A RIDE FOR DEAR LIFE. / 



and we all would have followed him unhesitatingly, 

 even though it appeared to be into the jaws of certain 

 death. 



I have known him ride up to a body of men who were 

 under heavy fire, and who, being hardly pressed by an 

 enemy of superior force, were beginning to get unsteady. 

 The instant he appeared amongst them they became as 

 steady as rocks. 



The great duke said of Bonaparte that his presence 

 on the field of battle was equal to a reinforcement of 

 20,000 men. It is hard to explain, but there are men 

 who exercise this influence over their fellows. 



Irregular troops will not fight well unless they have 

 confidence in their leaders ; indeed, trust is to them 

 what discipline and organisation are to regular troops. 



Our commandant knew every man by name who 

 served under him. There was no restraint in his manner, 

 for he would converse freely with any of us in a way 

 that is usually deemed to be destructive of all discipline. 

 Few men have this power of keeping in close touch with 

 their men, and yet not impairing their control. It is a 

 special gift. Those who possess it not had better abstain 

 from free contact with their subordinates. 



As a tactician he was bold in conception and swift in 

 execution. Knowing the nature of his enemy thoroughly, 

 he also knew just how far he could take liberties with 

 them. He never put his foot farther out than he could 

 withdraw it again with safety. 



At times he apparently violated all the accepted 

 canons of warfare. He would throw off his line of 

 communication and lead us into positions of apparently 

 great danger ; but he was as wise as he was bold, and no 

 contingency was unforeseen or unprovided against. As a 



