All nations have days sacred to the remembrance of joy and of grief. They have thanksgivings for success, fasting and prayers in the hour of humiliation and defeat, triumphs and paeans to greet the living laurel-crowned victor. They have ossuaries and eulogies for the warrior slain on the field of battle. Such is the duty we are to perform today [...]
Such an occasion as this should call forth the deepest and noblest emotions of our nature - pride, sorrow, and prayer; pride that our country has posessed such sons; sorrow that she has lost them; prayer that she may have others like them; that we and our successors may adorn her annals as they have done, and that when our parting hour arrives, whenever and however it may be, our souls may be prepared for the great change.
- George B. McClellan, June 25 1864, remarks given ex tempore to a crowd gathered to see him at the Fort William Henry Hotel on Lake George, New York
5/31/2004
5/30/2004
They never asked the question, "What shall we gain?" They asked only the question, "Where lies the right?" - Winston Churchill
(From The Ben File by way of LegalXXX.)
(From The Ben File by way of LegalXXX.)
5/29/2004
McClellan Poetry Day: Scans like it's Christmas
SATURDAY | I found today's poem in a book titled Campaign Songs. It was published in 1864 to help McClellan's run for the presidency and is among the McClellan papers. No author is credited.
The meter is reminiscent of The Night Before Christmas by Clement Clarke Moore which is believed to have been written in 1822; "The Night" appeared anonymously in a Poughkeepsie paper in 1823. There is some controversy over whether Moore is the author; the Livingston family, Hudson Valley patroons with a New Jersey branch, claim one of their own authored the Christmas verse.
This is not to get Christmasy in May, but to suggest that submitting poems for publication anonymously was more common then than now.
Here's one for Decoration Day.
The Veteran's Story
"Crack! crack! went the rifles, and sharper each crack:
We heard a quick gallop - up rode Little Mac.
'Twas "Forward my lads!" We went in with a dash,
There was cheer upon cheer, then a vollying crash,
A rush, a blind tumult, a shattering peal,
A thundered "Charge bayonets!" the clash of cold steel,
A sharp, sudden pang, and still clutching my gun,
As I fainted, I heard a "Hurrah, boys! They run!"
So the old veteran spoke, and forgetting how much
His lame leg would pain him, he flourished his crutch.
The twinge stopped him short, and across his scarred face
There wrinkled a something, half smile, half grimace.
The meter is reminiscent of The Night Before Christmas by Clement Clarke Moore which is believed to have been written in 1822; "The Night" appeared anonymously in a Poughkeepsie paper in 1823. There is some controversy over whether Moore is the author; the Livingston family, Hudson Valley patroons with a New Jersey branch, claim one of their own authored the Christmas verse.
This is not to get Christmasy in May, but to suggest that submitting poems for publication anonymously was more common then than now.
Here's one for Decoration Day.
The Veteran's Story
"Crack! crack! went the rifles, and sharper each crack:
We heard a quick gallop - up rode Little Mac.
'Twas "Forward my lads!" We went in with a dash,
There was cheer upon cheer, then a vollying crash,
A rush, a blind tumult, a shattering peal,
A thundered "Charge bayonets!" the clash of cold steel,
A sharp, sudden pang, and still clutching my gun,
As I fainted, I heard a "Hurrah, boys! They run!"
So the old veteran spoke, and forgetting how much
His lame leg would pain him, he flourished his crutch.
The twinge stopped him short, and across his scarred face
There wrinkled a something, half smile, half grimace.
5/28/2004
Military reform, now and then: the majors speak
I have read through (several times now) a fascinating document from 1999 and the late Clinton presidency: it's a summary of interviews conducted with 760 mid-career army officers (majors and a few lieutenenat colonels). The remarks found in this report match up well with this blog's military reform thread. I have direct quotes shown in bold.
I'll summarize:
Theme: Iraq was fought by a Second Generation (Civil War) military culture concerned with centralized decision making, rigid hierarchies of communication and execution, linear formations (with an emphasis on preserving linearity at all costs) and synchronized operations.
[There is] overcontrol of what and how we think.
The Army has no strategic vision of its operational or training environment.
Theme: A Second Generation (Civil War) Army, such as the one we have now, will always use technology for Second Generation ends (increased centralized control, more dressing of the ranks, more synchronization, alignment, oversight, information generation.)
We are field grade officers and we are still treated like privates.
PowerPoint and the computer has only allowed higher level commanders to control and micromanage more.
[Generals are] Monitor Watchers...
Micromanagement: a killer on the front line...
Theme: A professional army will lack the warrior ethos of a civilian army.
