The National tribune., 1891-11-19
FAIR CRITICISMS.
Tampcrng with Military Regulations Should be
Done Carefully.

EDITOR NATIONAL TRTRUSE: II Is difficult
Tor ms 10 fully estimate the final effect OF our
public criticisms. We ought. therefore 10 have
great caution in dealing with those matters
which affect the reputation Of our comrades in
arms. IL s true. reputation aud character are
not always interchangeable terms Reputation
rs what others think of US: while character Is
what we in fact are. But, then. every soldier
Is honestly entitled 10 a reputation that shall
IN very truth accord precisely with his char
aclcr as such. But, SAYS one, How can we
know the character Of military MANI We
answer, by what he did while acting rs such.
Not what be did before OF after the war but
during the war. Nor is his character 90 be esti-
mated by what we now see might have been
done, but 10y what was done. War is a science,
u anything is such. Luck or chance plays
very smsii part ia the game of war. Ii this be
true, everyone Is the author Of his own char
acter. he is, then, justly entitled 10 credit for
al he accomplishes. But here again comes IN
another important consideration. 10 wit: What
were his resources, and against what formidable
obstacles did hc have 10 couteud2 He is also
entitled 10 credit for strategic disposition Of
forces, looking toward a given result, either
with or without battle. The objective of a
given campaign must also be considered. fit
Is reached by strategy, il is quite as creditable
as II reached 10y a series OF battles.
Again, IL often happens that given objective
would be almost barren of practical results If
attained wholly by strategy. For example.
suppose Gen. Mcclellan had captured Rich
mUnd by strategy when lac moved upon IL in
le62. The Federal cause would not be a great
gamer by IL, except for the moral influence
upon its armies. But suppose, in the mean
time, he had met Lee and crushed him in battle:
then the credit would be greater, because the
things done were greater, looking toward the
iullllmont Of "A certain final result So now
IgF ]. I'll 4. A.
our opinions when crIticizing the acts OF our
leiloW-comrades.
Again, nearly all Of the leading Generals Of
both armies are now dead. They are not here
10 explain why they did this or that thing.
Then let Us be generous in dealing with their
regulations. As stated, we cannot now affect
their characters for, whether good or bad, they
carved that out themselves by their own acts
But We may, by unguarded criticism. rob them
Of their reputation. IL must be conceded by
every military critic, that 10 err is human"
Few men have ever, in any war, conducted a
campaign without making some military
blundcr. As before stated, war is 4 science
Any departure theTeirom is surely blunder.
IL is true that the enemy may never discover
It; still, 10 Isl blunder Now III we can clearly
show that any OF our comrades committed Que
OF more Of these blundcrs, then / suppose We
have a perfect right 10 say 80. But let US first
be able 10 make this violation Of the science
appear then criticize in a manly. charitable
spirit. But let Us not discuss what might
have been for all such COnuCtuTcS are fc-
tions. They have nothing 10 do in the fair
consideration Of facts. The questions 10 be
considered are as follows: First, IL the person
was subordinate, did he obey his orders, exc
cutting them in accord with military sciences
Second ii he had Discretionary power did ho act
in accord with military science aud the rules
Of civilized warlare2 But be IL understood
that this criterion or rule Is based up0n the
hypothesis that leaders are both brave AMI
patriotic. IL their acts point 10 coWardice or
bad faith, that IS another question altogether;
for military science makes no proyiso for such
extreme cases. 1t is true that military law
does provide for just suchscases, and where
they exist court Of competent jurisdiction cs-
tabilshes the individuals reputation. So. let
US not seem 10 pick a possible flaw in an Off
GERS military record, aud then cry out. Bene-
dict Arnold ii court has first raised such
cry, then, and only then, have VIC the legal
right 10 proclaim it.-J. L. WILLIAMS, ls3d
Co., "a battalion, V. L. C., Stuart Iowa.