The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-01-26
FEW GENERALS LEFT.
The Next War Must Come Soon for Then
to Be Available.

The Next War Must Come Soon for Them
to Be Available.
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
passed when the action of Congress can
add to the strength of the army to any,
thing like the extent that it would have
done had there been occasion for the sery-
ices of ex-Confederates years ago.
The man who was q at the outbreak
of the war Is now Sc years of age. The
rank and file are generally made up of
young men or those of earlier middle age.
With officers the case is different, and
especially so with those of high rank.
Many of the best officers are well advanced
in life, and the policy of retiring our
generals at "a years OF age is far from COM
handing general assent.
AT all events, there are eight years
of activity between Sc and a. and
and in the event of war the law could
easily be modified if necessary. The pass
age of the bill to remove disabilities, there
fore, 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 quarter of CEN
tury, and, if living, would be a very old
man. Joe Johnston is also gone, though
not until recently. Kirby Smith also has
recently gone over to the majority, and
the same may be said of Beauregard and
others, who at one time held important
commands.
There are still half dozen or more
acknowledgements of the Confederacy
left, including General Buckner of Ken
lucky, General Gordon and General Long
kx-E[ ~ HIyI
Alabama, and the number of major-gen-
erals and acknowledgements left is very
considerable. Undoubtedly there are
among these many whose learning and ex-
perlence would be of great service to the
country and there are some who are yet
within the age of Ga years.
1t is to be noted that all of the most con-
spicuous figures on the Union side are also
gone. Grant and Sherman, Sheridan,
Thomas, Hancock, Meade, Logan and
many more are gone. There are left of
course many generals that rendered valu-
able and even distinguished service, but
the great leaders on either side are no
longer with US. Most of the best-knowE
Survivors are old and unlikely to hold any
important commands-at least for any
length of time after the outbreak of hos
tilities.
What, then, should we do for generals in
the event of the outbreak of war? The
probability is that the men for the occa-
sion would speedily be developed. There
are scores of obscure men throughout the
country that war would render famous,
and some of them illustrious. In 1861
who supposed that the hero OF the war was
idling away his time at Galena. H.? Who
could imagine that one of the foremost
champions of that Ehich proved the losing
side was teaching military school in Vir-
ginia? In point of fact, the generals of
the war for the most part served in sub
ordinate capacity during the war with
Mexico, entered the army after that war.
or came from civil life. Only thirteen
years elapsed between the peace of Guada-
loupe Hidalgo and the Civil War, and vet
our general officers in the latter were
nearly all new TO that rank. Thirty wears
and more have elapsed since the close OF
the civil war, and nearly thirfy-one classes
have been graduated at West Point. 1t is
hard to estimate the possibilities among
these men, but there ought to be some
military genius among them.
Few people will doubt that among our