RAILROADS, TELEGRAPHS, AND CIVILIZATION. 317 



most evident there. Trade and industry, and all economical life, could 

 hardly be thought of to-day without the co-operation of the post. And 

 that it has surely, effectively, and abundantly contributed to their 

 advancement, to a degree that appears wonderful to us, has again been 

 made possible only by the use of railroads, steamers, and telegraphs. 

 Neither the relatively small postage rate within a single state nor the 

 moderate rate of the Postal Union, the establishment of which repre- 

 sented one of the most remarkable stages in the progress of civiliza- 

 tion, would have been possible without these vehicles, as the always 

 ready, cheap, and indefatigable bearers of our correspondence. 



So dependent upon one another are all the factors of human life 

 that we should expect to observe the effects of the agencies we have 

 been considering upon all, and we do so observe them, most promi- 

 nently, perhaps, besides the points on which we have remarked, upon 

 the modern methods of war. The steamer has within the last thirty 

 years taken the place of the sailing-vessel in the navies of all coun- 

 tries to such an extent that the latter is only exceptionally used for 

 warlike purposes. Connected with this change are changes in the 

 form and handling of the guns, armoring, the introduction of turret- 

 ships, and modifications of naval tactics. 



While the locomotive has not been made a direct arm, railroads 

 and telegraphs have greatly changed the aspects of war on land. With 

 their help, the mobilization of the army and the concentration of its 

 scattered divisions at the point selected for attack or defense are ac- 

 complished in a space of time that is almost as nothing compared with 

 what was required to move troops by the old method. The skillful 

 and energetic use of these helps gives, under some circumstances, an 

 impetus that may be decisive for the issue of the war. They are no 

 less important during the progress of the war, in that they are useful 

 for the forwarding of troops and camp-supplies. The army that con- 

 trols the railroads is master of the field. It is for the general so to 

 manage the movements of troops by their aid that his forces shall at 

 any given time be superior to those of the enemy at an appointed 

 place, and either compel them to retreat or to fight under unfavorable 

 circumstances. Modern strategy, therefore, consists no little in having 

 knowledge and skill enough to operate with the railroads as the most 

 important factors of movements and the actions, in which, with mod- 

 ern arms, multitudes of men are of more effect than personal bravery, 

 as never to strike except where and when he knows that his forces are 

 superior. It is also an important consideration that provisions and 

 ammunition and re-enforcements can be steadily supplied to the army 

 by means of railroads, so as to keep it constantly effective, even in the 

 enemy's country ; and that the wounded can be carried away from 

 the neighborhood of the battle-field to hospitals far back, or to their 

 homes. 



While it is true that wars have in these days become more bloody, 



