The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1900-07-27
LINCOLN As a SOLDIER.
How He Managed His General
Officers.
{By Ida M. Tarbello

-- i
How He Managed His General
Officers.
(By Ida M. Tarbell.)
The president Of the United States is
he commander-in-chief of the army
Ind navy. 1t Is his right, not only to
:all out troops and appoint officers, but
o direct campaigns. This military au-
ihority Of the president has been con-
spicuous in the war just ended, though
hostilities had lasted longer it might
lave been as necessary for Mr.. Nc
Sinley to exercise his power as it was
or Abraham Lincoln in the civil war.
I was several months after the war be-
ween the north and south began. a
much longer time in fact that the en-
ire war with Spain has covered. be-
ore Mr.. Lincoln found 1t necessary to
axe the military reins in his hands
Ind to issue orders directing move
nents. He shrank at first from any
such action, because, as he frankly
,wned, he knew nothing about mill
AIRY matters. and he did not want to
:mbarrass his generals. He was made
he more sensitive on this point be-
:ause the first great battle Of the war
that of Bull Run, an unfortunate dis
lster-was fought at his wish and
against the advice of the commander
n-chief of the army, General Scott.
Tor several months after Bull Run the
president gave no direct orders, though
lie would write long letters to his gen.
.ral of what he called suggestions"
1t was fully six months after he APP
pointed Mcclellan to the command of
HE army Of the Potomac before Mr..
lincoln could be persuaded to issue a
decisive order for that general to move.
II one will try to picture what would
rave happened to Mr.. Mckinley last
ipring il he had had an army of near
y 100000 men lying within thirty miles
,r so of the Spaniards, for fully three
months after it was we'll equipped and
pretty we'll drilled, and had not ordered
is general to attack, he will have an
dea Of what Mr.. Lincoln endured all
he winter of 1861 and 1852 before he
compelled Mcclellan to move on Rich
nond.
LINCOLN STUDIED TACTICS.
Mr.. Lincoln stood all the angry pres
,ure of the country because he thought
Mcclellan knew his business" When
he began to doubt that he would make
10 order for an advance until he had
practically mastered the whole sub
lect Of military tactics. No man ever
studied harder for couple OF months
Than Lincoln did before he asserted
himself as commander-in-chief. He
srammed on every military book he
could get hold Of. He knew his army
iown to the last man. He studied maps
10 Won Moltke did, down to the small
.st stream and elevation. He summon
ID every military expert within reach
and asked questions until his head
spun and he went away wondering how
the man had learned 80 much Of the
subject. All this he forced himself to
DO before he would order Mcclellan to
advance.
Even after he began to give positive
orders he allowed the largest latitude
In their execution. Indeed, Lincoln
aever became peremptory with his gen.
erals. His Office as commander-in-chief
seems to have aroused q kind Of pa
ternal feeling in him towards those
under him. He was their father and
must be kind and Just to them. Again
and again this feeling came out. Moth
Ing kinder and at the same time more
frank was ever written to a subordinate
than the letter which the president
sent to General Hooker when he ap-
pointed him commander of the army OF
the Potomac.
Executive Mansion. Washington, Jan.
l6, 1Se3-Major General Hooker: Cen
eral-T have placed you at the head OF
the army Of the Potomac. OF course
1 have done this upon what appears to
me to be sufficient reasons. and yet ]
think 1t best for you to know that
there are some things in regard to
which am not quite satisfied with you,
I believe you to be brave and skillful
soldier. which, Of course, like. also
believe you do not mix politics with
your profession, in which you are right.
You have confidence In yourself, which
u valuable II not an indispensable
quality. You are ambitious, which.
within reasonable bounds, does good
rather than harm: but ! think that
during General Burnside's command Of
the army you have taken counsel Of
your ambition and thwarted him az
much 40 you could. In which you did q
great wrong to the country and to q
most meritorious and honorable brother
ofIicer. have heard. In such way al
to believe It. Of your recently saying
that both the army and the sovernmen,
needed I dictator.
OF course. Il was not for this. but in
spite Of It. that I have given you the
command. Only those generals who
gain successes can net up dictators
What now ask you 10 military sue
cess, ana viii risk the dictatorship.
The government viii support you to
the utmost Of it, ability. which IL nei-
ther more nor less than It has done
and viii do for all commanders.
have much fear that the spirit which
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