New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-02-15

These interesting sketches of great captains are
ss is stated in the preface. ." summary III part
of n larger work. of which the author hopes soon
30 begin the publication, in which volume VIII
be devoted to each great captain, and mention
made of other soldiers who have contributed TO
the growth of the art of war; As they stand inc
lectures aim to indicate briefly what we owe 10
the great captains and to draw an ntelhglple OUT
line of their careers which may be hlled i'll ny
reference to the extended narratives oil o'hcIS'
Colonel Dodge puts very modest estimate uPoH
his work but those who are acqualuteu WIZ" mo
writings and have thus learned TO appreciate i'0
ability in military criticism, Will take up VI,
present volume with pleasuraoie anticipation, CIV
vril, not he disappointed The view taken VI Iio
creat men whose careers are cAahuhe" - Pi'
;i;torr one All other phases are let alone.
II is as captains that Coionel Dousc +, ra
"a ,boncb the space at his disposal has peeu i'r
49, -nor for ANYTHING more than outline draits'
- .as succeeded in making clear-cut pictures Oh
- .o,d;er and in bringing out prominently theif
S;.inctivc military virtues, fallngs ana pecuh-
arities. ;o % show
Ono result of this method of working is 10 sho"
with much precision the character ana eA''nO -
the advances and changes IN military art "i"'i
have been marked by the campaigns VI '"''0
eminent commanders. Colonel Dodge aiso "'n'oi
,trat1s the fundamental unity OF the esscn'i"'
,r;ncnlcs upon which the art OF war reS'S' pm"
,;n,es which remain the same, no ha'Ver "n"0
notifications of means, conditions etc.' may "'No
OIooe Tins the qualities which make great
cantain are necessarily unaffected by lapse OF Unlo
md changes Ct external condition lhey "i'
,..c.,r revcbical The insight which reveals al
o,or,y,s intentions: which sees beyond penang
.ation and forecasts its consequences; which pre-
er,,os tbc various results OF yet unaccomphsheu
rnopoeuvres and combinations, is one oil the nosV
;r,rortant of military endowments. 10 TINS Ih"SV
no Joined a rare union OF coolnesS ana nv "P'
NJ once in caution and in seasohaDie auu"0i'9
and without the executive gift wLich Is req"ii'u
for the handling of masses OF men e>.n '"S'O
rdouments NAV be wasted. Coionel DouSc holuS
that Alexander was nearly PERFECT cap'''i"' an"
mo better idea can be obtained OF what ne 'hnks
necessary to such character 'hah HULL A'' ~
scription of the conQueror
a All great soldiers" he observes, are cousins
German in equipment of heart and head NO man
So no. no man can by any possibility blunder
into being great soldier without the moSV gen,
.ors virtues Of the soul and the most distinguished
ore of the intellect. The former are lhue-
ondonce sclf-reliance, ambition within proper
bounds. that sort of physical courage whlch h'V
onlv does not know fear, but which Is not even
conscious that there is such thinS rs couI"s''
that greater moral quality which can hoiu .n'
lives of tens of thousands OF men ana INC ueS''"i,
- r,oot country or cause patiently, intelhgently
and un6inchingly in his grasp powers oil chu"l'
encs which cannot be OVertaXed; the UNCONSCIOUS
habit of ruling men and Of commanding 'helr ioNo
and admiration, coupled with the apilV 10 SUI
their enthusiasm to the yielding OF J-e laso ou y,
sfort The latter comprises business capacity oil
the very highest order, essential TO the care VI i
troops: keen perceptions, which even IN extraof-
o+ q, no led astray the ability TO think as QUICKLY
.no accuratelv in the turmoil of battle as IN the
ouiet of the bureau; the power TO 1oresee W lUs
ultimate conclusion the result OF straUeglc Vi
tactical manoeuvre; the capacity 10 ea"so 'i'
efforts of men and of masses oil men 'io many
ridedness which can respond TO the dehlanus Vi
ivory detail of the battlefield, while never lOSlis
.icht of the one object aimed at' une hien'"i
strength which wcallens not under the tax Oh ours
and oays of unequalled strain 10 these qu"ii'ieS
- heart and head add one factor morc-oppor-
t,nitv-and you have the great soldier NOV"
Alexander was the fist man the details OF whose
sietorv have been handed down 10 us VINO
possessed these Qualities in the very highest meas
20. whose opportunities were co-extensive with
L;s no,vers. and who out of all these wrought
potbodieal system of warfare from which we may
learn lessons today
General considerations such as these may leach
the student what TO look for in great commahueTs'
but it is only by watching these captains IN acuoh
that clear ideas OF their capacity can be Stneu anu
Colonel Dodge consequently takes mere ana there
n campaign piece Of strategy a sie@c' maIcH'
whatever. in short, is characteristic anu Illus
trative, and briefly but with firm strokes sketches
them SO lucidy that the example IS 1ul OF IL
,rmination The conciseness and sharpness OF
these pictures make them very effective, and we
end in
game commas accounts Of the eminent captains
here considered which convey equally com
nlete and intellirible conception OF them ColoneI
Dodpa has a special gift of description which he
emnovs most usefully in miniatures oil famous
battles and camuaigns. OF course. they are no
more than miniatures, and the student must sup
Element them from the extend histories; bUl 'hey
possess the merit Of perfect lucldlty ana COIL
pleteness of outline. and those who already nave
general knowledge of the facts may read them
with signal advantage. Whether the author Is
altogether justified in admitting luck as an I'M
portant factor in is perhaps quesuohaolc
When a commander escapes the normal cohse-
ouences of his own imprudcnce short-sighted-
ness as Caesar did several times, and as the
Romans failed to do at Trasymene. it appears
scarcely good science to asc-ibe these results to
luck Failure in combinations. in the eHecu-
ton of orders in watching the enemy, IN CO.
ordinating the different parts of general attack
in every instance may really be traced TO neglect
incapacity slugg shnesS. or some other thoroughly
human and ineligible error o. omission. Caesar
escaped destruction in Egypt. not because OF his
genius but because of the want OF genius IN the
Egyptians. The probabilities were all against
him, and his own rashness had exposed him 10
what anpeared the certainty of ruin Napoleon
was overthrow at Waterloo. not because his luck
had deserted him, but because his judgment and
energy had deteriorated. This. however, Is a
minor consideration We can commend Colonel
Dodges lectures on the great captains very heartily,
and we are sure that all who read them will look
forward with eager anticipation to the issue of the
promised series Of volumes in which their lives
-;+l in