The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-01-20
tCOntinu.d from Fourtn Paxel

the soil OF his native state. or leading
his army into the enemy's country. he
was humane. self-restrained and strictly
observant or the most advanced rules
OF civilized warfare. He respected the
nOn-combatant: nor did he ever permit
tho wanton destruction OF private proper
~. His famous Chambersburg order was
q model which any invading general
would do well 20 mako his own: and I
repeat now what have heretofore had
occasiOn TO say. II doubt n a hostile
force of an equal size ever advanced into
an enemy's country. or fell back from u
in retreat. leaving behind less cause OF
hate and bitterness than did the Army
OF Northern Virginia in that memorable
campaign which eliminated at Gettys-
bury"
And yet that Gettysburg campaign Is an
episode In Lees military career which
am 10th wholly to pass over. for the
Views + entertain OF Il are not IN all
respects those generally held. So FAR as
Lees general plan Of campaign. and the
movement which eliminated in the battle
OF Gettysburg. We're concerned. IN war
be II always and ever remembered "a
leader must take some chances. Nand
mistakes will occur. but the mistakes are
rarely Z ever. all on one side.
They tend 20 cOuuterbalance each
other. and. commanders and commanded
being at all equal not unseldorn IL is tho
balance 81 misconceptions. shortcomings
miscarriages, and the generally unfor-
seen and indeed unforeseeable. which tips
the scale 20 victory or defeat have
said that proposed % avoid comparisons.
AZ best such are invidious. and. under
present Circumstance. might from me Doe
considered as doubtful in matter Of taste
] think. however. some things too obvious
% admit Of denial. or. consequently. 20
suggest comparison. About every crisp
military aphorism is q matter o. course
attributed 70 Napoleon; and 20 Napoleon
g alleged first 20 have remarked that
Tn war. men are nothing. man IS every
thing" And. as formerly a soldier Of the
Army OF the Potomac. I now stand APP
palled az The risk I unconsciously ran an
terror 20 July. 1853 when confronting the
Army - Northern Virginia. commanded
as 10 then was and We were The
situation was IN fact as bad with US fn
the Army % the Potomac as ~ was with
the Confederates IN the Southwest. The
unfortunate Pernberton there was sirnr'y
not IN the same class Grant and Sher-
man. 20 whom hs found himself opposed
Results there followed accordingly So
n Virginia Leo and Jackson made an
extraordinary. a most exceptional COM
bination-
They outclassed Mcclellan and Burn
side Pope and Hooker. Outclassed them
sometimes terribly. sometimes ludlc-
rously always hopelessiy. and results in
that case also followed accordingly.
= ilaA "1 were Lol utterly DESTROYED con-
Etitutes "A nat and fnaT refutal Of the
truth Of Napoison's aphorisrn- II We did
not realize the facts OF the situation IN
this respect. our opponents did. Let me
quote the words OF one Of them: There
was. however. one point Of great interest
r. fthe rapid succession Of the Federal
commanders). and that was our amaze
rnent Chat an army could maintain even
- much as It's organization under the
depressing strain % those successive APP
pointments and removals ~ its COM
ruanding general And to-day 5000 ].
Tor one, regard the fact that IL aid pre-
serve its cohesion and its fighting power
under. and In spite OF. such experiences
as furnishing impressive demonstration
Of the high character and intense loyalty
OF our historic foe. the Federal Army
OF the Potomac"