The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-01-17
FEW GENERALS FOR THE WAR.
Aud It Must Come Pretty Speedily for
Them to BE Available.
Louisville Courier-Journal.

LOUISVILLE OOuTieT-JDufndL
The action of the senate in removing the
disabilities OF ex-Confederates to serve in
the army OF the United States was right
and not too hasty. The time, however, Is
past when this action of congress can
add to the strength of the army to any
thing like the extent that II would nave
done had there been occasion for the SER
vices OF ex-Confederates years ago.
The man who was q at the outbreak OF
the war is now Sc years of age. There sre
soldiers OF that age that are stin efficient
hut the number is not large The rank and
file are generally made up OF young men,
or those OF earlier middle age. With Of
ficers the case is different, and especially
so with those of high rank. Many of the
best officers are well advanced in life. and
tho policy of retiring our generals at "a
years Of age IS far from commanding gen-
eral assent. At all events, there are eight
years of activity between So and 64 and in
the event of war the law could easily lie
modified II necessary. The passage of the
bill 10 remove disabilities. therefore, might
restore to the service some of the generals
who wore the gray during the rebellion.
But alas, how depleted are their ranks!
Lee has been dead for a quarter Of a CEN
tury. and, IL living, would be a very old
man. Joe Johnston is also gone. though
not until recently. Kirby Smith also has
recently gone over 10 the majority, and
the same may be said Of Beauregard and
others, who at one time held important COM
mands. There are still half dozen or more
lieutenant generals of the Confederacy left,
including Gen. Buckner. OF Kentucky; Gen.
Gordon and Gen. Longstrect, of Georgia.
and Gen. Wheeler, of Alabama, and the
number Of major generals and brigadier
generals left Is very considerable. In
doubtedly there are among these many
whose learning ans experience would be Of
rf..sa+ n ha nd
some who are yet within the age OF "a
years.
II IS to ne noted that all OF the most
conspicuous figures on the Union side are
also gone. Grant and Sherman, Sheridan,
Thomas. Hancock. Meade. Logan, ana
many more are gone. There are left, Of
course. many generals that rendered val
u9hie and even distinguished service. but
the great leaders on either side are no
longer with US. Most OF the best known
survivors are old, and unlikely 10 hold
any important Commands-at least for any
length OF time after the outbreak OF hos
uiitcs-
What. then. should we Go for generals
in the event ~ the outbreak OF war; The
probability Is that the men for the occa-
sion would speedily be developed There
are scores % obscure men throughout tie
CoUntry that a war would render famous
and some OF Them lllustrious In 1851. Who
itilrC awav his time az t5al-n8, III Who
could imagine that one q the foren 3st
champions OF that which proved the losing
siie Nas teaching a military school 70
Virginia. In poi1, OF fact. the generals
- the war Tor the most part served in A
subordinate capacity during the war w.th
Mexico. entered the army after that war.
or came from civil lie. Only thirteen years
elapsed between the peace Il CuaIaloune
1i3aiEo. and the outbreak - The civil war.
and yet our general officers in the latter
were nearly all new n that rank. Thirty
wars AMI mere have elapsed since The
close ~ Che civil way. AMI nearly thirty
one classes have been graduated AZ West
Fo.7t l. s hard 20 estimate the p0ssf-
hIties 3woU- these men. bar there ought
- ~ some military genius among them
Few people VIII 1ouh, that among our
population Us have men enough Who are
capable - leading armies and winning
victories Put T. does not follow that We
shall discover a. once the proper men for
the chef command. or Tor che most -
sr. gssr5e subordinate positions II not in
frequently happens I~ war tAat the Fize9v-
s~v - ere r-onsr rns1 - fead armies Is
only Uste by che 3's8E~ssahfe process -
RAISING through a series - disastrous De-
ttats. tbs was Particularly noticeable n
.ha East during the r'yli wa~ tr~pe-forrtns
OF which WAS ever before a commander
vas found TIA, could lead The Union forces
90 Vt-t1~y. Ge0F~al after general had pre-
'tnus3r les~ q@t iu command OF that army:
hs4 entered uron fHe task ass. EraI amid
tsa acclsra tio-s ~ tse piss aud peoale.
ara as1 G.sase~ouslv failed. Il does not
follow that iris unpleasant experience
would - renesyed n the event OF another
wlr- Sut os course. IL might -. There
is a. least comfort n the reelection that
E-r,aDd IS prooaaiy more nearly aestltgts
~ SIS itf5d generals thaa ne are.