The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1893-01-05
To Arms!

There has been considerable written
OF late in THE MIRROR on the subject
Facts about Great Generals" in which
one of the writer's has written very
lengthy article, on question that has
already been decided by history. 1
don't believe that the ideas of few
individuals, at so late day, can change
public sentiment on that subject; every
true American should consider it an in
suit to speak, or, hear others speak,
with disrespect on the abilities of men
that were the defenders and saviOrs of
their cOuntry--and will add No loyal
American citizen, that loves "the land
of the free and the home of the brave"
could or can be guilty of such ungrati-
tude.
In my estimation, Washington was
the greatest general the world has ever
produced: and 1 am ready to defend his
rights against anyone that wants to
take up the subject for debate. He
fought for a just cause, and against
difficulties that are we'll known, and
that were almost impossible to. sur.
mount. He showed the greatest mill
tary science of any general that ever
entered into battle: along with sound
Judgment and foresight he had deter
minatiOn which made him invincible.
England recognized the fact She
had no generals to compete with him.
or she would never have given up such
q vast territory that brought such
large revenue to the crown. Grant.
also, was a great general; and. what
have seemed blunders to soldier in
the ranks, was the greatest move to-
ward crushing the rebel forces that
was made by any general during the
late war My father fell at Pittsburg
Landing with scores of others that
thought it was their duty to obey Or
derS. and considered that life was moth
ing towards gaining just cause. And
still, don't consider that Grant Sacri-
feed his troops in vain on that fatal
day. In referring to generals of ancient
times, | agree with our worthy contrib
utor, "Francis." that brute force was
an important factor in gaining con-
quests; and, furthermore. they were en-
tirely ignorant of any military science
or discipline, their tactics resembling
more those of the Indians of our pres
ent time. The continents of the old
world is strewn with the bones, and
soaked with the blood of millions of
beings that fell by the hands of those
savages. Their cruel tOrtures, and
abOminable ways of putting men to
death, is enough to make angels weep
and history blush to record l don't
consider Alexander's defeat of Darius
astonishing, or. in any way, remark
able, as you can pick up the Old Testa-
ment and you will find several such in
stances. 1t is recorded in many chap
tiers of the book of Joshua. where
handful of men, with rude implements
of war (such as stones and darts to
throw at an enemy that numbered tens
of thOusands), }, were put to route, and
slaughtered on the field of battle.
Considering the great change that
has taken place in the science of war
since then, | want to ask what military
advantages have we of the present
time? With all our mighty engines of
war, with all our advanced skill in tao
tics, with all our military science, over
those Of ancient times (if history can
be relied upon J. more men have fallen
In the battles of the ancientS. under
those half-civiliZed barbarian generals.
than there ever has under any general
of modern times. There is two things