Two remarkable articles, upon the "Physical Resources of the Confederacy" and "The Situation, Past and Present," were published, several days since, in the Richmond Whig. As they seem to be the result of profound study, and are very encouraging, we propose to give a summary of their contents, having no room to publish them in extenso.
The belief has been very widely entertained that the arms bearing population of the Confederacy is exhausted. This belief — common to us and the Yankees — has had the effect of depressing our people and stimulating the Yankees. It is utterly erroneous. The materials of which armies are composed exist around us in sufficient abundance not only to keep up our force to its present standard, but to enlarge it beyond what it has ever been. This is proved by comparing data derived from the statistics afforded by the census of 1860, with an estimate of losses and diminution of resources sufficiently large to cover all decrease in the supply of arms-bearing men.--For example:
The white male population of all the Confederacy, leaving out Kentucky and Missouri, was, in 1860, a fraction less than 2,800,000. Of this male population, a fraction less than 1,300,000 were between the ages of seventeen and fifty. The persons who have arrived at the age of seventeen since 1860 are computed at a fraction above 330,000--a moderate computation we think. Add these numbers together, and we have, in round numbers, 1,630,000 fighting men. Allowing 200,000 for the average natural mortality of four years, and we still have 1,430,000. But a great deal of the Confederacy is in the hands of the enemy It is computed that this occupation deprives us of 340,000 men (in round numbers) between the ages of seventeen and fifty. These are to be deducted, and they leave 1,090,000--say, in round numbers, 1,100,000. If these are under estimates, they may be supplied by troops from Missouri, Kentucky and Maryland, and refugees from those portions of the other States under Yankee domination.
A farther deduction must be made for the casualties that have resulted either in death or disability. This is done by estimating the losses in General Lee's army for the last year. Putting it at 35,000--which is greatly above the truth — and allowing 5,000 for dead and 5,000 for permanently disabled, we have 10,000 for that army. Making the same allowance for the Army of Tennessee, we have 20,000 for the two armies. It is fair to make the same allowance for all the rest of the forces, so that the entire disabling casualties amount to 30,000, --To these add fifty per cent. for mortality peculiar to camps--45,000. The whole loss then may be computed at 75,000 men for this year. But it has been much heavier this year than it was during the other three years of the war. It is fair to say that in 1861, when there was little fighting, the loss was 30,000; in 1862, and 1863, 60,000 each — so that the whole loss from disease and battle has been 225,000. Add to this 50,000 for prisoners. Total, 275,000. Take this 1,100,000, and we have 825,000. Allowing 100,000 for exempts and details, and there is still a fighting population of 725,000 men ! Allowing one out of every three for details, and we still have 480,000 men; more than the Yankees ever had, and enough, if embodied, to drive every Yankee out of the country in three months, and keep them out. We have not followed the numbers of our author fully, because he aims at exactness, while, we use only round numbers.
Such we believe to be very nearly a true statement. There can be but one thing wanted to secure undoubted success. That one thing is the spirit of the people. If they will use the advantages they have their triumph is certain. But if the spirit is gone, ten millions of soldiers, "armed all in proof," will do no good. We are pretty confident that that time has not arrived as yet. Looking at the actual situation, we are far from being discouraged. We hold, at this moment, far more territory than we did this time last year — a proof that, upon summing up the whole, the campaign has been greatly in our favor. At the opening of the last campaign, Grant invaded us with an army so large that the Yankees thought he had nothing to do but to march into Richmond. Sherman had the command at Dalton, and was to advance victoriously to the gulf or ocean, finally subduing every foot of ground as he passed over it. The whole of North Alabama and the whole of Tennessee were in the possession of the Yankees.--Across the Mississippi, Price had been driven to Camden. Arkansas and Louisiana were believed to be conquered; and in Texas, they held possession of the lower valley of the RioGrande. How is it now? Grant Hesinactive — apparently unable to move — after having lost in his Virginia operations 250,000 men; about 75,000 more than his original army consisted of. Sherman has marched through Georgia and left the whole country open behind him. The enemy has been entirely expelled from Alabama, and almost entirely from Mississippi.--Arkansas, with the exception of a very small portion has been regained, and the Confederate flag, except at New Orleans and along the river banks, floats over the whole of Mississippi. The Yankees hold no part of Texas except Brazos Santiago. Even after the defeat of Hood — the only material disaster we have suffered — our armies are stronger in proportion to those of the enemy than they were this time last year.
