at a rush. A pursuit to be conducted with care like an advance. cause, after he had driven off the enemy with the 23rd, 28th, and four companies of the 40th Regiment, he held in his men to get their breath, and then, pushing forward as far as he considered wise, halted to see what was being done on his left. A pursuit should be conducted with as much care as an advance, because a clever foe may be only retreating to gain an advantage. He must be followed, therefore, with caution. Now a rash officer, on horseback, may be impressed with the idea that a position can be taken He shouts to his men, they dash after him, and get out of breath. The enemy now meets these men with a charge, and these jaded soldiers are positively at the mercy of the foe they rashly advanced upon. Is it any addition to Forlorn hopes. the glory of our nation to know that hundreds of noble fellows have been sacrificed thus for an idea? When we have the option of first shaking an enemy, shall we not do so, instead of making all attacks like a 'forlorn hope'? Are we to make war a still greater science of chance,' by pertinaciously rushing into dangers that can be avoided? Are we, in short, to try and see how far we can test the pluck of our soldiers, simply because they have so often, in calamitous circumstances, been preserved by the interposition of Providence, and by their own indomitable reso lution? The world only sees what is immediately There are "Green-room' brought before the eye of the public. scenes in Life's Drama, many green-room' scenes in this portion of 'Life's Drama' that the public, generally, are not the least aware of. We ourselves know that the brilliant helmets of the knights are not of pure gold! Men who are behind the scenes see of what rough materials many gorgeous displays are made up. ON ALLOWING AN ENEMY TO ESCAPE 61 CHAPTER III. Generalship-Latitude given to Commanders-Over-caution contrasted with too great Contempt for an Enemy-A Rash Commander-Danger of Pressing Men or Horses-Work the Enemy's Troops and save your own-When 'Dash' is dangerous, and when it need not be feared-History should be read with Judgment-Lord Dundonald's Inventive Power. allows an IF a general has had the power to annihilate an A general who enemy, yet allows him to escape and so reinforce enemy to our enemies in the field, what shall we think of his annihilation. escape march. retreat. generalship? By a bold front Goddart marched Goddart's across the continent of India, and carried everything before him. Manson-by distrusting his Manson's troops, by retreating when he ought to have advanced-drew Holkar after him, and lost his army. A few hours' stand on a single march would have saved Baillie. A three-mile movement would have saved Elphinstone, even after months of insane delusion.' 1 feebleness at We are told that at Barossa, 'The contemptible La Pena's feebleness of La Pena furnished a surprising con- Barossa: trast to the heroic vigour of Graham, whose attack vigour and Graham's wisdom. 1 Sir Henry Lawrence. Too much prudence is timidity. Macaulay's example. Celerity necessary. was an inspiration, rather than a resolution-so wise, so sudden, so swift, so conclusive was the execution.' 1 True it is that Too much prudence may degenerate into cowardice or stupidity,' and we cannot call that 'caution' which ends in disgrace. Macaulay said, 'The pendulum swung furiously to the left, because it had been drawn too far to the right;' and he spoke of the human mind collectively. Thus a commander who has too much caution allows his judgment to be led astray. Calm medium. That calm medium in weighing a subject is what we require, and by weighing' we do not mean that a man is not to act with celerity-it is the very essence of a well-ordered mind that it is capable of arriving at just conclusions with the rapidity of thought. Ever ready to take instant advantage of every favourable opportunity, the What Pericles general should bear in mind what Pericles said, viz., 'It is from the greatest hazards that the greatest honours are gained by State and individual.' Difficulties will arise, but they must be met; and every difficulty becomes the less in proportion to the resolution that is brought into operation to meet or oppose it. We never can say that a thing is utterly impossible at a certain time, so long as such has been ever done at any said. How diffi culties must be met. 1 Napier. LATITUDE GIVEN TO COMMANDERS 63 confidence. previous time. It is the knowledge of history and What gives of man that gives a general confidence. We should judge by former examples before we act Points in difficulties to be weighed. to com the classic. one way or the other. There are generally some favourable as well as unfavourable points; we must balance them quickly-constantly bearing in mind the fact, that 'there are times to respect and fear impediments, and times to set them at defiance.' Of all professions there is none which Latitude given grants a greater latitude than the soldier's. In manders. every other the man of gigantic mind is restricted. Take the classical professor, for in- Example of stance; can he lay down any meaning contrary to what is in the approved Lexicon? Now the commander of ability can make his own dictionary-he fights according to his own plan, and he translates by giving his own interpretation of his official acts. No one can dispute the rendering, as absent parties are no authorities, and eye-witnesses of intelligence have a 'gag' put upon them. History points to many a man whose History tells name deserved to be mentioned in the room of secrets! others who reaped all the honours at the time. This grows often into despotism, and we are liable to lose thereby the services of able men, simply because we are disinclined to deprive the unworthy of that which they obtained by surreptitious means. us little But the impartial historian has no The historian |