Increase of the Yankee cavalry.
The Yankee journals, stimulated by the novelty of a partial success in cavalry raids, are turning their attention from gunboats to horses, and are as delighted and demonstrative as children in possession of a new toy. The gunboats, which were once a terror, have fallen into almost equal contempt with friends and foes, and now the horses, with which Yankees are much less familiar than with gunboats, are expected to take the place as an element of Yankee power of the defunct monstrosities.
We are not disposed to underrate the potency of this last instrument of mischief; but to be forewarned is to be forearmed.
The
Yankees are always good enough to announce their amiable intentions to us in advance, as on the occasion of
Stoneman's raid, and they now say a hundred thousand cavalry will be added to their army in six months. We may as well believe them, and prepare for the result.
A comparatively small force of infantry, availing itself of the natural difficulties of the country, can keep back a large force of cavalry; but, for this purpose, the whole population of able bodied exempts should organize, and peremptory measures be everywhere adopted for any sudden emergency that may arise.
Our military leaders might be called on to furnish the details of a plan for the proper defence of the country against cavalry incursions.
Wherever there are woods, or means of ditching and obstructing roads, it cannot be difficult to keep at bay Yankees or horses; for the
Yankee is never less at home than on that animal, and if, with the aid of only two legs, he runs so fast that even our own cavalry can scarcely overtake him, what might he not be made to do with the aid of six?
