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urnip tops； the dandelion cooked as greens； and a decoction of the ordinary pine…leaf。
For the more delicate and costly articles of food for the sick we relied mostly on the agents of the Sanitary Commission。 I do not wish to doubt the value of these organizations； which gained so much applause during our civil war； for no one can question the motives of these charitable and generous people； but to be honest I must record an opinion that the Sanitary Commission should limit its operations to the hospitals at the rear； and should never appear at the front。 They were generally local in feeling； aimed to furnish their personal friends and neighbors with a better class of food than the Government supplied； and the consequence was； that one regiment of a brigade would receive potatoes and fruit which would be denied another regiment close by： Jealousy would be the inevitable result； and in an army all parts should be equal； there should be no 〃partiality； favor； or affection。〃 The Government should supply all essential wants； and in the hospitals to the rear will be found abundant opportunities for the exercise of all possible charity and generosity。 During the war I several times gained the ill…will of the agents of the Sanitary Commission because I forbade their coming to the front unless they would consent to distribute their stores equally among all； regardless of the parties who had contributed them。
The sick； wounded； and dead of an army are the subjects of the greatest possible anxiety； and add an immense amount of labor to the well men。 Each regiment in an active campaign should have a surgeon and two assistants always close at hand； and each brigade and division should have an experienced surgeon as a medical director。 The great majority of wounds and of sickness should be treated by the regimental surgeon； on the ground； under the eye of the colonel。 As few should be sent to the brigade or division hospital as possible； for the men always receive better care with their own regiment than with strangers； and as a rule the cure is more certain； but when men receive disabling wounds； or have sickness likely to become permanent； the sooner they go far to the rear the better for all。 The tent or the shelter of a tree is a better hospital than a house； whose walls absorb fetid and poisonous emanations； and then give them back to the atmosphere。 To men accustomed to the open air； who live on the plainest food； wounds seem to give less pain； and are attended with less danger to life than to ordinary soldiers in barracks。
Wounds which； in 1861； world have sent a man to the hospital for months； in 1865 were regarded as mere scratches； rather the subject of a joke than of sorrow。 To new soldiers the sight of blood and death always has a sickening effect； but soon men become accustomed to it； and I have heard them exclaim on seeing a dead comrade borne to the rear； 〃Well； Bill has turned up his toes to the daisies。〃 Of course； during a skirmish or battle； armed men should never leave their ranks to attend a dead or wounded comradethis should be seen to in advance by the colonel； who should designate his musicians or company cooks as hospital attendants； with a white rag on their arm to indicate their office。 A wounded man should go himself （if able） to the surgeon near at hand； or； if he need help； he should receive it from one of the attendants and not a comrade。 It is wonderful how soon the men accustom themselves to these simple rules。 In great battles these matters call for a more enlarged attention； and then it becomes the duty of the division general to see that proper stretchers and field hospitals are ready for the wounded； and trenches are dug for the dead。 There should be no real neglect of the dead； because it has a bad effect on the living； for each soldier values himself and comrade as highly as though he were living in a good house at home。
The regimental chaplain； if any； usually attends the burials from the hospital； should make notes and communicate details to the captain of the company； and to the family at home。 Of course it is usually impossible to mark the grave with names； dates； etc。； and consequently the names of the 〃unknown〃 in our national cemeteries equal about one…half of all the dead。
Very few of the battles in which I have participated were fought as described in European text…books； viz。； in great masses； in perfect order； manoeuvring by corps； divisions； and brigades。 We were generally in a wooded country； and； though our lines were deployed according to tactics； the men generally fought in strong skirmish…lines； taking advantage of the shape of ground； and of every cover。 We were generally the assailants； and in wooded and broken countries the 〃defensive〃 had a positive advantage over us； for they were always ready； had cover； and always knew the ground to their immediate front； whereas we； their assailants； had to grope our way over unknown ground； and generally found a cleared field or prepared entanglements that held us for a time under a close and withering fire。 Rarely did the opposing lines in compact order come into actual contact； but when； as at Peach…Tree Creek and Atlanta； the lines did become commingled； the men fought individually in every possible style； more frequently with the musket clubbed than with the bayonet； and in some instances the men clinched like wrestlers； and went to the ground together。 Europeans frequently criticised our war； because we did not always take full advantage of a victory； the true reason was； that habitually the woods served as a screen； and we often did not realize the fact that our enemy had retreated till he was already miles away and was again intrenched； having left a mere shirmish…line to cover the movement； in turn to fall back to the new position。
Our war was fought with the muzzle…loading rifle。 Toward the close I had one brigade（Walcutt's）armed with breech…loading 〃Spencer's；〃 the cavalry generally had breach…loading carbines； 〃Spencer's〃 and 〃Sharp's；〃 both of which were good arms。
The only change that breech…loading arms will probably make in the art and practice of war will be to increase the amount of ammunition to be expended； and necessarily to be carried along； to still further 〃thin out〃 the lines of attack； and to reduce battles to short； quick； decisive conflicts。 It does not in the least affect the grand strategy； or the necessity for perfect organization； drill； and discipline。 The； companies and battalions will be more dispersed； and the men will be less under the immediate eye of their officers； and therefore a higher order of intelligence and courage on the part of the individual soldier will be an element of strength。
When a regiment is deployed as skirmishers； and crosses an open field or woods； under heavy fire； if each man runs forward from tree to tree； or stump to stump； and yet preserves a good general alignment； it gives great confidence to the men themselves； for they always keep their eyes well to the right and left； and watch their comrades； but when some few hold back； stick too close or too long to a comfortable log； it often stops the line and defeats the whole object。 Therefore