The best strategy in life is frequently to take advantage of an enemy’s
mistakes.
In Mark Twain’s “Autobiography,” in the _North American
Review_, is General Grant’s own opinion in regard to the
inception of Sherman’s march to the sea.
“Neither of us originated the idea of Sherman’s march to the
sea. The enemy did it,” said Grant.
He went on to say that the enemy necessarily originated a great
many of the plans that the general on the opposite side gets the
credit for. In this case, Sherman had a plan all thought out,
of course. He meant to destroy the two remaining railroads in
that part of the country, and that would finish up that region.
But General Hood made a dive at Chattanooga. This left the march
to the sea open to Sherman, and so, after sending part of his
army to defend and hold what he had acquired in the Chattanooga
region, he was perfectly free to proceed with the rest of it
through Georgia. He saw the opportunity, and he would not have
been fit for his place if he had not seized it.
(3070)
* * * * *
Grant was always aggressive. It was not possible with him that
retreat, or any inaction could form any part of his program. But
while the campaign from Culpepper to Cold Harbor was boldly,
even daringly, offensive, it was so conducted that in nearly
every conflict the enemy was obliged to become the attacking
party; and this plan of campaign against Lee recalls this
colloquy between two Roman generals: “If thou art a great
general come down and fight me.” “If thou art a great general
make me come down and fight thee.” And it will be observed that
four times out of five--for the army had fought on five distinct
lines--Grant, by a single march, had made Lee come down and
fight him.--NICHOLAS SMITH, “Grant, the Man of Mystery.”
(3071)
* * * * *
This is the fable of a spider as quoted from _Blackwood’s
Magazine_:
A spider, it seems, had occasion to borrow a sum of money.
A journey round to the generously disposed brought him two
thousand cowries each from the cat, the dog, the hyena, the
leopard, and the lion. When pay-day came round, the spider
remained at home to receive the visits of the creditors in
a certain prearranged order. First came the cat to claim
repayment of his loan. “Hush!” said the spider. “I hear a noise
outside--it is a dog come to see me; you must hide under this
calabash for safety.” The cat was scarcely hidden when the dog,
coming in, made a similar request for his money. Says Master
Spider, “There is a cat under that calabash; take him, and
consider the debt paid.” No sooner said than done. Just then
a snuffling and scraping were heard at the door. The third
creditor, the hyena, had arrived. “Don’t be alarmed, my dear
dog, but hide here till he has left,” and the spider bustled him
under the calabash. “I smell a dog,” said the hyena, routing
about. “Under that calabash,” the spider replied. “Eat him
up, and your debt is paid.” The dog paid the penalty of his
simplicity, and all was quiet once more. The hyena was preparing
to leave, when he heard an ominous sound that sent him crouching
against the wall. It was the pattering of the leopard’s feet
at the door. “Quick! Under this calabash,” cried his host, and
the hyena curls up in the fatal cache, only to meet a like fate
from his more courageous enemy. “My debt is repaid!” said the
leopard, and ran against the lion coming in. A terrible fight
ensued, for the leopard and the lion are equal in strength, so
the natives say. While blood and dust make havoc in the house,
and both animals are exhausting their strength, the spider is
busy at the fire. Seizing a pot of boiling grease, he pours it
over the clawing mass. Leopard and lion roll apart in their
death agony, and the spider has only to straighten and clean up
before resuming once more the humdrum life of fly-catching.
(3072)
=Strategy of Enemies=--See SUBTLETY AMONG ANIMALS.