Warrior ethos [is] disappearing.
...Senior officers are out of touch...
We need a complete revision of how and who we recruit. For example, the Army continues to entice young men and women with quantitative rewards...
Theme: The Civil War victory of the professionals has led to "too much professionalism," which results in ticket-punching, job-hopping, focus on material rewards, and a caste system.
"... we reward officers who follow a rigidly prescribed path to success; being innovative will get you fired..."
There is no socialization as a unit.
... because senior leaders are devoted to micromanagement and their own career advancement they spend most of their time avoiding mistakes...
Top-down loyalty DOES NOT EXIST.
Theme: Combat is the true sort criteria for merit; an army led by staff men cannot function rationally in battle.
Seniors [generals] MUST set the example.
There seems to be an alarming number of bad leaders out there.
[There is a] Deteriorating trust in senior leadership.
... treating soldiers like pieces of meat...
Senior officers must stand up and be counted.
The Army leadership is out of touch, not trusted.
[This] is an administrative Army ... not tactical.
Setting aside the matter of blog themes, there are a number of comments that resonate with Civil War echoes:
[The] Army is a 'who you know' society...
We must get our politicians more involved [in recruiting].
Perceived lack of respect of the [Clinton] Administration for the military is debilitating.
Are they [generals] more concerned with pleasing the civilian leadership at the expense of the Army?
Take note of this one: "Readiness reporting - absolute lies!" I would add "Civil War strength reporting and muster rolls - absolute lies!" Here's another: "Relative depravity perception [of generals]." Sounds like a Sickles or Butler problem has jumped the divide between political apointees and academy graduates
The Civil War book that started us down this road is linked here.
I'll summarize:
Theme: Iraq was fought by a Second Generation (Civil War) military culture concerned with centralized decision making, rigid hierarchies of communication and execution, linear formations (with an emphasis on preserving linearity at all costs) and synchronized operations.
[There is] overcontrol of what and how we think.
The Army has no strategic vision of its operational or training environment.
Theme: A Second Generation (Civil War) Army, such as the one we have now, will always use technology for Second Generation ends (increased centralized control, more dressing of the ranks, more synchronization, alignment, oversight, information generation.)
We are field grade officers and we are still treated like privates.
PowerPoint and the computer has only allowed higher level commanders to control and micromanage more.
[Generals are] Monitor Watchers...
Micromanagement: a killer on the front line...
Theme: A professional army will lack the warrior ethos of a civilian army.
Warrior ethos [is] disappearing.
...Senior officers are out of touch...
We need a complete revision of how and who we recruit. For example, the Army continues to entice young men and women with quantitative rewards...
Theme: The Civil War victory of the professionals has led to "too much professionalism," which results in ticket-punching, job-hopping, focus on material rewards, and a caste system.
"... we reward officers who follow a rigidly prescribed path to success; being innovative will get you fired..."
There is no socialization as a unit.
... because senior leaders are devoted to micromanagement and their own career advancement they spend most of their time avoiding mistakes...
Top-down loyalty DOES NOT EXIST.
Theme: Combat is the true sort criteria for merit; an army led by staff men cannot function rationally in battle.
Seniors [generals] MUST set the example.
There seems to be an alarming number of bad leaders out there.
[There is a] Deteriorating trust in senior leadership.
... treating soldiers like pieces of meat...
Senior officers must stand up and be counted.
The Army leadership is out of touch, not trusted.
[This] is an administrative Army ... not tactical.
Setting aside the matter of blog themes, there are a number of comments that resonate with Civil War echoes:
[The] Army is a 'who you know' society...
We must get our politicians more involved [in recruiting].
Perceived lack of respect of the [Clinton] Administration for the military is debilitating.
Are they [generals] more concerned with pleasing the civilian leadership at the expense of the Army?
Take note of this one: "Readiness reporting - absolute lies!" I would add "Civil War strength reporting and muster rolls - absolute lies!" Here's another: "Relative depravity perception [of generals]." Sounds like a Sickles or Butler problem has jumped the divide between political apointees and academy graduates
The Civil War book that started us down this road is linked here.
Dixie Victorious: Chapter 5, Johnston manages the war in the west
SYNOPSIS | Just for the fun of it, we're going through the scenarios in Stackpole's new offering, Dixie Victorious: An Alternate History of the Civil War (Peter G. Tsouras, ed.). I'll compile my comments on the scenarios and post them Sunday. (Note that the title of this post is a link to the book description on Amazon.)
