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extraordinary dexterity and skill in the use of arms； though they
are far from being of no consequence； are； however； of less
consequence。 The nature of the weapon； though it by no means puts
the awkward upon a level with the skilful； puts him more nearly
so than he ever was before。 All the dexterity and skill； it is
supposed； which are necessary for using it； can be well enough
acquired by practising in great bodies。
Regularity； order； and prompt obedience to command are
qualities which； in modern armies； are of more importance towards
determining the fate of battles than the dexterity and skill of
the soldiers in the use of their arms。 But the noise of firearms；
the smoke； and the invisible death to which every man feels
himself every moment exposed as soon as he comes within
cannon…shot； and frequently a long time before the battle can be
well said to be engaged； must render it very difficult to
maintain any considerable degree of this regularity； order； and
prompt obedience； even in the beginning of a modern battle。 In an
ancient battle there was no noise but what arose from the human
voice； there was no smoke； there was no invisible cause of wounds
or death。 Every man； till some mortal weapon actually did
approach him； saw clearly that no such weapon was near him。 In
these circumstances； and among troops who had some confidence in
their own skill and dexterity in the use of their arms； it must
have been a good deal less difficult to preserve some degree
regularity and order； not only in the beginning； but through the
whole progress of an ancient battle； and till one of the two
armies was fairly defeated。 But the habits of regularity； order；
and prompt obedience to command can be acquired only by troops
which are exercised in great bodies。
A militia； however； in whatever manner it may be either
disciplined or exercised； must always be much inferior to a
well…disciplined and well…exercised standing army。
The soldiers who are exercised only once a week； or once a
month； can never be so expert in the use of their arms as those
who are exercised every day； or every other day； and though this
circumstance may not be of so much consequence in modern as it
was in ancient times； yet the acknowledged superiority of the
Prussian troops； owing； it is said； very much to their superior
expertness in their exercise； may satisfy us that it is； even at
this day； of very considerable consequence。
The soldiers who are bound to obey their officer only once a
week or once a month； and who are at all other times at liberty
to manage their own affairs their own way； without being in any
respect accountable to him； can never be under the same awe in
his presence； can never have the same disposition to ready
obedience； with those whose whole life and conduct are every day
directed by him； and who every day even rise and go to bed； or at
least retire to their quarters； according to his orders。 In what
is called discipline； or in the habit of ready obedience； a
militia must always be still more inferior to a standing army
than it may sometimes be in what is called the manual exercise；
or in the management and use of its arms。 But in modern war the
habit of ready and instant obedience is of much greater
consequence than a considerable superiority in the management of
arms。
Those militias which； like the Tartar or Arab militia； go to
war under the same chieftains whom they are accustomed to obey in
peace are by far the best。 In respect for their officers； in the
habit of ready obedience； they approach nearest to standing
armies。 The highland militia； when it served under its own
chieftains； had some advantage of the same kind。 As the
highlanders； however； were not wandering； but stationary
shepherds； as they had all a fixed habitation； and were not； in
peaceable times； accustomed to follow their chieftain from place
to place； so in time of war they were less willing to follow him
to any considerable distance； or to continue for any long time in
the field。 When they had acquired any booty they were eager to
return home； and his authority was seldom sufficient to detain
them。 In point of obedience they were always much inferior to
what is reported of the Tartars and Arabs。 As the highlanders
too； from their stationary life； spend less of their time in the
open air； they were always less accustomed to military exercises；
and were less expert in the use of their arms than the Tartars
and Arabs are said to be。
A militia of any kind； it must be observed； however； which
has served for several successive campaigns in the field； becomes
in every respect a standing army。 The soldiers are every day
exercised in the use of their arms； and； being constantly under
the command of their officers； are habituated to the same prompt
obedience which takes place in standing armies。 What they were
before they took the field is of little importance。 They
necessarily become in every respect a standing army after they
have passed a few campaigns in it。 Should the war in America drag
out through another campaign； the American militia may become in
every respect a match for that standing army of which the valour
appeared； in the last war； at least not inferior to that of the
hardiest veterans of France and Spain。
This distinction being well understood； the history of all
ages； it will be found； bears testimony to the irresistible
superiority which a well…regulated standing army has over a
militia。
One of the first standing armies of which we have any
distinct account； in any well authenticated history； is that of
Philip of Macedon。 His frequent wars with the Thracians；
Illyrians； Thessalians； and some of the Greek cities in the
neighbourhood of Macedon； gradually formed his troops； which in
the beginning were probably militia； to the exact discipline of a
standing army。 When he was at peace； which he was very seldom；
and never for any long time together； he was careful not to
disband that army。 It vanquished and subdued； after a long and
violent struggle； indeed； the gallant and well exercised militias
of the principal republics of ancient Greece； and afterwards；
with very little struggle； the effeminate and ill…exercised
militia of the great Persian empire。 The fall of the Greek
republics and of the Persian empire was the effect of the
irresistible superiority which a standing army has over every
sort of militia。 It is the first great revolution in the affairs
of mankind of which history has preserved any distinct or
circumstantial account。
The fall of Carthage； and the consequent elevation of Rome；
is the second。 All the varieties in the fortune of those two
famous republics may very well be accounted for from the same
cause。
From the end of the first to the beginning of the second
Carthaginian war the armies of Carthage were continually in the
field； and employed under three great general