memoirs of general william t. sherman-2-第105章
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The only change that breech…loading arms will probably make in the art and practice of war will be to increase the amount of ammunition to be expended； and necessarily to be carried along； to still further 〃thin out〃 the lines of attack； and to reduce battles to short； quick； decisive conflicts。 It does not in the least affect the grand strategy； or the necessity for perfect organization； drill； and discipline。 The； companies and battalions will be more dispersed； and the men will be less under the immediate eye of their officers； and therefore a higher order of intelligence and courage on the part of the individual soldier will be an element of strength。
When a regiment is deployed as skirmishers； and crosses an open field or woods； under heavy fire； if each man runs forward from tree to tree； or stump to stump； and yet preserves a good general alignment； it gives great confidence to the men themselves； for they always keep their eyes well to the right and left； and watch their comrades； but when some few hold back； stick too close or too long to a comfortable log； it often stops the line and defeats the whole object。 Therefore； the more we improve the fire…arm the more will be the necessity for good organization； good discipline and intelligence on the part of the individual soldier and officer。 There is； of course； such a thing as individual courage； which has a value in war； but familiarity with danger； experience in war and its common attendants； and personal habit； are equally valuable traits； and these are the qualities with which we usually have to deal in war。 All men naturally shrink from pain and danger； and only incur their risk from some higher motive； or from habit； so that I would define true courage to be a perfect sensibility of the measure of danger； and a mental willingness to incur it； rather than that insensibility to danger of which I have heard far more than I have seen。 The most courageous men are generally unconscious of possessing the quality； therefore； when one professes it too openly； by words or bearing； there is reason to mistrust it。 I would further illustrate my meaning by describing a man of true courage to be one who possesses all his faculties and senses perfectly when serious danger is actually present。
Modern wars have not materially changed the relative values or proportions of the several arms of service： infantry； artillery； cavalry； and engineers。 If any thing； the infantry has been increased in value。 The danger of cavalry attempting to charge infantry armed with breech…loading rifles was fully illustrated at Sedan； and with us very frequently。 So improbable has such a thing become that we have omitted the infantry…square from our recent tactics。 Still； cavalry against cavalry； and as auxiliary to infantry； will always be valuable； while all great wars will； as heretofore； depend chiefly on the infantry。 Artillery is more valuable with new and inexperienced troops than with veterans。 In the early stages of the war the field…guns often bore the proportion of six to a thousand men； but toward the close of the war one gun； or at most two； to a thousand men； was deemed enough。 Sieges； such as characterized the wars of the last century； are too slow for this period of the world； and the Prussians recently almost ignored them altogether； penetrated France between the forts； and left a superior force 〃in observation；〃 to watch the garrison and accept its surrender when the greater events of the war ahead made further resistance useless； but earth…forts； and especially field…works； will hereafter play an important part in war； because they enable a minor force to hold a superior one in check for a time； and time is a most valuable element in all wars。 It was one of Prof。 Mahan's maxims that the spade was as useful in war as the musket； and to this I will add the axe。 The habit of intrenching certainly does have the effect of making new troops timid。 When a line of battle is once covered by a good parapet； made by the engineers or by the labor of the men themselves； it does require an effort to make them leave it in the face of danger； but when the enemy is intrenched； it becomes absolutely necessary to permit each brigade and division of the troops immediately opposed to throw up a corresponding trench for their own protection in case of a sudden sally。 We invariably did this in all our recent campaigns； and it had no ill effect； though sometimes our troops were a little too slow in leaving their well…covered lines to assail the enemy in position or on retreat。 Even our skirmishers were in the habit of rolling logs together； or of making a lunette of rails； with dirt in front； to cover their bodies； and； though it revealed their position； I cannot say that it worked a bad effect； so that； as a rule； it may safely be left to the men themselves： On the 〃defensive；〃 there is no doubt of the propriety of fortifying； but in the assailing army the general must watch closely to see that his men do not neglect an opportunity to drop his precautionary defenses； and act promptly on the 〃offensive〃 at every chance。
I have many a time crept forward to the skirmish…line to avail myself of the cover of the pickets 〃little fort；〃 to observe more closely some expected result； and always talked familiarly with the men； and was astonished to see how well they comprehended the general object； and how accurately they were informed of the sate of facts existing miles away from their particular corps。 Soldiers are very quick to catch the general drift and purpose of a campaign； and are always sensible when they are well commanded or well cared for。 Once impressed with this fact； and that they are making progress； they bear cheerfully any amount of labor and privation。
In camp； and especially in the presence of an active enemy； it is much easier to maintain discipline than in barracks in time of peace。 Crime and breaches of discipline are much less frequent； and the necessity for courts…martial far less。 The captain can usually inflict all the punishment necessary； and the colonel should always。 The field…officers' court is the best form for war； viz。； one of the field…officers…the lieutenant…colonel or major… …can examine the case and report his verdict； and the colonel should execute it。 Of course； there are statutory offenses which demand a general court…martial； and these must be ordered by the division or corps commander； but； the presence of one of our regular civilian judge…advocates in an army in the field would be a first…class nuisance； for technical courts always work mischief。 Too many courts…martial in any command are evidence of poor diacipline and inefficient officers。
For the rapid transmission of orders in an army covering a large space of ground； the magnetic telegraph is by far the best； though habitually the paper and pencil； with good mounted orderlies； answer every purpose。 I have little faith in the signal…service by flags and torches； though we always used them； because； almost invariably when they were most needed； the view was cut off by intervening trees； or by mists and fogs。 There was one notable instance in my experience； when the signal…flags carried a message。 of vital importance over the heads of Hood's army； which had interposed between me and Allatoona； and had broken the telegraph…wiresas recorded in Chapter XIX。； but the value of the magnetic telegraph in war cannot be exaggerated； as was illustrated by the perfect concert of action between the armies in Virginia and Georgia during 1864。 Hardly a day intervened when General Grant did not know the exact state of facts with me； more than fifteen hundred miles away as the wires ran。 So on the field a thin insulated wire may be run on improvised stakes or from tree to tree for six or more miles in a couple of hours； and I have seen operators so skillful； that by cutting the wire they would receive a message with their tongues from a distant station。 As a matter of course； the ordinary commercial wires along the railways form the usual telegraph…lines for an army； and these are easily repaired and extended as the army advances； but each army and wing should have a small party of skilled men to put
