Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1893-03-24
coLp-nLoopED GENERALS.
c,cat cap,a,n. who wcro Calm Under
Very Trying circumstances.

Great Captains Who wcrc Calm CndeF
Very Trying circumstances.
The great general should have a
double nature. In order that he may
make prompt and well-reasoned de-
cisions, he should be calm and IN,
capable of excitement in great ana
sudden emergencies. But, IL order
to animate his soldiers and keep
them up to high moral pitch. he
should be capable of enthusiasm ana
high spirits. 1t is needless to say
that the two qualities are not often
perfectly united, and that when they
are found so joined the result is q
military genius.
Gen. Grant was one of the coolest
men in the world; but his splendid
confidence and cheerfulness often
partook of the nature of enthusiasm,
and inspired his soldiers. as we'll as IN
after years his civilian fcllow-citizcns,
with ardent admiration and sympa-
thy.
1t is IL somewhat strange thing
that France, the nation of hot blood,
should have produced long line of
generals who showed the complctest
sang froid on the field of battle.
Napoleon sometimes assumed Il ccr-
tain ardor, but nothing could excite
him if he did not choose to be cX-
cited. Murat, Napolcon's dashing
chief OF cavalry, whose splendid
enthusiasm won many desperate
charges, could be us cool as his master
upon occasion.
AT the taking of Moscow, while the
troops sat in their saddles under q
murderous fire. Murat received u dis
patch to which an answer was re-
Quired. Though his mettlesome horse
was trembling, Murat laid the rcins
upon the horn of the saddle, took his
notebook in one hand and II pencil
in the other, and began to write a re-
sponse.
Suddenly shell fell and exploded
on the ground close by. The horse
lcapcd into the air and swung wildly
around. Murat simply transferred
the pencil to the hand that held the
note book, calmed the horse with the
othe. hand, and then went on writ
ing his dispatch as il nothing had
happened.
A shout of admiration went UP
along the line. Murat saw that the
enthusiasm aroused by his tritling act
had created a favorable moment tor q
charge. He gave the order, and his
men swept clear through the cncmy's
line.
1t is said that Gen. Rcynier once
saved the French army in Calabria
in 1906, from complete rout. simply
by the manner in which he smoked
cigar. The English infantry fire
had compelled the French to retreat
Reynier fearing panic, remained to
the last and brought up the rear.
Though the English fire was murder
Gus. he had lighted cigar, and his
retreating men noticed that the putfs
of smoke wentup as his horse moved
slowly ON, with absolute regularity.
Puff! A wait. Puff! Another
wait. Puff! The enemy were pour
ing on, firing vigorously as they adj
vanced, but nothing could accelerate
Iecynier's smoking. His soldiers rail-
lied under the inspiration of the queer
spectacle, and got off in good order
Perhaps the most cold-bloodcd COM
mander who ever lived was the French
General, Saint-Cyr. He was IL great
tactician, but totally neglected the
morale of his men. He was never
seen on horseback, and never showed
himself before the lines. On one oc
casion, when he was simply General
of the Division: the impetuous Mar
shall Oudinot, puzzled to know what
to do in an emergency, asked Saint.
Cyr's advice, frankly telling him that
he was ''non-plussed."
"You Monseigneur," said Saint.
Cyr, sure Marshal of the Empire.
and l am IL General of a Division. i
shall faithfully carry out your orders,
but it would not be becoming for me
to advise you."
Later on Saint-Cyr succeeded to the
command OF the army, and then
adopted a peculiar method of general
ship. He formed his plan Of battle
clearly, precisely and with admirable
foresight. Then he sent his orders to
his subordinates, and shut himself
up in his quarters; absolutely forbid
ding entrance to a single soul. Then
he took out his violin and went to
studying hard piece of music as tran.
guilty as if he had been in the midst
Of profound peace.
The battle which won Saint Cyr his
baton as Marshal of the Einpire
was fought while he was flddllng in
his tent. He had apparently fore.
seen everything, and the carrying out
OF his plans completely crushed the
enemy.-Youth's Companion.