The Abbeville messenger. (Abbeville, S.C.) 1884-1887, 1886-03-30
Hard Facts About Fighting.
frank Wilkison in the New York Sun.

carried rifle or swung sponge staff
among the guns grows smaller, the
country is flooded with mythical ac-
counts Of this or that officers wonder
full display Of courage on such and such
fields, and the generation is called upon
to admire the gallantry of the warlikc
commanders Of their ancestors. pro-
test against the further manufacture Of
sham military reputation. l know, and
all soldiers know, that the greater por-
ton of the stories now current must be
false.
An officer dies and at once the news
papers and magazines are filed with
accounts Of his bravery md of the val
orous deeds he performed, and how he
saved the Union on such battlefield.
We are solemnity told that his presence
inspired his troops. just ready to break,
or, already in flight and they, nerved
by-a glsncc of his blazing eyes, reform
ed and rushed madly on the foe and
snatched victory from defeat. This is
rot unm;tigated rot.
The Distinguishing characteristics of
the American volunteer were his inde-
pendcnce Of thought his want of rev.
erence for those in authority, and his
ability to take care Of himself in battle
and to correctly judge Of its tide. He
had no respect for any general whom he
did not believe to possess the qualitica-
tions essential to great commander.
Therefore none Of our general officers
1nspired him at all. When the volun-
teer fought on the offensive he fought
well and steadily as long as he thought
there was prospect of success. On
the defensive he would fight to the
death if he knew that it it was essential
to The safety'of the army to hold the
position he occupied. He would assault
earthworks, it mattered not how strong
they were. savagely, and carry them if
it was possible. But, having once seen
the work at close range, and having
thoroughly felt Of it's defenders and
realized that the Zine could not be car
ried, he would not again make deter
mined assault.
In one instance, at Cold Spring Har-
Dor, in 1864, the army Of the Potomac
openly refused to snake second assault
on works they had been up to in the
morning. The Erivates had seen the
Confederate works their general Off
GERS, Of whom we hear so much in these
days, had not, and the privatcs consid-
cred themselves 5ust as well qualified
to judge Of their capacity to carry
earthwerks by assault as any general
officer, 1T mattered not how high his
rank, who had not seen the works. and
who evinoed no burning desire to in
spect their strength at close range. It
is true that the troops who refused to
renew the assault at Cold Harbor cheer.
fully sprans to the assault at Petersburg
fe~ days aater, but they had not seen
the latter works and they had a sufi-
cient confidence in General Grants
ability as a commander to believe that
he would not have ordered an assault
uniess there had been some prospect of
snccess-and that is where they fooled
themselves. None Of our generals could
have forced their troops to make an other
6 determined assault OH the Confederate
lines at Petersburg.
At present we hear of how such and
such generals led their men to desperate
charges. These heroes arc pictured to
the youth Of our land as going into ac-
ton on horseback, wavings word in hand,
and far in advance Of the charging line.
have seen many charges delivered by
both Unisn and Confederate troops.
have seen our men, with blanched
faces and set jaws, and their eyes blaz-
ing with battle light, stream past the
guns / served on, and run full speed at
earthworks, behind which Lees veteran
infantry lurked, and most always get
whipped. Then have seen the lines
in gray charge Union earthworks or bat
, tie lines, and have seen them melt
away before the heat Of our fire; but
never saw the recklessly brave general
officers we hear 80 much about at pres
ent lead any troops into action. have
seen Them closely followed by their
brigade officers, but never saw them
lead. In truth, what business would on
officer have in front OF his men when