Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1881-06-30
THE ART or WAR.

As FULLY EHrLAISED ny MARX TWAIN.
At the late reunion OF the Army OF
the Potomac, in Hartford 10 the
regular toast, "The ben eft OF judicious
training" Mr.. Samuel /. Clemmens
Mark Twain responded as follows:
Let bat the thoughtful civilian instruct
the colder u his duties and the victory IL
sure. Martin FdrYuhar TuPper m the
Arf ef War.
Mg. CHAIRMAN: / gladly Join with
my fellow townsmen IN extending a
hearty welcome TO these iIlustrious gen.
erals and these war. SCARED soldiers Of
the Republic. This il a proud day for
US. and, II the Alnccrc desire OF our
hearts has been fulfilled It has not been
an unpleasant day for them. ! am in
full accord, -ir, with the sentiment Of
the toast. for have always maintained
with enthusiasm that the only wise and
true way j. for the soder to fight the
battle aud the unprcjudiced civilian To
tell hlm how to do il. Yet when was
invited TO respond TO this toast and
furnish this advice and instruction. !
was almost as much embarrassed a.
was gratihcd, for ! could briug to this
great service but the one virtue Of ab
srnce Of prejudice and set opinion.
SUI, but one other qualification was
needed and il was OF only minor i'm.
portAnce. ! mean knowledge of the sub.
IeCt. Therefore ! wrs not disheariencd.
for ! could acquire that. there being
two weeks 20 spare. 4 general Of high
rank IN this army Of the Potomac Fald
two weeks was really more than |
would need for the purpose. lie had
known people OF nv style who had
learned enough in - hours to enable
them to advise an army. Aside from
the compliment, this WAS gratifying.
because It confirmed an impression |
had had before. lie told me to 90 TO
the United States military academy at
West Point and said in his fowery pro.
tcssional way that the cadets would
load me up" / went there and staid
two days, and his prediction proved
correct make no bosst on my own
account-none. All know about mil.
itary matters go, from the gentlemen
at West Point aud 10 them belongs the
credit. They treated me with courtesy
from the first, but when my mission
was revealed, this mere courtesy bios
somed into warmest zeal. Every body,
officers and all. put down their work
and turned their whole attention to
giving me military information. Every
questioned ! asked was promptly and
eXhaustively answered therefore, |
feel proud TO state that ia the advice
that ! am about to give you as soldiers,
| am backed up by the highest military
authority in the land-yes, in the
world, II an American does say it
West Point.
To begin, gentlemen. when an en-.
gagement is meditated, IL Is best TO feel
the enemy first, that is, If 1t is night,
for. az one of the cadets explained to
me. YOU do not need to feel him in the
daytime, because you can see him then.
| never should have thought Of that.
but it Is Unexpectedly true. In the
day. time the methods Of procedure are
various, but the best, IL seems TO me, is
one which was introduced by Gen.
Grant. Gen. Grant always sent al &C
tive young man redoubt TO reconnoitre
and get the enemys bearings. got
this from a high officer at the Point.
who told me he used 10 be redoubt
on Gen. Grants staff and had done il
often. When the hour for the battle
is come, move TO the front with celerity
fool away no time. Under this head
! was told Of maxim Of Gen. Sheri.
dane. Gen. Sheridan always said, Z" II
the siege train isn't ready, don't wait
go by any trains that are handy: to get
there is the main thing" Now. that
is the correct idea. As YOU approach
the field, it is better TO get out and
walk. This gives you n better chance
to dispose of your forces iudiciously for
the assault. Get your artillery in posi-
sion and throw out stragelers TO the
right and left TO bold your lines Of com.
munication against surprise. See that
every hod carrier connected with
mortar battery is at his post. They
told me at the point that Napoleon dis.
pissed mortar batteries, aud never
would use them. He said that for real
efficiency he wouldn't give a batful
OF hrickbats for q ton Of mortar.
However, that is all he knew about it.
Everything being ready Cor the assault,
you want to enter the field with your
baggage TO the front This idea was
invented by our renowned guest, Gen.
sherman. They told me that Gen.
Sherman said that the trunks and bag
gage make a good protection for the
soldiers, but that chiefly they attract
the attention and riyet the interest Of