimental and brigade movements, as they cannot be worked into a really serviceable condition under the present system. It is obviously necessary for tho safety and credit of tho Province that we should support a numerous and well organized body of riflemen. Haviug considered the various reasons which render it advisable for tl'e Province to support the whole three forces, viz : — ^The Cavalry, tho Artillery, and the Infantry. I shall briefly mention a few changes that should bo made in the present militia law referring to tho wholo force collectively. In the first place, then, the number of corps should be again raised to the standard, provided for by the Act of 1855 ; for there are many corps which were organized under that law who are now converted into class B, or, in other words, disbanded. This is very unfair to these corps, as they have incurred great expense in getting their uniforms and accoutrements, and by their exertions and zeal, had raised themselves to a prosperous and fltourishing condition. Iq common justice, they should be again put on the roll of the active force in the first enactment that may be made by the Legislature on the subject. Again the number of men in each corps should be at least 50, as the old law provides, iustead of 30, as at present, 22 'I This is desirable for soveral reasons. 1. Because 50 men only require the same officers and the same staff as 30. 2. Because it is as easy to drill 59 men in field movements at the same time as 30. 3. Because drilling with 30 men amounts only to squad drill, and yolunteers can never learn regimental or field movements, unless there are enough of men to tell off into skeleton squadrons or regiments to go through those manoeuvres, with only 30 men they can hardly be taught properly, even troop or company movements. 4. Because all the officers commanding have now in their possession 50 stand of arms each or more, and men can easily be found under a proper law to use those arms in driUing. 5. Because in the regular army, troops and com- panies are generally composed of from 80 to 100 men. The opinion has been expressed that the Government ought to pay for the uniforms of the men, but there is no doubt that the system of the men paying for their own clothes is the best that can be adopted to assist an officer in keeping up hie, corps, and for keeping out the migratory classes^ who might join the militia, for the sake of the pay and the clothing only, for "-/hen a man must serve for a year or more, to pay for his uniform without getting any- thing himself, it is a proof of his intention of remaining in the force. Again when a man spends $20 or $30 for a uniform it is just so much money invested in the corps, and if he leaves, or is dismissed, he loses whatever his uniform may have cost him. Moreover, if the men own their clothing, they will have an interest in taking care of it. Therefore it would be better for the Government, if they are willing to supply the clothing, to furnish the uniforms of the same pattern to the men at cost price, and stop the amount from their pay ; but in all cases the men should receive enough pay to cover the expense of the unirorm in one year, or a year and a half at the most. u 23 In order to prevent men joining the force for a few weeks only, merely to draw the pay, the present law provides that no man shall receive pay unless he has been in the corps from January to November in each year. This is perfectly imnecessary, for when a man enrolls in a troop or company he does not receive any pay until his uniform is paid for, so that there can certainly be no inducement for him to join merely for what he can make by it. This provision ought to be repealed, as it is not oi the least use, and throws un- necessary obstacles in the way of the captain recruiting. At present the men are not paid until December in each year. This ought to be remedied. Instead of the men giving six months credit to the Government they ought to be paid as soon as possible aitor their drill is over, as is the custo: with the militia of England. It would be good policy to allow the members of the volunteer force to be exempt from statute labour, as it would be a great inducement to settled inhabitants to enter the militia and remain in it, and would be one of the best pro- visions that could be made for the purpose of jBlling the ictive force with permanent settlers instead of with the "migratory classes," who are continually passing from Canada to the States. In conclusion, it is manifest that the first duty of a free and independent country is to make such arrangements, and provide such defences, as will tend to preserve its freedom and independence. Any nation that neglects to perform this paramount duty must sooner or later lose its independ- ent character, and become the conquered Province of some More wisely and more prudently governed State. I appeal, therefore, to the Government to use their influ- ence, to the Parliament to exercise their power, and to the people to use their utmost exertions, to have Canada placed in such a state of defence, that in case the revolutionary doctrines which are now plunging the neighboring States into the horrors of a civil war, or the ambitious designs of despotic rulers in Europe, should bring about contingencies that would overshadow this ProTince with the dark cloud of a national war, we might b^* prepared to oppose the fierce storm of republican fury, and buffet the angry waves of foreign aggression, with such ability and success, that our posterity in futixre ages would look back with pride and exultation to the early history of their nation, and thank their forefathers for their wisdom and prudence that pre- served the independence of their country, and bequeathed it to them with so glorious a prestige, and so honorable a name. \ H placed bionary States igns of ^ncies lond of i fierce Eives of lat oar de and thank at pre- ithed it I name.