November 4, 1862 (Wednesday): "Archimedes with his longest lever..."

Archimedes Lever (math.nyu.edu)

WASHINGTON, November 4, 1862.
Major General N. P. BANKS,
New York:
GENERAL: Your letter of the 1st instant is just received. I am happy to learn that your prospects are so good for filling up your expedition. I think it would be well to designate your brigadier-generals, so that they may join your troops immediately. The matter of arms will be referred to Assistant Secretary Watson. The rule is that each State should take its proportion of each kind of arms, according to the quota of troops furnished. The prejudice against smooth-bores is unfounded. They are more effective in a battle than rifles. The latter are better for skirmishers, but in a close engagement, experience has proved that the ball and buck will kill and wound more.
    The steamers for Hilton Head will return in time for a part of your command. The transports sent with troops to North Carolina are by this time on their way back. There therefore should be no clashing in this matter.
    Our prospect of an early movement down the Mississippi is improving. In fact, while things remain almost in statu quo here, where Archimedes with his longest lever could not move the army, at the West everything begins to look well again.
     Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

    
      H. W. HALLECK,
      General-in-Chief.

Official Records, Series III., Vol. 2, Part 1, Page 737.

Banks was on his way to replace Butler in command of the Department of the Gulf.  Halleck's assessment of the military situation is noteworthy, if only for its humor.  Archimedes was noted for saying of levers, "Give me a place to stand on, and I will move the earth."  Here, Halleck insinuates even the great Greek mathematician would be unable to move McClellan to action.  What Halleck realizes, and not enough historians acknowledge, is the rebellion was faltering due to the inability of the Confederates to sustain any progress in reshaping the military frontier in the west.  Halleck's comments regarding the advantages of the buck and ball over the rifle are also interesting, if only for the degree to which they fly in the face of what is often said about Civil War weapons.