Chapter 5. "We Will Water Our Horses in the Mississippi"
A.S. Johnston is wounded at Shiloh, but thanks to prompt medical attention he survives and ends his convalescence a year later - in time to take command of Pemberton and Joe Johnston at Vicksburg. A.S. Johnston succeeds in making them work in tandem. When Grant crosses the Mississippi, Johnston forces Loring to attack. Grant's immediate defeat opens the door to a Rebel counteroffensive in the west.Meanwhile, five brigades from Johnston's briagde travel east to help Lee with an offensive after Chancellorsville.
The dual defeats of Chancellorsville and Vicksburg strengthens peace sentiment in the North.
Lee wages a "careful" campaign that culminates at Gettysburg and his additional strength guarantees victory in Pennsylvania. (The war's end is alluded to but not described after this point.)
Monday: Stuart's cavalry sticks with the ANV to deliver victory at Gettysburg.
Chapter 5. "We Will Water Our Horses in the Mississippi"
A.S. Johnston is wounded at Shiloh, but thanks to prompt medical attention he survives and ends his convalescence a year later - in time to take command of Pemberton and Joe Johnston at Vicksburg. A.S. Johnston succeeds in making them work in tandem. When Grant crosses the Mississippi, Johnston forces Loring to attack. Grant's immediate defeat opens the door to a Rebel counteroffensive in the west.Meanwhile, five brigades from Johnston's briagde travel east to help Lee with an offensive after Chancellorsville.
The dual defeats of Chancellorsville and Vicksburg strengthens peace sentiment in the North.
Lee wages a "careful" campaign that culminates at Gettysburg and his additional strength guarantees victory in Pennsylvania. (The war's end is alluded to but not described after this point.)
Monday: Stuart's cavalry sticks with the ANV to deliver victory at Gettysburg.
5/27/2004
Civil War medicine scares us
... and then we read,
Drug causing GIs permanent brain damage
There are multiple preventives available for malaria; yes, restocking Army drug inventories would be a pain, but make your case for using Lariam. Don't put an Army doctor in front of microphones and have him say, "we don't think it is as big a problem as has been made out."
How big of a problem is it, then? Guess what? "... the Army announced it will study possible Lariam side effects, including suicide, as a result of the controversy." So they don't really know. "The study could take up to two years, according to William Winkerwerder Jr., assistant secretary of defense for health affairs."
A political amateur general from the ACW would just change the medicine. Today's professionals take a different approach.
Drug causing GIs permanent brain damage
There are multiple preventives available for malaria; yes, restocking Army drug inventories would be a pain, but make your case for using Lariam. Don't put an Army doctor in front of microphones and have him say, "we don't think it is as big a problem as has been made out."
How big of a problem is it, then? Guess what? "... the Army announced it will study possible Lariam side effects, including suicide, as a result of the controversy." So they don't really know. "The study could take up to two years, according to William Winkerwerder Jr., assistant secretary of defense for health affairs."
A political amateur general from the ACW would just change the medicine. Today's professionals take a different approach.
The Confederate supply system
survived the Civil War and is now trying to deliver ammunition to Iraq. Will we be hearing about the superiority of the bayonet soon?
Dixie Victorious: Chapter 4, Lee finds McClellan's orders
SYNOPSIS | Just for the fun of it, we're going through the scenarios in Stackpole's new offering, Dixie Victorious: An Alternate History of the Civil War (Peter G. Tsouras, ed.). I'll compile my comments on the scenarios and post them Sunday. (Note that the title of this post is a link to the book description on Amazon.)
Chapter 4. "When the Bottom Fell Out"
Lee invades Maryland after defeating Pope. McClellan advancing west from the capital loses a detailed report to Halleck. Lee finds this. McClellan's IX Corps is interecepted in Frederick and Burnside is defeated in detail. The press reports that the entire field army has been defeated. McClellan moves into position to block an advance up the Cumberland Valley. Political pressure forces him to break up the field army to protect various presitgious targets. Lee moves into Pennsylvania, living off the land. "This marked the end of major military operations in the east." McClellan is relieved, replaced in field command by Halleck. European powers offer mediation: Davis accepts, Lincoln rejects after deliberation. The financial panic that set in after Frederick continues. Democrats in Congress authorize Lincoln to seek peace with the CSA. After the financial crisis worsens, Lincoln comes around and agrees to a mediated settlement with Davis by August, 1863.
Tomorrow: A.S. Johnston survives his wounds to manage the war in the west.
