Evening star., 1948-04-15
The Military on the Military

To tn. Editor Of The Star:
In his recent letter, headed Hamilton on
the Military" Clayton D. Loughran quoted ex-
tensively from the writings of one Of our FORE
most statesmen. It showed that great intel
lects at the very dawn Of our national history
were warning against the most horrible OF
all fates, that OF having ito look up to the
military power for protection. >"
It just so happens that very short time
after these extremely modern" views of Ham,
ilton were advanced, the American people were
afforded unique opportunity to see how they
would work. Since we are approaching the
problem from purely intellectual angle, let
us move along with history to the year 1915.
For the second time in the short space Of a
generation, the peace-loving American people
had fought England. And, for the second
time, country seldom exposed by its situa-
ton to internal invasions" had been invaded.
At Bladensburg small force Of British regu-
lars had routed much larger number of red
blooded American patriots who had formed
under Gen. Winder (no professional soldier, he.
but true citizen-soldier chosen for the oc-
casion "to please the Governor of MarylandD.
President Monroe and his cabinet had ridden
out the short distance from washington to
see the show 1.-The American loss was 8
killed and II wounded" writes w. A. Mitchell,
in his Worlds Military History" History
shows no other instance where the capital OF
great nation was delivered to the enemy after
such q small loss The army Gen. Winder.
the President and cabinet did not pause IN
their retreat until they were 16 miles from
Washington The British entered Washing
ton, burned the Capitol, the White House, and
other public buildings, and withdrew"
For summary of the lessons of this war We
must again leave the great books" quote
now from Steele's American Campaigns
Omitted States Infantry Association, Washing
ton, 1885:
"The achievements of our Navy during the
War Of 1872 were such that they will always
be subject Of just pride to us; but the man
agement and behavior Of our land-forces were
in many cases so unhappy, so discreditable, so
bad so burlesque, that contemplation of them
arouses in us mingled feelings Of disappoint-
ment. shame, disgust, and amusement.
"The war was, nevertheless, full of lessons
for the military student, but especially for the
American citizen-the man that votes and
makes the legislators that make the laws. He
is the one primarily responsible; for all the
failures of this war; like the failure to end the
Civil War in a single month, so years later,
were due to lack of preparedness-to bad
legislation.
George Washington by sad practical ex-
psrience had learned the hopelessness OF try
ing to conduct war with men who had been
taught nothing about the business Of war.
But Mr.. Jefferson who never saw q battle, and
during whose administration our Regular Army
was reduced almost to zero, said, In his last
message, while war with England was threat
ening: For a people who are free and who
mean to remain so, a well-organized and armed
militia is their best security"
II Alexander Hamilton had lived 10 years
longer, it would have been interesting to see
II he would have revised his theories in view
of their miserable failure to work out in prac-
tice Will the American people have to lose
war before they learn?
PROFESSIONAL SOLDIER.