memoirs of general william t. sherman-2-第74章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


on；　and　the　Northern　people　generally　paid　no　attention；　took　no　warning　of　its　coming；　and　would　not　realize　its　existence　till　Fort　Sumter　was　fired　on　by　batteries　of　artillery；　handled　by　declared　enemies；　from　the　surrounding　islands　and　from　the　city　of　Charleston。

General　Bragg；　who　certainly　was　a　man　of　intelligence；　and　who；　in　early　life；　ridiculed　a　thousand　times；　in　my　hearing；　the　threats　of　the　people　of　South　Carolina　to　secede　from　the　Federal　Union；　said　to　me　in　New　Orleans；　in　February；　1861；　that　he　was　convinced　that　the　feeling　between　the　slave　and　free　States　had　become　so　embittered　that　it　was　better　to　part　in　peace；　better　to　part　anyhow；　and；　as　a　separation　was　inevitable；　that　the　South　should　begin　at　once；　because　the　possibility　of　a　successful　effort　was　yearly　lessened　by　the　rapid　and　increasing　inequality　between　the　two　sections；　from　the　fact　that　all　the　European　immigrants　were　coming　to　the　Northern　States　and　Territories；　and　none　to　the　Southern。

The　slave　population　m　1860　was　near　four　millions；　and　the　money　value　thereof　not　far　from　twenty…five　hundred　million　dollars。　Now；　ignoring　the　moral　side　of　the　question；　a　cause　that　endangered　so　vast　a　moneyed　interest　was　an　adequate　cause　of　anxiety　and　preparation；　and　the　Northern　leaders　surely　ought　to　have　foreseen　the　danger　and　prepared　for　it。　　After　the　election　of　Mr。　Lincoln　in　1860；　there　was　no　concealment　of　the　declaration　and　preparation　for　war　in　the　South。　　In　Louisiana；　as　I　have　related；　men　were　openly　enlisted；　officers　were　appointed；　and　war　was　actually　begun；　in　January；　1861。　　The　forts　at　the　mouth　of　the　Mississippi　were　seized；　and　occupied　by　garrisons　that　hauled　down　the　United　States　flag　and　hoisted　that　of　the　State。　　The　United　States　Arsenal　at　Baton　Rouge　was　captured　by　New　Orleans　militia；　its　garrison　ignominiously　sent　off；　and　the　contents　of　the　arsenal　distributed。　　These　were　as　much　acts　of　war　as　was　the　subsequent　firing　on　Fort　Sumter；　yet　no　public　notice　was　taken　thereof；　and　when；　months　afterward；　I　came　North；　I　found　not　one　single　sign　of　preparation。　　It　was　for　this　reason；　somewhat；　that　the　people　of　the　South　became　convinced　that　those　of　the　North　were　pusillanimous　and　cowardly；　and　the　Southern　leaders　were　thereby　enabled　to　commit　their　people　to　the　war；　nominally　in　defense　of　their　slave　property。　　Up　to　the　hour　of　the　firing　on　Fort　Sumter；　in　April；　1861；　it　does　seem　to　me　that　our　public　men；　our　politicians；　were　blamable　for　not　sounding　the　note　of　alarm。

Then；　when　war　was　actually　begun；　it　was　by　a　call　for　seventy…　five　thousand　〃ninety…day〃　men；　I　suppose　to　fulfill　Mr。　Seward's　prophecy　that　the　war　would　last　but　ninety　days。

The　earlier　steps　by　our　political　Government　were　extremely　wavering　and　weak；　for　which　an　excuse　can　be　found　in　the　fact　that　many　of　the　Southern　representatives　remained　in　Congress；　sharing　in　the　public　councils；　and　influencing　legislation。　　But　as　soon　as　Mr。　Lincoln　was　installed；　there　was　no　longer　any　reason　why　Congress　and　the　cabinet　should　have　hesitated。　　They　should　have　measured　the　cause；　provided　the　means；　and　left　the　Executive　to　apply　the　remedy。