Chapter 4. "When the Bottom Fell Out"
Lee invades Maryland after defeating Pope. McClellan advancing west from the capital loses a detailed report to Halleck. Lee finds this. McClellan's IX Corps is interecepted in Frederick and Burnside is defeated in detail. The press reports that the entire field army has been defeated. McClellan moves into position to block an advance up the Cumberland Valley. Political pressure forces him to break up the field army to protect various presitgious targets. Lee moves into Pennsylvania, living off the land. "This marked the end of major military operations in the east." McClellan is relieved, replaced in field command by Halleck. European powers offer mediation: Davis accepts, Lincoln rejects after deliberation. The financial panic that set in after Frederick continues. Democrats in Congress authorize Lincoln to seek peace with the CSA. After the financial crisis worsens, Lincoln comes around and agrees to a mediated settlement with Davis by August, 1863.
Tomorrow: A.S. Johnston survives his wounds to manage the war in the west.
5/26/2004
Format change
I'm going with a cleaner and easier-to-read layout. The bluish haze made reading a little harder than it should have been. This is boring but gets the job done better. Regrets for confusion, if any.
Dixie Victorious: Chapter 3, Lee fools McClellan
SYNOPSIS | Just for the fun of it, we're going through the scenarios in Stackpole's new offering, Dixie Victorious: An Alternate History of the Civil War (Peter G. Tsouras, ed.). I'll compile my comments on the scenarios and post them Sunday. (Note that the title of this post is a link to the book description on Amazon.)
Chapter 3. "What Will the Country Say?"
McClellan assumes command of a field army after Second Manassas. Halleck is still in the West. Lee, invading Maryland, draws up phony plans and charges Stuart with getting them into McClellan's hands. The Rebels do not besiege Harpers Ferry but instead concentrate on the western side of South Mountain. McClellan believes in the false dispositions described in the phony orders. Franklin is heavily defeated at Crampton's Gap and the main body of the army is encircled near Turner's Gap. McClellan tries to rally the broken AoP on the National Road but then "cravenly" flees. Lee burns Carlisle and destroys the railways around Harrisburg. Lincoln issues the Emancipation Proclamation despite these defeats. France allies with the CSA to enlist its help in Mexico. Kentucky is occupied by the Rebels. By the time of the November 1862 elections, the Republican majority gives way to peace Democrats who sanction dissolution of the Union.
Chapter 3. "What Will the Country Say?"
McClellan assumes command of a field army after Second Manassas. Halleck is still in the West. Lee, invading Maryland, draws up phony plans and charges Stuart with getting them into McClellan's hands. The Rebels do not besiege Harpers Ferry but instead concentrate on the western side of South Mountain. McClellan believes in the false dispositions described in the phony orders. Franklin is heavily defeated at Crampton's Gap and the main body of the army is encircled near Turner's Gap. McClellan tries to rally the broken AoP on the National Road but then "cravenly" flees. Lee burns Carlisle and destroys the railways around Harrisburg. Lincoln issues the Emancipation Proclamation despite these defeats. France allies with the CSA to enlist its help in Mexico. Kentucky is occupied by the Rebels. By the time of the November 1862 elections, the Republican majority gives way to peace Democrats who sanction dissolution of the Union.
5/25/2004
The greatest Lincoln quote that never was
You see this all over the Internet, attributed to Lincoln, but not cited:
You cannot bring about prosperity by discouraging thrift. You cannot strengthen the weak by weakening the strong. You cannot help the wage earner by pulling down the wage payer. You cannot further the brotherhood of man by encouraging class hatred. You cannot keep out of trouble by spending more than you earn. You cannot build character and courage by taking away man's initiative and independence. You cannot help men permanently by doing what they could and should do for themselves.
Looking for the source of this quote, I encountered this nice explanatory, telling (a) that it is not a Lincoln quote and (b) why so many think it came from Old Abe.
Try googling "You cannot bring about prosperity by discouraging thrift."
"You cannot quote authorities without sourcing or citing."
You cannot bring about prosperity by discouraging thrift. You cannot strengthen the weak by weakening the strong. You cannot help the wage earner by pulling down the wage payer. You cannot further the brotherhood of man by encouraging class hatred. You cannot keep out of trouble by spending more than you earn. You cannot build character and courage by taking away man's initiative and independence. You cannot help men permanently by doing what they could and should do for themselves.
Looking for the source of this quote, I encountered this nice explanatory, telling (a) that it is not a Lincoln quote and (b) why so many think it came from Old Abe.
Try googling "You cannot bring about prosperity by discouraging thrift."
"You cannot quote authorities without sourcing or citing."
Sheridan's horse, revisited
Thanks to the reader who sent this link to the Smithsonian's Rienzi page.
While we're at it, here's a picture of the opera Rienzi being performed, and another of Rienzi, Missisippi (its graveyard).
