The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1901-10-03
CITY MEN AS SOLDIERS.
ien- Rosecrans,s Estimate Of Their Value as

Gen. Rosecrans's Estimate of Their Value as
compared with Esrmer BOYS
"Old ROsey," as the soldiers of the
Army OF the Cumberland had affection
, ately nlcknamed Gen. W. S. Rosecraus.
was for several years resident of Wash
| Ington, where he had many warm friends
and admirers. Nearly every evening the
Old war hero was surrounded by circle
Of acquaintance, to who he never tired
of telling wartime stories and remini-
SCIENCES. One evening at his home on Capt.
tol HUI while entertaining several army
| friends, the conversation turned to the re-
!atIve merits of certain classes of men as
soldiers.
One of the officers present, who had
served IN an Ohio regiment, called atten-
ton to the fine appearance certain regi-
ments composed of young Buckeye farm
ers made when they were first assigned to
duty in the line. Gen. ROsecrans listen
ed attentiyely as the officer described the
virtues of the farmer-soldiers and their
Stalwart sturdiTess. Finally he said:
Yes, they were fine fellows, but le-
US make comparison. Suppose we arr
about to enter upon an arduOus campaign
requiring hard marching and heavy fight
ing at intervals, both by day and By night,
and the services of one regiment are re-
quired for a particularly desperate piece
of work necessitating forced marches with
minimum of cOmmiSsary supplies. You
this strenuous service. One of these is
composed of hearty, ruddy-faced, stalWart
country lads-farmerS and farmers sons.
The other regiment was recruited in big
city, Chicago, for instance, and is COM
posed of pale-faced, slender city lads, Of
irregular size and weight, in strong con-
trast with the buXom, healthy country
boys. Now, gentlemen, which regiment
would you select for the service NEIL
toned"
1.-The country lads, of course said a
former Captain of cavalry.
Il admit continued Gen. ROsecrans,
that the appearance Of the country boys
would be largely in their favor, but give
me the pale-faced city lads every time"
Why" asked the trooper.
For several reasons" replied Old
Rosey, ''the principal of which are these:
Men reared in the city can stand Il great
deal more exposure, irregular hours OF
sleeping and eating and forced marches,
especially by night. 1t is part of their
city training to be irregular in such mat
tiers. They stay out all hours of the night
and frequently during n business rush
they really devOur their meals on the run,
whenever they can snatch the time to do
so. Their whole life, in 4 majority of in
stances, has been based on irregularity.
Hence as soldiers they are ready to move
at Il moments notice with q minimum OF
bOlh SiCtp Ibbu, anu DeluS IS0L OIL
weight, as a rule, they can march better
and farther, by daylight and in darkness,
before they became exhausted.
Now as to the country raised soldiers
Regularity is part of their being. They
So to bed with the chickens, and rise with
the lark as the old saying goes. They
have been used to having their meals at
stated hours, and of working Il certain
length of time each week day. This regu-
lar course of life has made them hearty,
heavy and ruddy-faced. The very pic-
lures of health. Once in the army all this
is changed. The eXigencies of military
service are such that n man is expected
to respond to duty, nearly always ardu-
Gus, at any period of the "a hours. This
irregularity is really part of the service.
and it has telling effect upon the country
lads. They became exhausted more easily
than their city brethren, and very often
find themselves i'll the hospitals, badly
wrecked as a result of their severe sery-
ice and irregular meals and sleep.
How about their fighting capacities.
relatively: asked one of the Generals
listeners.
They are about equal" was the reply.
They are all Americans, and Americans
make the best soldiers in the world -
Gen. Rosecrans said there was one
class of city men-a very small class COM
made the poorest fight
tlS VI an. ne referred TO the Dar-rOOm
bullies and "bruisers.' Those great.
muscular fellows with coarse scowling.
features. loud and prOfane voices and
gigantic frames, who are ever ready IN
pOunce upon the weak and unweary. and
who are familiar fixtures in many of the
tough saloons. On the firing line where
the yeriest pigmy or weakling armed
with rifle, is Il match for the most now
erful bully, the latter becomes an arrant
coward. His heart fails him and he il
'eady to stink away like n whipped chr
he can bully some poor, sicEly individual
n bar-room, but cannot face the fire
md smoke of the battle line. with ire
and whistling projectiIes. and
where the inequalities of individual size
IND strength are equalized by the
weapons of war. The weak, pale-faced
al, fresh from the church or Sabbath
school Is usually the hero. His launched
ace, as he goes into the fight, does not
mean fear. 1t means the grim determine
ion to do anddie if necessary. 1t is of such
tuif that most of our heroes are made.
Modern weapons" concluded Gen.
3osecrans. makes puny youth the
qual of a muscular giant
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