Saint Mary's beacon., 1901-01-17
LIKE QUANTRELL'S WAY.
soer Tactics Discussed by an Old Con-
fsderate.
From New York Sun.

AieAA Afth 4 pih sun
The old rebel bad just read an
account of the escape Of General
DeWet, the Doer leader, from a trap
which the British had set for him
and be was gloating over it as the
daling exploit Of skilful man.
"That's the kind Of lighting that
Kept the Civil War going lcng atftar
the South had no chance, he said.
'It's just pure nerve, butit is mag
nificent, and it makes my heart
bound for those fellows over there.
They are as fine q set Of free fight
ers as the world has produced since
Quantrell and his guerillas went
roaming through the State Of Mis-
souri,, spreading death and destruc-
tion in their pathway. The Beers
remind me very much Of Quantrell
aud his band in the methods they
employ and in the spirit which act
uutes them in their unequal fight.
"Now I'm not going to put up o
defence Of Quantrell. It's TOO late
for that sort Of thing There will
always be people who think they
we're lot OF murderers aud there
will be people who will think thay
we're heroes. The opinion on this
point depends largely on whatv
the sympathies Of the person pass.
ing judgment at the time Of the
Civil War. I'm free to confess thet
was q Southeruer 10 ms views aud
hence | believe that QaautreH and
his men were justified in most Of
what they did Bat let tat 20.
suppose we make our comparison
between the Missouri guerilias ana
I'the Doors now fighting in the feld
purely as lighters. II We do thst,
I'm sure the resemblance will DO
plain to all and some light viii be
thtowu ondba ra"sas ~ Rcg apc
cosa 10 the face Of Overwhelming
odds.
"The Beers are lighting for their
country. They believe implicitly
in the justice Of their cause and
they are wiling to die for it il they
can but win freedom for their coun-
try. They are all born horsemen.
From the days Of their childhood
they have been taught to ride aud
shoot. They have lived active,
outdoor lives and they are hardened
10 the exertions consequent to days
and nights in the saddle. Further
more, they know every inch Of
ground over which they are fight
ing, aud that ia the most Import
ant point Of all Il wasin this par.
ticular that the Missouri guerillas
had an immense advantage over
their Federal opponents Then,
too, they have the active sympashy
and assistance of practically all the
people In the country i'm hieh they
are fighting. This Is an immense
advantage. How great it is was
shown by the remnant Of Guam
trell's band when, after the war,
they we're pursued by both Federal
and State officers for years and sue
cessfully eluded capture.
"The Boer guerillas are all on
horseback. They can move with
surprising swittness and this factor,
coupled with their knowledge Of
the country, aud their SOURCES Of
information through the friendship
Of the people, make it possblo for
them to evade fight except when
they have fair ehanee to win.
This was exactly what Qpautrell
did. Persons who have not follow
ed the career of that remarkable
man aud his lientenants, have no
idea of the tremendous odds against
which they fought with almost an.
varying success. Leaving out of
consideration the tales Of bloodshed,
which true or false have been cir
culated about these men, and look
ing at them merely as fighters with
out fear their record is almost be-
yond belief and really for deedseE
daring surpasses that Of The heroic
Beers. There was not SO much Of
military science in what Quantrell
did. He was undoubtedly tha in
ferior Of DeWet as a leader u large
bodies OF men. lie had no oaptitude