At　the　time　of　Mr。　Lincoln's　inauguration；　viz。；　March　4；　1861；　the　Regular　Army；　by　law；　consisted　of　two　regiments　of　dragoons；　two　regiments　of　cavalry；　one　regiment　of　mounted　rifles；　four　regiments　of　artillery；　and　ten　regiments　of　infantry；　admitting　of　an　aggregate　strength　of　thirteen　thousand　and　twenty…four　officers　and　men。　　On　the　subsequent　4th　of　May　the　President；　by　his　own　orders　（afterward　sanctioned　by　Congress）；　added　a　regiment　of　cavalry；　a　regiment　of　artillery；　and　eight　regiments　of　infantry；　which；　with　the　former　army；　admitted　of　a　strength　of　thirty…nine　thousand　nine　hundred　and　seventy…three；　but　at　no　time　during　the　war　did　the　Regular　Army　attain　a　strength　of　twenty…five　thousand　men。

To　the　new　regiments　of　infantry　was　given　an　organization　differing　from　any　that　had　heretofore　prevailed　in　this　country　of　three　battalions　of　eight　companies　each；　but　at　no　time　did　more　than　one　of　these　regiments　attain　its　full　standard；　nor　in　the　vast　army　of　volunteers　that　was　raised　during　the　war　were　any　of　the　regiments　of　infantry　formed　on　the　three…battalion　system；　but　these　were　universally　single　battalions　of　ten　companies；　so　that；　on　the　reorganization　of　the　Regular　Army　at　the　close　of　the　war；　Congress　adopted　the　form　of　twelve　companies　for　the　regiments　of　cavalry　and　artillery；　and　that　of　ten　companies　for　the　infantry；　which　is　the　present　standard。

Inasmuch　as　the　Regular　Army　will　naturally　form　the　standard　of　organization　for　any　increase　or　for　new　regiments　of　volunteers；　it　becomes　important　to　study　this　subject　in　the　light　of　past　experience；　and　to　select　that　form　which　is　best　for　peace　as　well　as　war。

A　cavalry　regiment　is　now　composed　of　twelve　companies；　usually　divided　into　six　squadrons；　of　two　companies　each；　or　better　subdivided　into　three　battalions　of　four　companies　each。　　This　is　an　excellent　form；　easily　admitting　of　subdivision　as　well　as　union　into　larger　masses。

A　single　battalion　of　four　companies；　with　a　field…officer；　will　compose　a　good　body　for　a　garrison；　for　a　separate　expedition；　or　for　a　detachment；　and；　in　war；　three　regiments　would　compose　a　good　brigade；　three　brigades　a　division；　and　three　divisions　a　strong　cavalry　corps；　such　as　was　formed　and　fought　by　Generals　Sheridan　and　Wilson　during　the　war。

In　the　artillery　arm；　the　officers　differ　widely　in　their　opinion　of　the　true　organization。　　A　single　company　forms　a　battery；　and　habitually　each　battery　acts　separately；　though　sometimes　several　are　united　or　〃massed；〃　but　these　always　act　in　concert　with　cavalry　or　infantry。

Nevertheless；　the　regimental　organization　for　artillery　has　always　been　maintained　in　this　country　for　classification　and　promotion。　Twelve　companies　compose　a　regiment；　and；　though　probably　no　colonel　ever　commanded　his　full　regiment　in　the　form　of　twelve　batteries；　yet　in　peace　they　occupy　our　heavy　sea…coast　forts　or　act　as　infantry；　then　the　regimental　organization　is　both　necessary　and　convenient。

But　the　infantry　composes　the　great　mass　of　all　armies；　and　the　true　form　of　the　regiment　or　unit　has　been　the　subject　of　infinite　discussion；　and；　as　I　have　stated；　during　the　civil　war　the　regiment　was　a　single　battalion　of　ten　companies。　　In　olden　times　the　regiment　was　composed　of　eight　battalion　companies　and　two　flank　companies。　　The　first　and　tenth　companies　were　armed　with　rifles；　and　were　styled　and　used　as　〃skirmishers；〃　but　during　'the　war　they　were　never　used　exclusively　for　that　special　purpose；　and　in　fact　no　distinction　existed　between　them　and　the　other　eight　companies。

The　ten…company　organization　is　awkward　in　practice；　and　I　am　satisfied　that　the　infantry　regiment　should　have　the　same　identical　organization　as　exists　for　the　cavalry　and　artillery；　viz。；　twelve　companies；　so　as　to　be　susceptible　of　division　into　three　battalions　of　four　companies　each。

These　companies　should　habitually　be　about　a　hundred　one　men　strong；　giving　twelve　hundred　to　a　regiment；　which　in　practice　would　settle　down　to　about　one　thousand　men。

