Paul Vebber -> RE: Iraq Vehicle Force Mix (4/10/2007 5:42:40 PM)
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quote:
"We made a great mistake, Mr.Hill, in the beginning og our struggle, and I Fear, in spite of all we can do it will prove to be a fatal mistake," he said to me, after General Bragg ceased to command the Army of Tennesee, an event he deplored. "What mistake is that, general?" "Why, sir, in the beginning we appointed all our worst generals to command the armies, and all of our best generals to edit newspapers. As you know, I have planned some campaings, and quites a number of battles. I have given the work all the care and thought that I could, and sometimes, when my plans were completed, as far as I could see, they seemed to be perfect. But when I have fought them through, I have discovered defects and occasionally wondered why I did not see some of the defects in advance. When it was all over, I found by reading a newspaper that these best editor generals saw all the defects plainly from the start. Unfortunately, they did not communicate their knowledge to me until it was to late." Then, after a pause, he added, with a beautiful, grave expression I can never forget: "I have no ambition but to serve the Confederacy, and do all I can to win our independance. I am willing to serve in any capacity to which the authorities may assign me. I have done the best I could in the field, and have not succeeded as I could wish. I am willing to yield my place to these best generals, and I will do my best for the cause editing newspapers." In the same strain he once remarked to one of his generals: "Even as pooor a soldier as I am can generally discover mistakes after it is all over. But if I could only induce these wise gentlemen who see them so clearly beforehand to communicate with me inadvance, instead of waiting until the evil has come upon us, to let me know that they knew all the time, it would be far better for my reputation, and (what is of more consequence) far better for the cause." An anecdote puported to be from Robert E. Lee from a speech by B.H.Hill:
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