and Unpreparedness 155 



such cases far less with them than with those re 

 sponsible for the existence of the system. Even if 

 we had the best Secretary of War the country could 

 supply and the best general the army could furnish, 

 it would be impossible for them offhand to get good 

 results if the nation, through its representatives, had 

 failed to make adequate provision for a proper army, 

 and to provide for the reorganization of the army 

 and for its practice in time of peace. The whole 

 staff system, and much else, should be remodeled. 

 Above all, the army should be practiced in mass in 

 the actual work of marching and camping. Only 

 thus will it be possible to train the commanders, the 

 quartermasters, the commissaries, the doctors, so 

 that they may by actual experience learn to do their 

 duties, as naval officers by actual experience have 

 learned to do theirs. Only thus can we do full jus 

 tice to as splendid and gallant a body of men as 

 any nation ever had the good luck to include among 

 its armed defenders. 



