The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1905-06-21
THE s0UTH's GENERALS.
What An English Army Officer Has
to Say About Them.

=" aAC AL cDSiasn army O1nCer las
to Say About Them.
The latest contribution OF British
military writer's to the literature OF
our civil war Is work entltled "The
Crisis Of the ConfederacY," by Capt.
Cecil Battine OF the Fifteenth Kings
Hussars. The book presents an esti-
mate OF the military abilities OF the
commanding facers OF the two armies
and this feature Of the work is par
ticularly interesting and very 2ratify-
ing to the people Of the South. In
review of the work The Army and
Navy Journal gives the following sum.
mary of Capt. Battine's conclusions
upon this subject:
Capt. Battine's estimates OF the
leaders OF the opposing armies in the
civil war will interest even where
they fail to convince the studicus
reader. He. maintains, for example,
that if In 1852 the North could have
exchanged generals with the South,
the Federal victory could not have been
long delayed. he declares that the
Federal officer who most distinguish
ed himself both at Gettysburg and IN
the Wilderness battle OF May 5, 1854,
was Hancock.
20; Grant he says. No great man
in history surpassed him In simple
ness Of purpose and freedom from
sham and pretense OF all sorts. he
was wise, modest and brave. That
he was not a great master OF tactical
science must be admitted, but remem-
bering how little incentive be had re-
ceiVed 20 think out its problems until
be was OF mature age and had been
for six years civilian, it was not to
be expected that he would shine in the
field which Of all others requires many
years OF long and fruitful study. AS
strategist he was inferior to none ct
the American generals. His grim de-
termination to perSevere in spite OF q
holocaust Of victims has been de-
nounced as heartless disregard Of hu-
man life, but his chivalry to the van
quished and his tender regard for the
sick and wounded show hi.n in a very
different light.
capt. Eattine holds that McClel-
Ian was relieved OF command with
out any particular pretext,' that his.
successor, Burnside, while not lacking
in bravery, had shown al Antietam
how little capacity he had for the
most difficult task OF controlling q
great army In the field that Meade,
though unlike the conventional type
OF q great warrior in that he had
more the appearance Of an engineer
than Of a troop leader,' possessed valu-
able qualities as chief, was person:
ally brave and had the moral courage
which is so often lacking to men Who
never fear for their own safety.
"For Lee, Capt. Battine has the
highest admiration, and says OF him:
In the tact and diplomatic skill with
which he softened the jealousies OF
his people and frightened the combina-
tion of the different States, he Is only
to be compared to the great Duke OF
Marlborough. In the boldness and
sagacity OF his strategy and In the
affectionate devotion he inspired In
! bis troops he resembled Napoleon
himself. AS leader OF an army he had
one great fault; he was too modest,
too lacking In the stern self-assertion
which compels obedience and exacts
the utmost efforts OF subordinates.
Such as he was, chivahcus, brave and
conscientious to fault, he will re-
main the most attractive personality
among American heroes and one OF
the most famous Of the worlds great
generals AS for StoreWail Jackson,
Capt. Battine heartily accepts the
high and almost e1traVagant estimate
placed upon that remarkable soldier
by another British writer, Lieut.. Col.
G f. B. Henderson, whose 'StonewaA
Jackson and toe American Civil War
is recognized in England as a master
piece Of military biography"
The Charleston Post says whatever
judgments may be held in this coun-
try upon the relative merits Of the
soldiers OF that mighty struggle
which rent the republic, it is clear
enough, from the writings OF such
students as Lord Wolseley, Col. Hem
derson and Capt. Battine that impair.
tia! and critical history will award to
the leaders OF the Confederate armies
renown that even we Of the South
will admit to be fair recognition Of
their glorious achievements.
The Yellow Peril