Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1888-07-12
AN ON SOLDIERS OPINIONS.
Gen, sherman Answers Some Interesting
Questions

Questions
Cincinnati Commercial Gazette
Gen. sherman asked Capt Mattox,
"do you think II there was another war
that as good material would offer itself as
in the last war material like Grant,
| sherman, Thomas and othersW
"Why certainly" replied the general,
"there are as many good men in the army
now as there were when the army broke
out, and they'll make e. good generals,
| too. What they want ia the opportunity.
| THAT il what makes men'great Why, in
| G1, out of 2000 officers of the army, there
wasn't one who would put his hand on
Grants shoulder and say, Here's the
greatest general of the war. They didn't
know then. IL takes the opportunity TO
bring them out. There ia the making of
az great generals now in the army rs
there was then. There always will be
men who will come to the front in
times OF great emergency and there al
ways was"
"rhe next war" said Gen Sherman lat
er, in answer TO question from Capt. W.
| q. Smith, twill be terrible Slang liter.
| Men won't be able 10 como together and
! fight. Those machine guns are terrible
things, and with them war will be a.
bloody as a big slaughter.house. War
won't be fought over again as IL was in
! Gl go, and in 20 across the water.
| Those were hand to hand engagements
almost. Men fought close TO one an
other, aud physical strength and powers
oOuRted for q good deal; but in the next
/ war all that will be changed. Then II
will be slaughter with these terrible ma
| chines that fire thousands of bullets in q
minute or So"
"General," asked an inquisitive young
man, edo you think that the strong robust
young foilows from the country make
better soldiers than the young men from
the oityYn
"rho 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 10 a regular life, and when they got
into the army the irreguarity of the life,
it's hardship and exposure, weakened and
| finally killed many q strong young far
mes boy, while the boys from the big
cities, being used TO irregular hours, ir
regular living, and unmethodical ways of
| life, could stand any amount of hardship
without going under. This was proved
by the war. | saw it proved in many
cases myself. Young city chaps were
tougher in every way. They weren't so
strong physically ma the country boys,
bnt then they oould stand the irregularity
OF army life better.
"If there's ever war in this country
again | think the greatest army men will
be made mp Of the railway meA. In the
first place, thoy are strong physically.
In tho 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 then men
had TO be taught obedience and
their lesson was bitter one some.
times. Bot as / was saying the railway
men will make grand army. They,
above all things, are Injured TO life OF
irregnlhrity. They are used TO fatigue
and hardships OF long hours Of work
without rest. This irregularity Of life,
which all railroad men know IS fact,
more than anything else will make them
the best soldiers in the world, but hope
they will mover be called upon 20 shoulder
gun"