The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1881-06-29
MARE TWAIN ON
to 70 Toast.

dicious training" Mr.. Samuel l.. Clemens,
mark Twain,) responded as follows:
ssLet but the thoughtful civilian INSTRUCT
the soldier in his duties, and the victory Is
sure."-Martin FarquhGr 7upper on Me arr
Of Var.
ME. CHAIRMAN I gladly join with my
fellow townsrnen in extending a hearty wei
come to these illustrious Generals and war
SCARED soldiers of the Republic. This IS q
proud day for us, and, If the sincere desire
Of our hearts has been fulfilled, it has not
been an unpleasant day for them. l am IN
full accord, Sir, with the sentiments OF the
toast, for I nave always maintained with en-
thusiasm that the only wise and true way IS
for the soldier to fight the battle and the IN
preiudiced civilian to tell him how to DO It.
Yet when | was invited to respond to this
toast. and furnish this advice and instruction
was almost as much embarrassed as | was
gratihed, for | could bring to this great SER
vice but the one virtue of absence of prejn-
dice and set opinion. Still, but one other
qualification was needed, and it was only OF
MINOR LID pU1 tdASCs i Lnoohs nAc"ASN5o r.
the subject. Therefore I was not disheart-
ened. for I could acquire that, there being
two weeks to spare. A General OF high rank
in this Army Of the Potomac said two weeks
was really more than [ would need for the
purpose. He had known people Of my style
who had learned enough in forty-eight hours
to enable them to advise an army. Aside
from the compliment, this was gratifying,
because it confirmed an impression l had had
before. He told me to 60 to the United
States Military Academy at West Point, and
said, in his howery professional way, that
the Cadets would ''load me up" ! went their
and stayed two days, and his predictions
proved correct. / made no boast on my W
account. All I know about military matters
I got from the gentlemen at West Point, and
to them belongs the credit. They treated me
with courtesy from the first, but when my
mission was revealed, this mere courtesy
blossomed into Warmest zeal. Everybody,
officers and all, put down their work and
turned their whole attention to giving me
military information. Every question was
promptly and exclusively answered there
fore [ feel proud to state that in the advice
which | am about TO give you as soldiers, |
am backed up BY the highest military au-
thoritY IN the land-yes, ii the world, II al
American does say it-West Point.
TO begin, gentleman, when an engagement
is meditated, 1t is best TO feel the enemy first,
that is, il it is night, for, az one Of the Cadess
--l.su, - ,-o m, AZ ynf .1001 4n fS1f hin,
il the day time, because you can see him
then. Inever should nave thought Of that,
but it is Unexpectedly true. In the day
time the methods Of procedure are various,
but the best, it seems TO me, is one which
was introduced by Gen. Grant. Gen. Grant
always sent an active young man redoubt TO
reconnoitre and get the enemys bearings. |
got this from q high officer at the post, who
told me he used to be a redoubt on General
Grants staff, and had done it often. When
the hour for the battle has come move to the
field with celerity-fool away no time. IN
der this head [ was told Of favorite maxim
of General Sberidan's. Gen. Sheridan al
ways said IF the siege trains amt ready,
don't wait-go by any trains that are handy;
to get there Is the main thing Now thai is
the correct idea. AS you approach the field
it is better to get out and walk. This gives
you a better chance to dispose of your forces
iudiciously for the assault. Get your artils
lery in position and throw out stragglers to
the right and left to hold your lines Of con-
nection against surprise. See that every
hOd-carrier connected with q mortar battery
is at his post. They told me at the Point
that Napoleon despised mortar batteries and
never would use them. He said that for real
efficiency he wouldn't give a hatful Of brick
bats for o ton Of mortar. However, that is
all he knew about it. Everything being
ready for the assault, you wan to enter the
field with your baggage to the front. This
idea was invented by our renowned guest,
General Sherman. They told me that Gen.
Sherman said that the trunks and baggage
make q good protection for the soldiers, but
that chiefly they attract the attention and
rivet the interest OF the enemy, and this gives
you an opportunity to whirl the other end of
the column around and attack him in the
rear. / have given a good deal of study to
this tactics since Learned about ii, and it ap-
pears to me that it is 8 railing good idea.
Never fetch On your reserve at the start.
This was Napoleon's first mistake at Water
loo. Next, he assaulted with his bomb
proof and ambulances and embrasures, when
he ought to have used o heavier artillery.
Thirdly, be retired his right by g5cochet-
which uncovered his pickets-when his only
possibility of success lay in doubling up his
center, flank by flank, and throwing out his
chevnug de friso by the left oblique to relieve
the skirmish line and confuse the enemy-if
such a would confuse the enem y,
and they told me at West Point it would. It
was about thistime that the emperor had two
horses shot under him. How often you see
the remark that Gen. So-and-So at such and
such a battle had two or three horses shot
under him. Gen. Burnside and many great
European military men. as was informed