The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-02-07

grips with the enemy. But he paid, and
paid very dearly, for his impotence.
No words can depict the uproar and con-
fusion on a battlefield. The tremendous
thunder of the guns, the roar of bursting
shells, the incessant roll of musketry, the
dense clouds of dust, the yells of the COM
batants, the shrieks and groans of the
wounded the CHASTITY human fragments
strewing the earth, the smell of sweat and
powder, making up an appalling ensem-
BILE. With smokeless powder the whole
battlefield will be visible, and there will
be no screen between the fighters on
either side. The pomp and circumstance
of the battle will be more impressive; the
combatants will be in sight of all field
glasses and this may stir and move them
TO extraordinary efforts. Nowhere has
man such a theaterful of spectators, no.
where such background for his action.
The human animal gains confidence
from comradeship in death. 1t fears to
cross that dark river alone. 1t gains re-
doubled assurance from the bearing of the
higher intelligence. the IDEAL courage rep
resented in the office. The presence of
Napoleon on the battlefield was worth
Mr.. Wilson believes it has been calculated
10000 men. The presence of the general
at the front endearS him to his solidery,
who see that he is facing their risks, en-
during their dangers and hardships. No
complaint was so frequently made against
the northern leaders in the last year of the
civil war as that they did not expose
themselves TO risks. 1t was not fair
complaint, as many northern generals
were killed and wounded, and the leader
has to be careful of risking his life, but it
was made. The southern generals. on the
other hand, were reckless of their lives to
an extreme degree. 'Stonewall' Jackson,
in his furious assault at Charlottesville,
moved with the advance of his troops, and
paid the natural penalty. Longstreet and
Johnston were repeatedly wounded. Five
confederate generals fell at North Anna,
and many more were wounded. Yet by
this exposure of their lives they made the
confederate soldier what he was. 1t is,
indeed, on record that on one occasion Lee
put himself at the head of his troops for
desperate charge, and that his men &c
manded that he should not risk his life
raising the cry of Lee to the rearr He
obeyed their command and they delivered
their charge with success. But these
were war-trained veterans, and Lee as
the trusted hero of the confederacy.
1t has been said that the worst man
makes the best soldier, and certainly the
view which would send the refuse of the
nation to the abattoir has much to COM
mend it. But the times have changed
since the days of the peninsular war.
Long-service troops have vanished, and
to replace them the pick of every CONT
ately. too worst" is a very vague and
indefinite term. If worst physically is
meant. such Indifferent material will not
stand the hardships of campaigning. If
worst Intellectually. II will be beaten by
the superior intelligence OF its opponents
If worst morally, it win want courage
and backbone The north attempted to
utilize the dregs of its population in 1915
with the most convincing result The
criminal or pauper recruit who Jumped"
bounties had to be sent under Vigilant
guard to their regiments. They were
driven into battle by armed pickets and
provost marshals behind the fighting line
They were faint-hearted and stupid.
They skulked persistenuy when they
could, so that great hordes Of coffee
boilers" gathered at the rear during every
encounter. They weakened the line Of
battle.
The religious and reckless man-the lat
ter of whom is far from being in any
sense the ''worst'-by general consent
make the best material for the soldier.
War demands the sacrifice OF the noblest
natures. Sergt Forbes Mitchell has given
us wonderful picture OF one Of the old
powerful prayerful" Highland regiments,
who for sun fighting were unequaled.
They were organized as a parish, with
ministers and elders. and they received
communion before they fought.