The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1886-04-01
HARD FACTS ABOUT FIGHTING.
General Officers Who get Glory Willie
Privatcs do tho Work.

Privatcs do the Work.
AZ re, year by year, grow away from
the war, and The number of men who
carried a rifle or swung sponge staff
among the guns grows smaller, the coun.
try is flooded with mythical accounts
of this or that officers wonderful
display of courage on such and such
fields, and the rising generation is called
upon 10 admire the gallantry of the
warlike commanders of their ancestors.
l protest against the further manufacture
of sham military reputation. | know,
aud all soldiers know, that the greater
po-tion of the stories now current must
be false.
An officer dies and at once the news.
papers and magazines are filled with
accounts of his bravery and of the valo.
rons deeds he performed, and how he
saYed the Union on such a battlefield.
We are solemnly told that his presence
inspired his troops, just ready to break,
or already in flight, and they, nerved by
glance of his blazing eyes, reformed
and rushed mad,y on the foe and snatch. .
ed victory from defeat. This is rot,
unmitigated rot.
The distinguishing characteristics of
the American volunteer were his inde-
pendencc of thought, his want of rever-
ence for those in authority, and his abili,
ty 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 qualifications essen
tial to great commander. Therefore
nonc Of our general officers inspired him
at all. When the volunteer fought on
the offensive ne fought we'll and steadily
as long as lie thought there was pros
pect of success. On the defensive he
would fight to the death if he knew that
it vas essential to the safety of the army
to hold tie position he occupied. He
would assault earthworks, it mattered
not how strong they were, savagely, and
carry them if it was possible. But, hav.
ing once seen the work at close range,
aud having thoroughly felt of its defend
ers and realized that the line could not
be carried, lie would not again make
determined assault.
In one instance, at Cold Spring Har-
bor, in 1864, the army Of the Potomac
openly refused to make second assault
on works they had been up to in the
morning. The privates had seen the
Confederate works their general officers,
of whom we hear so much in these days,
had not, and the privatcs considered
themselves just as we'll qualified to judge
of their capacity to carry eartbworks by
assault as auy general officer, it mattered
not how high his rank, who had not seen
the works, and who cvinced no burning
desire tn inspect their strength at close
range. 1t is true that the troops WHO
refused to renew the assault at Cold
Harbor chcerfully sprang to the assault
at Petersburg few days later, but they
had not seen the latter works and they
had sufficient confidence in General
Grants ability as commander to beliere
that he would rot have ordered all assault
unless there had been some prospect OF
success-aad that is where they fooled
themselves. None of our generals could
have forced their troops to make another
determined assault on the Confederate
lines at Petersburg.
At present we hear Of how such and
such generals led their men to desperate
charges. These heroes are pictured to
the youth of our land AS going into
action on horseback, waving sword in
hand, and far in advance of the charg,
ing line. 1 have seen many charges
deiyered b. both Union and Confeder-
ate troops. have seen our men, with
blanched faces and set jaws, and their
eyes blazing with battle light, stream past
tile guns ! served on, and run full speed
at earthworks, behind which Lees veter-
all infantry lurked, and most always get
waipped Then have seen the lines in
gray charge Union earthworks or battle
lines, aud have seen them melt away
before the heat Of cur fire but | never
saw the recklessly brave general officers
We hear so muc! about at present lead
any troops into action. have seen
thcm closely followed by their brigade
officers but never saw them lead. In
truth, what business would an officer
have in front of his men when they were
in action? He would be in the line of
their fire, and would surely bekilled.
All priyates have seen division aud
corps and army headquarters, and none
cyer saw them pitched amoug the troops
in q place of danger. No one ever heard
OF general officer being killed i'll camp.
We are told that these gallant men
h,bitualiy rode the battle line or line of
trenches, and that they smiled at hum
ming bullets and laughed solid shot and
bursting shells to scorn. 1t is true that
brigade commanders were on the battle
line. Division commanders were con-
saicuous by their absence, aud the pres
cucc OF division commander among his
troops was so unusual that it attracted
the attention Of the soldiers, and was
always remarked upon. What business
hes au officer commanding from ten to
forty Thousand men 10 be in the heat and
smoke Of battle? He can not direct
the troops if he is on the battle line.
lie could not see hoH the fight was going.
Brigade commanders could not find him.
OF course, if his troops were charging,
or if they were advancing he could be
with them.
We are told of general officers, griev.
ruslv wounded waving aside their aids