New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-04-06
ALEXANDER.
THE STORY OF 4 GREAT CAPTAIN.

largely than Alexander No man has been more
written about The extant lives of tie great captain
are almost beyond computation. The estimates OF
his military career OF his craftsmanship, OF his per-
sonal character, opposite as tie poles ana as
various as prejudice and enthusiasm can render
them. Yet Colonel Dodge has made IT clear IN
this well-wrt.en book that there was room Tor
at least one more study of the great Macedonian
and ,hat new light could he thrown upon his
achievements by examining them from military
point Of view and by comparing and contrasting
Them with more modern and familiar campaigns,
battles scgcs and marches Several chapters OIL
tho present work arc devoted to a sketch OF the
nrt of war as il existed prior to the time OF flIp
of Maccdon: the general conclusion Ia be drawn
from the ia Its presented being that up TO uat
pcriad there really no art OF war Ba''ies
there were in plenty, but strategy WAS unknown
The opponents approached one another IN parallel
lines: a series of single combats between cham
pons then took place, after which, or sometimes
during which. the opposing lines closed. and pro-
c,cGcd to settle the dispute very much after the
primitive fashion of an Irish faction-'iglt oil
the old time There were many pcculiaritcs
about the ancient bclligercnt conditions, and one
of these is frequently advcrtcd to by Colonel
Dcdce--thc fact that no returns were ever made
of the losses Of thoroughly beaten army. The
explanation of this is that general thing the
defeated army was annihilated literally as CO.
hcrcnt body OF disciplined troops, and sometimes
almost literally as an aggregate OF sentcnt ne
ings. For when the day was clearly seen to he
lost, the beaten army went to pieces. talilc oil
the most parayzing kind seized all the sur
vivors, and such could not save themselves ny
rand fight were slaughtered where they STOOD
The notions of the ancients concerning human life
were simple 1t had very little value for them
Even AleXandcr's Maccdonians, after they had
conquered the known world for him, continued
TO he sacrificed very freely. and as to the oaI-
baraus.7 as all outsiders were conveniently de-
nominated. they were not more regarded than So
many rabbits.
Philip of Macedon was the first TO organize the
art Ct war. and lie laid the foundation Of Alex
nnder's fortunes in leaving to the latter as
ciplincd and instructed army. The ease was pre-
cisely that of Frederick the Great and his father,
and in both instances the possession of power
full army by a young man led 10 the projection
and execution of ambitious and far-reocnlnS
schemes In nothing has Colonel Dodge done, snch
good service in dissipatins the 1ake views
disseminated by modern critics as 10 The relative
magnitude and difficulty of AleXanders conque't'
Here his military training and Judgment iend the
tull WEIGHT of expert testimony TO his conclusions,
while his ANALYSES are 50 full and clear that his
readers are enabled to follow his reasoning
throughout and to appreciate the co-ency Of IT,
The idea that the deeds of Alexander sink Into
comparative insGnilcance when compared WIN
modern military achievements must henceioith De
surrendered. in fact. for Colonel Dodge has de-
monstrated that the greatest of military captains
the world has ever known overcamc diihculucs
and obstacles such as none Of his SUCCESSORS have
had 10 cope with. The notion that his successes
were gained chiefly over barbarous and cons"-
ouently inferior antagonists is another fallacy eN-
ploded by this study, for Colonel Dodec shows
by careful comparison that AlcXanders losses In
the greater number of his battles fully equalcd
the modern average, frequently exceeded the Euro
rean average, sometimes came near the abnoImaly
high average of the Dloodcst and most desperate
battles of our Civil War-a war in itself far more
destructive than, say, the tranco-Cernah one
and in nearly every instance were such as TO IN
dicate hard hghting and gallant foes, beaten alter
prolonged conflict by superior strategy ana SUI
perior tactics and discipline.
No doubt the adoption in the Macedonian army
of the Sarissa the twenty -two-foot spear, counted
for much in its subsequent victories, for neither
f,recks nor barbarians could stand tie impact OF
the Macedonian phalanX armed with these fcrmid-
able wea mons and the troops carrying the ordinary
short spears were at n fatal disadvantage when
Co opposcd But the Sarissa alone would not have
ACCOMPLISHED much without the military genus
and the marvellous energy Of Alexander IL IS
when his personality is studied that his lncon-
testabe supremacy is most clearly perceived. Con-
oucrors there were before and after him, who
devastated and slaughtered on great scale, but
who depended mainly or wholly upon the wcSh'
of their armies, and simply swept away th'r
enemies as By the force OF sravlla'lon. bHt AicA-
apder WIS not one Of these. The army he Ted
han
men. and in four years he had with this lns'rh-
ment CONQUERED the whole known world, over
thrown the erea, Persian Empire, and IN TINS
swift and triumphant progress had won every
hattie in which he engaged and taken every
STRONGHOLD before which he sat down. Sometimes
his lientenants sustained defeats, but no engage
ment when Alexander was present was lost Inc
expenditure OF vital energy maintained 'y mn
surpasses any record Of the KIND. Napoleon al
his prime was thought to he the incarnation oil
fiery energy and unressting acton, MT compare
70 Alexander. the great Corslcan was Du, 'Ihler'
For the Macedonian was 50 constituted tha' ne
must not Only exercise intellectual but physical
srorcmacv Ii was not enough for him to plan
campaigns and siegcs-hc must set Il persona! CA-
annie to his men at every critical juncture, he
must lead the stormcrs, fight always Ill the front
rarl, excel in all military exercises. Guido the
hardest of his troops in endurance. Outmarcn tie
toutest outrjde his best cavalry. in short, exhibit
al once more brain and more muscle than any man
in his command.
Tho testimony of his contemporaries. both
friends and enemies, 70 this unparalleled mental
and physical activity and superiority Is too cninn
lative 10 be doubted. and the detailed proofs are
overwhelming. Alexander never COMMANDED his
soldiers 10 do anything which he could not and
would not do, and do better, himself His per
sonal strength was phenomenal. lie had IA frame
Of iron and constitution capable Of standing any
Thing. together with mind equally active. lucid
and fccund in suggestions. Perhaps one OF Tie
c.carest indications Of his genius consists Iii the
fact that battle sharpcncd his perceptions. lie
thought more freely in the turmoil OF combat, and
this even while personally engaged in fighting.
..ictnrins Inc insuira ION.