Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-11-03
From Other Viewpoints
Killing the Generals Out OF Politics
Bf ALFRED Ii. WILLIAMS

there IS ID, N
military President, unless it be General Wood.
who vas not allowed to be in this war. Sew
are followed by an attack even more energetic
T na % b the IN the on,e side
ss5etny 5 %
Pershine' but all our genera oiieers '"''
General Sherwood. who is eightyfo years
in ls61. and came out a. brigadier- general. with
swen;y.9dd CONNIE ndations for galan,ry under
ceptional Civil war record to lead this charge
ane and yivid absorption Of the III battle e. Of i
Of Tf nnd in '9yember 1851 He toi!
ride to the crest Of hin bstween ' the tw;
armies ,hr9w me stump Of the leg that had
mel OF his saddle and cooiiy Inspect the Federal
confederate charge led by GeneSai Pat ceburn me-
W;hoss horse went down nifty yards from the
ing ever the breastworks. The idea he drove
in ss 'Ss 4es
sdnd h WE'VE s Of ~ba
der and major generals were killed or woundel
In In that ensagsme MT, To crash Of applause
major generals were Killed at Franklin in that
OF g. tnan the %0Ea
~ere in the hell OF battle"
ederafs the ci1l war kiiied ' or mon or
tally Wounded in hattie twelve major; generals
ates one general. three lieutenan.- Generals
sna added amid anshter and s sppl"uss. I'VE
had Ats generals in uniform in this great worla
war, but n benign Providence saved them all
for our home and love without scratch"
Going further back, he said Napoleon had seven
teen horses shot under him; that the Duke OF
Wellington. at Waterloo. in the midst OF
the fghiing: that Washington had four horses
killed under him and his uniforms sho.
TO pieces several times. and that every soldier
President have had could show 4 solid
battle and fshting record.
or course. the comparison is unfair. General
Sherwood must have known it be 80. II he
had followed the records back he knew that
General Grant, although his ability to handle
men under fire had been demonstrated in the
battle line and that the only time General Lee
tried TO lead his troops in the Wilderness h
was turned back by shouts OF Lee to the rear
The soldiers refusing to move until lie had
gone back and then storming salient sup
poeed to be impregnabie. The endless details
the vastly heightened lines. the different style
OF hghting, the increased range OF guns ths
telephone connections centcring feld head
quarters and on TO general headquarters make
the place Of the directing mower in the reav
and the presence Of commander at the front
is not only unnecessary, but likely 10 be dis.
astrous. History seems TO show that IL General
Albert sidney Johnston had been in a safe
place the confederates would have won u grcai
victory at Shiloh. "
The attack on the generals seems to be prc
concerted and determined Really the world
war developed for no outstanding heroe;
but priyates and scrEeants. none of them with
education or knowledge TO make them conaid :
erzbis hsures In politics. II General Wood is
TO be put to the front Il will! be as martyr
II the war Is TO give us a President at ali. It
Will DO some years hence and after tho wa
record has been re- on forced by demonytr = ton
In peace Of some solid qualities, 4