Generalship, Historical PerspectivesGeneralship, Historical Perspectives

From the Foreword: Throughout military history, historians, military analysts, and many others have found it difficult to define the qualities of generalship, commandership, and leadership-but most of us think we recognize these traits when we see them. Karl von Clausewitz cited military genius and resolution as key ingredients for a general's character. General Sherman is quoted as having said, "There may be such men as born generals, but I have never encountered them, and I doubt the wisdom of trusting to their turning up in an emergency." He believed that it took talent, character, training, and experience to serve as a general officer. After World War I, J F C Fuller stated that the three pillars of generalship (meaning good generalship of course) are "courage, creative intelligence, and physical fitness: and the attributes of youth rather than middle age." The study of character traits and leadership principles dominated our thought and leadership teaching methodology during and after World War II, with role playing and case studies used extensively. Current leadership doctrine for the entire Army is prescribed in Field Manual 6-22, Army Leadership, a publication that relies heavily on historical examples for its message. Since "the foundations of Army leadership are firmly grounded in history," senior leaders must have a core of historical knowledge to give them the perspective necessary to solve the leadership and command challenges of today. To assist you in continuing to develop and refine that core, which we call historical mindedness, the Center of Military History has put together this anthology of readings by generals and about generals and their generalship. We are not sure that one can scientifically analyze or even accurately describe good generalship, but we think we know it when we see it, and have used that sensing to guide the selections included. However, we are also acutely aware that these are only a few of the many worthy commentaries on generalship which could have been selected, so we invite you to send your favorites to the Center as candidates for future reprints.