Year: 1874

From General Sherman's Review of his Campaigns ]


1t is related of Napoleon that his last
words were "Tete-d'-Armee." Doubtless
as the shadow of death obscured his
memory, the last thought that remained
for speech was of some event, when he
was directing some important "head o
column" / believe that every general
who has handled armies in battle must
recall from his own experience the in
tensity of thought on some similar 0cca-
sion, when by single command he had
given the finishing stroke to some COM
plicated action; but to me recurs an
other thought that is worthy of record,
and may encourage others who are to
follow us in our profession. l never saw
the rear of an army engaged in battle
but | feared some calamity had hap
pened at the front. The apparent con-
fusion, broken wagons, dead horses, men
lying about dead and MANNED, parties
Fastening to and fro in seeming disorder,
and general apprehension of something
dreadful about to ensue-all these signs,
however, lcssened as neared the front,
and there the contrast was perfect; per-
feet order, men and horses full of conf
dence, and it was not unusual for gem
eral hilarity, laughing and cheering. AL
though cannon might be firing, the
musketry gathering, and the enemy's
shot hitting close, there reigned gen.
eral feeling of strength and security that
bore marked contrast to the bloody
signs that had drifted rapidly to the
rear; therefore, for comfort and safety, l
surely would rather be at the front line
than the rear line of battle. So also on
the march, the head of a column moves
on steadily, whilst the rear is alternately
halting and then rushing forward to
close up the gap, and all sorts of rumors,
especially the worst, float back to the
rear. Old troops invariably deem it q
special privilege to be in the front, to be
at the "head of column" because expe-
rience has taught them that it is the
easiest and most comfortable place, and
danger only adds zcst and stimulus to this
fact.


The hardest task in war is to lie in
support of some position or battery un-
der fire, without the privilege of return
ing it; or to guard some train left in the
rear within hearing, but out of reach of
danger; or to care for the wounded and
dead of some corps which is too busy
ahead to care for their own.


To be at the head of strong column
of troops, in the execution of some task
that requires brain, is the highest pleas
ure of war; grim one, and terrible,
but which leaves on the mind and men,
ory the strongest marks; to detect the
weak points of an enemy's line; to
break through with vehemcnce, and
thus lead to victory; or to discover some
key-point, and hold it with tenacity; or
to do some ether distinct act that is af
forwards recognized as the real cause of
success. These all become matters that
are never forgotten. Other great diff
culties experienced by every general,
are to measure truly the thousand and
one reports that come to him in the
midst of conflict; to preserve clear and
well-defined purpose at every instant of
time, and to cause all efforts to converge
to that end.


To these things he must know per-
fectly the strength and quality of each
part of his own army as well as of his
opponent, and must be where he can
personally see and observe with his own
eyes, and judge with his own mind.


No man can properly command an
army from the rear; he must be "at its
'front.'" and when detachment is made,
the commander thereof should be in
formed of the object to be accomplished,
and left as free as possible to execute it
in his own way, and when an army Is di-
vided up into several parts the superior
should attend that which he regards as
most important. Some men think that
modern armies may be so regulated that
q general can sit in an Office and play on
his several columns like on the keys of a
piano; this is fearful mistake. The di-
recting mind must be at the very head
of an army must be seen there, and the
effect of his mind and personal energy
must be felt by every officer and man
present with il to secure the best results.
Every attempt to make war easy and
safe will result in humiliation and dis
aster.