The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1888-06-02
AMERICAN SOLDIERS.
What General sherman Thinks the Next
War Will be Like.

What General Sherman Thinks the Next
War Will be Like.
General Sherman" asked Captain
Mattox of Cincinnati recently, edo you
think if there was another war that as
good material would offer itself as in
the last war-material like Grant, Sher-
man, Thomas and others1'
"Why, certainly" replied the genera,
There are as many good men IN the
army now as there were when the war
broke out, and they'll make as good
generals, too. What they want is the
opportunity. That Is what makes men
great. Why in '6r out of the 1000
officers of the army there was not one
who would put his hand on Grants
shoulder and say Here's the greatest
general of the war; They didn't know
then. 1t takes the opportunity to bring
men out. There is the making of as
great generals now in the army as there
was then. There always will be men
who will come to the front in times OF
emergency, and there always were."
"The next war;" said General Sher-
man later, in answer to a question from
Captain w. G.. Smith, twill be terrible
slaughter. Men won't be able to come
together and fight. These machine
guns are terrible things, and with them
war will be as bloody as big slaughter
house. War won't be fought over again
as it was in '6I-'65, and in 10 across
the water. Those were hand-to-hand
engagements almost. Men fought close
to one another, and physical strength
and prowess counted for a good deal,
but in the next war all that will be
changed. Then it will be a slaughter
with these terrible machines that fire
thousands of bullets in minute or So"
General" asked an inquisitive young
man, "do you think that the strong,
robust young fellows from the country
made better soldiers than the young
men from the city2"
"The late war;" replied the general,
demonstrated the fact that the boys
from the city could stand more fatigue
and hardship and marching than the
country boys. The boys from the coun-
try were stronger always but they were
used to a regular life, and when they
got into the army the irregularity of
the life, it hardship and exposure,
weakened and finally killed many
strong young farmer boy, while the boys
from the boys from the big cities, being
used to irregular hours, irregular living,
and unmethodical ways of life, could
stand any amount of hardship without
going under. This was proved by the
war. l saw it proved in many cases
myself. Young city chaps were tougher
In every way. They weren't SO strong
physically as the country boys ; but they
could stand the irregularity of army
! life better.
IF there's ever a war in this coun-
try again | think the greatest army will
be made up of the railway men. In
the first place, they are strong physl-
cally. In the second place, they have
learned obedience, and have learned to
obey all orders without questioning
them. This wasn't so IN the late war,
for the men had to be taught obedience,
and their lesson was bitter one some
times. But, as l was saying, the rail-
road men will make a grand army.
They, above all other things, are Injured
to life of irregularity. They are used
to fatigue and the hardships of long
hours of work without rest. This ir-
regularity OF life, which all railroad men
know is a fact, more than anything else
will make them the best soldiers in the
world, but l hope they will never be
called upon to shoulder musket."