CHAP. XXXV.] 



MORALE. 



541 



quality of a general is a sound judgment, but that the 

 next is an indomitable energy, aL'i an iron will ; with- 

 out this the best judgment in the world is worthless. 

 Energy, indefatigable, indomitable energy — is perfectly 

 invaluable in a general, and a cavalry general requires it 

 most of all. 



Stonewall Jackson possessed this quality in a very 

 high degree, Kis impetuosity enabled him to move his 

 command, consisting mainly of infantry, at such speed, 

 that his corps received the nickname of the " foot " 

 cavalry. 



In one critical period in the army of Vivginia, one of 

 General Jackson's staff expressed his fear that the army 

 would be compelled to fall back. The general replied 

 sharply, " Who said that 1 No, sir, we shall not fall 

 back ; we shall attack them." And he did attack them, 

 and defeated them completely at Chancellorsville in a 

 day or two afterwards. His only order after getting his 

 men into position was his favourite battle-cry, " Press 

 forward" — this >7as his message to every general, and 

 his answer to e\ ery inquiry. When he was mortally 

 wounded after dark, his only message to General Lee 

 was that " the enemy should be pressed in the morning." 

 It was this indomitable will and fiery energy that 

 improved and strengthened to such a remarkable 

 degree the morale of his men, and so demoralized his 

 opponents. 



Arrian refers to the demoralization in the army of 

 Darius the night before the battle of Arbela, from long 

 watching and fear, which, as he says, " was firmly rooted 

 in the hearts of many of them, and made cowards 

 of them." He says this contributed not a little to 

 their overthrow.' 



Kostopchin, Governor of Moscow in 1812, adopted a 

 curious plan to encourage the m,orale of his men. He 

 caused the most diminutive of the French prisoners to be 

 selected, and publicly exhibited to the people, that the 



' Arrian, book iii., chap. xi. 



