The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-01-05

olution and Sons of the Revolution now
find it difficult to locate some histori-
cal spots and confirm some noted ad-
ventures. Just now Mr.. Erwin Ed
wards, an antiquarian, is busy proving,
as he thinks, that Gen. Israel Putnam
famous "old Put'-never made the
daring ride down the stone steps near
Greenwich, Conn. although the Daugh-
tiers of the American Revolution have
so marked the spot with a commence
rative monument. OF course, the ac-
ton of Mr.. Edwards creates widespread
indignation, yet he claims to be able
to prove his charge, which appears to
me to be late in the day." be it true
or false.
/ was glad to see in late Sundays
Morning News war correspondents
sketch of Gen. Rafael Tribe Tribe OF
Colombia, which fully indorses my po-
sition in regard to Gen. McClellan's
and Gen. Lees great defeats. l have
always thought and still think, that
the ablest generalship is shown in de-
feat rather than in victory. l have al
ways held that Gen. Lees retreat from
Gettysburg was the most mastery piece
of generalship in the Civil War, and
Gen. McClellan's retreat from the Chic
kahominy only second to it. Gen. John
ston's retreat before Gen. Sherman was
also grand movement. No one but a
general of superb qualities of head and
heart can hold together sorely de-
feated army and safely lead it away
from a victorious enemy. / know that
popular applause is for the victor, but
| am willing to stand outside of such
ovations and honor the man whom de-
feat cannot dishearten and whose
brave and loyal legions follow in un-
broken ranks his furled flags of undis-
honored defeat to a place of safety.
And this Gen. Uribe-Urib appears to
share with me in this view, as he said
to Edwin Emerson, Jr., the war cor
respondent: True generalshipsks shown
rot so much during a battle as after
wards. With equal forces, when all is
said, the issue of a battle is always
more or less matter of luck. A good
general has chance to show his quail
tiles after the battle, either by the
Vigor of his pursuit, in case of victory,
or contrariwise by his steadfast con-
duct in retreat. Defeats are more try
ing to the soul than victories. l regret
to say that my lessons of war have
been largely learned in defeat"
In my letter in regard to various
classes of Confederate brigadier gem
erals, when I replied to Col. Nc
Glashan, / spoke of the action of Sec
rotary of War Benjamin, think, who
decided that a brigadier general lost
his rank when he lost his brigade.
since that writing Mr.. T. A. Olds of
North Carolina. in the Sunny South of
Sept. q, gives the experience of Brig.
Gen. Thomas f. Toon, the state super
intepdent of public instruction FOR
North Caroline NH
Twentieth North Carolina Infantry
was commissioned a brigadier general
for temporary command of Gen. John
ston's brigade. From June, 1864, to Jam
uary, 1865, he held this position, at
which time he was promoted back
wards" to be again colonel of the
Twentieth North Carolina Infantry. A
similar case was that of Col Thomas
A. Smith of Georgia, commander of the
Rife Regiment, U. s. A, in 1914, who
was that year promoted to be a briga-
der general in the regular army. But
when the army was reorganized, in
1915, he was promoted backwards" to
be again colonel of the Rifle Regiment,
and a brevet brigadier. There was a
good deal of this temporary" rank in
the Confederate army, notably Lieut..
Gen. John B. Hood and Lieut. Gen e.
Kirby Smith, who We're given the tenn
porary rank of full general. A critical
reader of the Official Records often
finds himself very much puzzled to
know the exact rank of a general
In one place he is addressed as--or
signs Observation-Disclosures general, while
in another 1t is major general, and in
still another it is lieutenant general
Sometimes, however, it drops down to
colonel, as was often the case with the
late Brig. Gen. George w. Pains of Au-
gusta. Because of these variations ]
have found it most difficult matter
TO prepare a roster of Confederate gen.
erals free from errors us 20 proper
rank. Sidney Herbert.