The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1893-01-12
BoMBAsTIC DESIGNATIONS.
A Comrade Thinks there is Too Mich of 1t
at this Late Day.

"A GOmraue THINKS there IS 100 MICH Oh II
mt this Late Day.
1.-THE above is the caption Of short but
pointed article in your issue OF Dec. 10,
u signed :" Jack of Clubs" The writer
of that article twice alludes to The
saber Brigade" and this gives me the right to
critcise his criticism.
First, " Jack of Clubs" assumes shat these
"bombastic designations" are "self- named,
aud then self names bis own regiment Us A
Fighting Regiment of Fighting Brigade" Is
not this quite as bombastic " and fetching"
as what he critciseS and condemns in others?
l have already placed on record in the col
umns of THE NATIONAL TRIBUNE my earnest
protest against THE Bravest Five Hundred"
and l now protest against the Three Hun
dred Fighting Regiments" not for the purpose
Of taking from them the well earned honor and
glory of ''The Bravest Five Hundred and the
"Three Hundred Fighting Regiments" but
for the purpose of giving to those, not so named,
what is their just due.
The number of lives lost is not always a just
or proper criterion of the fighting which has
been done.
Is there an old soldier living who cannot re-
call one more instances in which the incom-
potency, Ignorance, mismanagement. or greed
for personal glory of commander has caused
great and unnecessary loss of life; or, on the
other hand, instances in which the opposite
qualities in commander have coupled tho
most gallant and brilliant fighting with COM
paratively small loss of life?
If Jack of Clubss" assumption that all
these designations were. like that of his own
regiment, self-adopted. l would have naught
to say against his criticism.
! now speak for "Tbe Saher Brigade" only;
let others speak for themselves. My brigade was
named "The Saber Brigade of the Army OF the
Cumberland" and the title was conferred upon
it, in General Orders, by one of the great COM
manders of the war, the only one of our great
army commanders who still lives, Maj.-Gen.
w. S. Rosecrans; and !, and every other men,
Der of the brigade, feel just and honorable
pride in that " bombastic designation" We
know that il we had not earned the title by
our readiness to uso the saber on all occasions,
Gen. Rosecrans would not have conferred it
upon US, and we also know that the bestowal of
that title upon US did not in any way detract
from the honor or glory due to any other Or
ganization.
At the close of the war I commanded the
Second Division of the Cavalry Corps of the
Military Division of Mississippi, which was
composed of Wider's old brigade of mounted
infantry, 1.-THE Saber Brigade" and the Chi
cago Board of Trade Battery" and believe that
every man in 1.-THE Saber Brigade" felt per-
sonal pride in the grand fighting qualities of
the mounted infantry and the battery, who
were second to no commands in the service,
anu L KNOW tnab the commences edcu uau III
the other was practically unlimited.
The assumption of a title by an organization,
as by an individual, is simply an act of egotism,
but when that title is bestowed or conferred by
proper authority every man of that organiza-
ton should feel the same honorable pride in
wearing it as the individual would in wearing
a medal of honor properly bestowed upon him.
/ am proud of having been member of " The
Saber Brigade" and douby SO of having been
its commander, aud l consider this proper
and honorable pride.
We claimed nothing further than being SOL
diers who loved our country and our flag, and
who were always ready to perform our duty to
the best of our ability.
Whatever honor or glory may have been
gained by The Saber" or any brigade cannot
in any way detract from any other portion of
the Grand Army of the Republic, but on the
contrary, must add TO its luster :" Jack of
Clubs " of Fighting Regiment of Fighting
Brigade" to the contrary Notwithstanding
r. II. G. MINTY, Brevet Major General, U. S.
Vols Ogden Utah