The National tribune., 1897-11-04

fact commands the army from his
Office" but cannot do so " in the field >
an absurdity in military if not civil
law
THE STAFF AND THE LINE.
The subordinates of these staff corps
and departments are selected and chosen
from the army itself, or fresh from West
Point, and too mmonly construe them
selves into the e}its, as made Of better
clay than the common soldier Thus
they separate themselves more and more
from their comrades Of the line, and in
process OF time realize the condition Of
that old officer Of artillery who thought
the army would be a delightful place
Tor a gentleman If it were not for the
soldier; or, better still, the conclusion
o. the young Lord in Henry "" ="
who told Harry Percy (Hotspur) that
but for these vile guns lie would him
self have been a soldier"
This is all wrong; utterly at variance
with our democratic form of Govern
mcnt and uniyersai-experience; and now
that the French, from whom we had
copied the system, have utterly pro-
scribed P" it, | hope that our Congress
will follow suit. admit, in lis fullest
force, the strength of the maxim that
the civil law should be superior to the
military in time Of peace: that the
army should be at all times subject to
the direct control Of Congress and |
assert that, from the formation of our
Government to the present day, the
Regular Army has set the highest ex-
ample Of obedience to law and authority /;
but, for the very reason that our army is
comparatively SC very small, hold that
it should be the best possible, organized
and governed on true military princi-
pies, and that in time of peace We should
preserve the habits and usages of war,"
so that, when war does come, we NAV
not again be compelled to suffer the dis
grace, confusion, and disorder Of 1861.
The commanding officers of divisions,
departments, and posts should have the
amplest powers, not onl Y to command
their troops, but all the stores designed
for their use, and the officers Of the staff
necessary to administer them, within the
area Of their command and then with
fairness they could be held to the most
perfect responsibility. The President
and Secretary Of War can command the
army quite as we'll through these Gen
erals as through the subordinate staff
officers. OF course, the Secretary would,
as now, distribute the funds according
10 the appropriation bills, and reserve
TO himself the absolute control and
supervision Of the larger arsenaIs and
depots Of supply. The error lies in the
law, or in the judicial Interpretation
thereof, and 10 code Of army regulations
can be made ti.at meets the case. until
Congress, ike the French CorDs Legis-
iatiG utterly annihiIates and pro-
cribes the old law and the system
which has grown up under it.
II TIE HEAD OF THE coLUtTE.
Il Is related Of Napoleon that his last
words were Tete-d'armeel Doubt
less az the shadow Of death obscured his
memory, the last thought that remained
for speech was Of some event when he
was directing an important head Of
column" ! believe that every General
who has handled armies in battle must
recall from his own experience tie in
tenslty Of though, on some similar occa-
sion, when by a single command he had
given the finishing stroke 70 sor}e com
plicated action but to me recurs another
Thought that sworthy Of record, and may
encourage otaers who are TO follow Us iii
our profession. never saw the rear
Of an army engaged in battle bat |
feared that some calamity had happened
at the front-tEe apparent confusion,
broken wagons, crippled horses, men
lying about dead and manned, parties
Fastening to and fro in seeming disorder
ana a general apprehension of some
thing dreadful about to ensue; all these
signs, however, lessened as | neared the
front, and there the contrast was com
plete-periect order, men and horses
full Of confidence, and IL was not un-
usual for general hilarity, laughing, and
cheering.
Although cannon might be firing, the
musketry gathering, and the enemy's
shot hitting close, there reigned gen
eral feeling Of strength and security that
bore marked contrast 10 the BLOODY
signs that bad drifted rapidly TO the
rear; therefore, for comfort and safety
! surely would rather be at the front
than the rear line-of-battle. So also on
the march, the head Of a column mqyas
on steadily, while the rear IS alternately
haltingand then rushing forward to clcsc
up pthe gap; and ali sorts Of rumors, cspeci
ally the worst, float back tc the rear