Arms in the South.
The New Orleans Delta is in favor of furnishing our soldiers with the best arms that are to be had, whether of short or long range, and urges the necessity of prompt action in the matter, in view of the imminent danger now threatened against the coast. In a recent article the Delta remarks:‘ We observed, in the brigade which was reviewed on Saturday last — the Louisiana Legion--that one of the battalions, and a very splendid one, was without fire-arms. It was quite as evident that the men composing this battalion are of a class who, in a fight, would not be very choice about the arms with which they would throw themselves upon an enemy; that they are men of individual pluck, prowess and heroism. Such men, indeed the vast majority of our fighting population, have a far greater reliance in battle than any improved weapons can give — the same reliance which justified the Romans in shortening their swords, in order to bring the enemy nearer to them. This is the quality of personal courage, individual heroism, coolness in the face of danger. Such men do not need long-range guns, and it is folly for our authorities to wait for or delay the organization of our forces on account of a lack of such arms. We have it in our power to supply such soldiers with weapons better adapted for their use. The city abounds in revolvers and in the material to manufacture, at short notice, pikes, which would be more effective than bayonets. Our whole military strategy may be summed up in the single order to closer upon the enemy and engage him at the shortest possible distance.--The old tactics of push-pike is the one for our soldiers to practice. The Yankee can beat us at long-range practice. All his military genius is taxed to the uttermost to invent weapons which will enable him to destroy the foe with the least possible danger to himself. The people whose minds are bent on such a mode of warfare are the very race who will not stand close contact, and whom a brave enemy have only to close upon to put to flight. This was proved at the battle of Manassas. Our soldiers had to conceal themselves to draw the enemy up to the short range of their guns. Whenever they were charged at short distance, they invariably took to their heels.
A battalion, armed with revolvers and pikes, might draw their fire, and, charging in their midst, would make short work with them. This is the tactics which has given such renown to the French Zouaves. Though armed with muskets, they rarely draw upon their cartridge-boxes, but, after one volley, rush upon the enemy and give him the cold steel. Let our soldiers adopt this tactics.--Let all who cannot get muskets be supplied with revolvers and pikes, or other effective side arms, and the result will not be doubtful.
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