THE STORMING OF SECOCOENI'S. 1 19 



would have a drink ready for him at our camp when the 

 affair was all over. I laughingly assented, but I little 

 knew that already the shadow of death hung over the 

 poor fellow. He was killed in the assault next morning. 



On the eve of a great engagement there is no man 

 for whom I have greater sympathy than for the general. 

 Upon his shoulders lies the responsibility for the success 

 of the whole affair. Any man can fight unless he be an 

 abject cur, and, putting aside the risk to his personality, 

 can fully enjoy the scene as he would a drama enacted 

 before him ; but the general carries a heavy load, atra 

 cur a post sedet Imperatorem and he needs not only im- 

 plicit obedience to his orders, but also heartfelt loyalty 

 and support from every officer and man who serves 

 under him. 



My idea of the spirit that should animate an army is 

 that they should keenly sympathise with their general 

 in the heavy strain he has to endure, not only as repre- 

 senting their sovereign and country, but also as a man. 

 Should he make an error of judgment, let the soldier 

 be silent and sympathetic. Should the army be defeated, 

 let the soldier die fighting valiantly in the rear-guard ; 

 but let no thought of reproach or mistrust be directed 

 towards his chief. Let his general's fame be to him as 

 that of his own father, and I warrant he will be a good 

 and faithful soldier. 



Let this feeling be the normal one towards all in com- 

 mand, but more especially towards those who display a 

 regard for the welfare and comfort of those who serve 

 under them. In speaking of responsibility, I must re- 

 mind the reader that there are two distinct kinds of 

 responsibility the one for all operations which take place 

 under immediate control of the commander, and the 