Three　such　regiments　would　compose　a　brigade；　three　brigades　a　division；　and　three　divisions　a　corps。　　Then；　by　allowing　to　an　infantry　corps　a　brigade　of　cavalry　and　six　batteries　of　field…artillery；　we　would　have　an　efficient　　corps　d'armee　of　thirty　thousand　men；　whose　organization　would　be　simple　and　most　efficient；　and　whose　strength　should　never　be　allowed　to　fall　below　twenty…five　thousand　men。

The　corps　is　the　true　unit　for　grand　campaigns　and　battle；　should　have　a　full　and　perfect　staff；　and　every　thing　requisite　for　separate　action；　ready　at　all　times　to　be　detached　and　sent　off　for　any　nature　of　service。　　The　general　in　command　should　have　the　rank　of　lieutenant…general；　and　should　be；　by　experience　and　education；　equal　to　any　thing　in　war。　　Habitually　with　us　he　was　a　major…　general；　specially　selected　and　assigned　to　the　command　by　an　order　of　the　President；　constituting；　in　fact；　a　separate　grade。


The　division　is　the　unit　of　administration；　and　is　the　legitimate　command　of　a　major　general。

The　brigade　is　the　next　subdivision；　and　is　commanded　by　a　brigadier…general。

The　regiment　is　the　family。　　The　colonel；　as　the　father；　should　have　a　personal　acquaintance　with　every　officer　and　man；　and　should　instill　a　feeling　of　pride　and　affection　for　himself；　so　that　his　officers　and　men　would　naturally　look　to　him　for　personal　advice　and　instruction。　　In　war　the　regiment　should　never　be　subdivided；　but　should　always　be　maintained　entire。　　In　peace　this　is　impossible。

The　company　is　the　true　unit　of　discipline；　and　the　captain　is　the　company。　　A　good　captain　makes　a　good　company；　and　he　should　have　the　power　to　reward　as　well　as　punish。　　The　fact　that　soldiers　world　naturally　like　to　have　a　good　fellow　for　their　captain　is　the　best　reason　why　he　should　be　appointed　by　the　colonel；　or　by　some　superior　authority；　instead　of　being　elected　by　the　men。

In　the　United　States　the　people　are　the　〃sovereign；〃　all　power　originally　proceeds　from　them；　and　therefore　the　election　of　officers　by　the　men　is　the　common　rule。　　This　is　wrong；　because　an　army　is　not　a　popular　organization；　but　an　animated　machine；　an

instrument　in　the　hands　of　the　Executive　for　enforcing　the　law；　and　maintaining　the　honor　and　dignity　of　the　nation；　and　the　President；　as　the　constitutional　commander…in…chief　of　the　army　and　navy；　should　exercise　the　power　of　appointment　（subject　to　the　confirmation　of　the　Senate）　of　the　officers　of　〃volunteers；〃　as　well　as　of　〃regulars。〃

No　army　can　be　efficient　unless　it　be　a　unit　for　action；　and　the　power　must　come　from　above；　not　from　below：　the　President　usually　delegates　his　power　to　the　commander…in…chief；　and　he　to　the　next；　and　so　on　down　to　the　lowest　actual　commander　of　troops；　however　small　the　detachment。　　No　matter　how　troops　come　together；　when　once　united；　the　highest　officer　in　rank　is　held　responsible；　and　should　be　consequently　armed　with　the　fullest　power　of　the　Executive；　subject　only　to　law　and　existing　orders。　　The　more　simple　the　principle；　the　greater　the　likelihood　of　determined　action；　and　the　less　a　commanding　officer　is　circumscribed　by　bounds　or　by　precedent；　the　greater　is　the　probability　that　he　will　make　the　best　use　of　his　command　and　achieve　the　best　results。

The　Regular　Army　and　the　Military　Academy　at　West　Point　have　in　the　past　provided；　and　doubtless　will　in　the　future　provide　an　ample　supply　of　good　officers　for　future　wars；　but；　should　their　numbers　be　insufficient；　we　can　always　safely　rely　on　the　great　number　of　young　men　of　education　and　force　of　character　throughout　the　country；　to　supplement　them。　　At　the　close　of　our　civil　war；　lasting　four　years；　some　of　our　best　corps　and　division　generals；　as　well　as　staff…officers；　were　from　civil　life；　but　I　cannot　recall　any　of　the　most　successful　who　did　not　express　a　regret　that　he　had　not　received　in　early　life　instruction　in　the　elementary　principles　of　the　art　of　war；　instead　of　being　forced　to　acquire　this　knowledge　in　th