Now if anyone can pinpoint the origin of the town's name, we'll be able to close the book on Sheridan's horse.
While we're at it, here's a picture of the opera Rienzi being performed, and another of Rienzi, Missisippi (its graveyard).
Now if anyone can pinpoint the origin of the town's name, we'll be able to close the book on Sheridan's horse.
"Earmarking" historic site donations
This is an important story: "Legislation signed into law last year [in Wisconsin] requir[es] money donated to any one of the eight state-operated historic sites be used at that site."
You wouldn't think a law like that would be needed but consider the situation in your own state. Here in Maryland, donations to any state-run ACW site are managed by a recreation department. Does the money go to hiking trails, the general state budget, or to the park donated to? More from Wisconsin:
There was a concerted push for that legislation, and a state commission recommended it, after former Gov. Scott McCallum ordered the Wisconsin Historical Society to send 10% of all its earned revenue to the state general fund to help balance the state budget. That hit the historic sites hard, and they were already hurting from nearly a decade of declining attendance and revenue.
"It's difficult to recruit private donors and sponsors when they think the state will take the money away. Now funds going to the sites are protected."
When the lottery was introduced in New Jersey, critics scoffed at promises of funds earmarked for education. The state constitution forbade earmarking; all funds collected by the government had to go into the general fund. There are complex workarounds to this, and they involve estimating, then apportioning, and then a little sleight of hand.
If you are visiting a state battlefield it may pay to ask before you donate.
You wouldn't think a law like that would be needed but consider the situation in your own state. Here in Maryland, donations to any state-run ACW site are managed by a recreation department. Does the money go to hiking trails, the general state budget, or to the park donated to? More from Wisconsin:
There was a concerted push for that legislation, and a state commission recommended it, after former Gov. Scott McCallum ordered the Wisconsin Historical Society to send 10% of all its earned revenue to the state general fund to help balance the state budget. That hit the historic sites hard, and they were already hurting from nearly a decade of declining attendance and revenue.
"It's difficult to recruit private donors and sponsors when they think the state will take the money away. Now funds going to the sites are protected."
When the lottery was introduced in New Jersey, critics scoffed at promises of funds earmarked for education. The state constitution forbade earmarking; all funds collected by the government had to go into the general fund. There are complex workarounds to this, and they involve estimating, then apportioning, and then a little sleight of hand.
If you are visiting a state battlefield it may pay to ask before you donate.
Dixie Victorious: Chapter 2, CSA Navy Triumphant
SYNOPSIS | Just for the fun of it, we're going through the scenarios in Stackpole's new offering, Dixie Victorious: An Alternate History of the Civil War (Peter G. Tsouras, ed.). I'll compile my comments on the scenarios and post them Sunday. (Note that the title of this post is a link to the book description on Amazon.)
Chapter 2. "Ships of Iron, Wills of Steel"
Rebel SecNav Mallory demands and receives the financial backing he needs to build a navy. Rebel special forces seize U.S. naval yards in Virginia in advance of Virginia seceding, securing important machinery. Radical new ironclad designs are implemented in crash building programs. After Virginia secedes, McClellan begins an attack on Richmond by advancing on the peninsula between the York and the James. The Virginia attacks the Union navy, with historic results, then retires. McClellan proceeds with his advance, despite losing naval support, which must now concentrate to meet naval threats. While Mac besieges Yorktown, Rebel navy sallies with three ironclads and several wooden ships. After a desperate battle, Goldsborough surrenders the Union fleet on 4/12/62. McClellan's army begins to starve: McClellan surrenders the AoP. Peace is signed by June 30, 1862.
Tomorrow: Lee plants a phony order and tricks McClellan.
Chapter 2. "Ships of Iron, Wills of Steel"
Rebel SecNav Mallory demands and receives the financial backing he needs to build a navy. Rebel special forces seize U.S. naval yards in Virginia in advance of Virginia seceding, securing important machinery. Radical new ironclad designs are implemented in crash building programs. After Virginia secedes, McClellan begins an attack on Richmond by advancing on the peninsula between the York and the James. The Virginia attacks the Union navy, with historic results, then retires. McClellan proceeds with his advance, despite losing naval support, which must now concentrate to meet naval threats. While Mac besieges Yorktown, Rebel navy sallies with three ironclads and several wooden ships. After a desperate battle, Goldsborough surrenders the Union fleet on 4/12/62. McClellan's army begins to starve: McClellan surrenders the AoP. Peace is signed by June 30, 1862.
Tomorrow: Lee plants a phony order and tricks McClellan.
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