The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-02-12
LINCOLN AND HIS GENERALS.
His "UgIy Letters" Were Kindly
SOlicitOus.


BY Ida NJ. TarbeH.
The President of the United States is
the commander-in-chief Of the army and
navy. 1t is his right, not only to call
out troops and appoint officers, but to
direct campaigns. This military author
ity of the President has not been conspic-
uous in the war just ended, though if
hostilities had lasted much longer 1t might
have been as necessary for Mr. Mckinley
to have exercised his power as it was for
Abraham Idncoln in the civil war. 1t was
several months after the war between the
North and South began. a much longer
time in fact than the entire war with
Spain has covered, before Mr.. Lincoln
found it necessary to take the military
reins in his hands and 10 issue orders di-
recting movements. He shrank at first
from any such action, because as he very
frankly owned. he knew nothing about
military matters and he did not want TO
embarrass his generals. He was made
the more sensitive on this point because
the first great battle of the war-that of
Bull Aun a federal disaster-was fought
at mis- wish and against the advice of the
commander-in-chlef of the army, Gen.
Scott. For several months after Bull Run
the President gave no direct orders,
though he would write long letters to his
generals of what he called suggestions.
1t was fully six months after he APP
pointed Mcclellan to the command OF the
Army of the Potomac before Mr.. Lincoln
could be persuaded to issue decisive or
der for that general to move. If one Will
try 20 picture what would have happened
to Mr.. Mckinley last spring if he had had
an army of nearly 100000 men lying within
twenty miles or so of the Spaniards, for
fuue three months after it was well equip
ned and pretty we'll drilled, and had not
ordered its general to attack, he will have
an idea of what Mr.. Lincoln endured in
tle winter of 1861 and 80 before he COM
pelled Mcclellan TO move on Richmond.
Lincoln studied Tactics.
MFR Lincoln stood all the angry pressure
NJ the country because he thought McClel-
Ian knew his business" When he began
TO doubt that he would make no order for
an advance until he had practically mas
tered the whole subject of military tao
tics. No man ever studied harder FOR
couple of months than Lincoln did before
he asserted himself as commandments
chief He crammed on every military
hook he could get hold of. lie knew his
army down 10 the last man. He studied
mans "a Won Moltke did, down to the
smallest stream and elevation. He sum-
moned every military expert within reach
and asked questions until his head spun
and he went away wondering how the man
had learned so much of the subject. All
this he forced himself to do before he
would order Mcclellan to advance.
Even after he begun to give positive or
ders he allowed the largest latitude in
their execution. Indeed Lincoln never
became peremptory with his generals. His
office as cdmmauder-in-chief seems TO have
aroused a kind of paternal feeling in him
toward all those under him. He was their
father and must be kind and just to them.
Again and again this feeling came out
Nothing kinder and at the same time
franker was ever written to a subordinate
than the letter which the President sent
Gen. Hooker in January, 1855. when he
appointed him commander of the army of
the Potomac;
Executive Mansion. Washington. D. C
Jen. %. 1s63-Maj Gen. Hooker General
I have placed you at the head OF the
army of the Potomac. OF course / have
done this upon what appears to me TO
be sufficient reasons, and yet l think il
best for you to know that there are some
things In regard 70 which ! am not quite
satisfied with you. / believe YOU 10 he
a brave and skillful soldier. which. of
course / like. l also believe YOU do not
mix politics with your profession. IN
which you are right. You haye confidence
In yourself, which is a valuable il not an
indispensa BILE quality. You are amhi-