“The general is the head, the whole of an army. It was not the Roman army that subjugated Gaul, it was Caesar; nor was it the Carthagenian army that made the Republic tremble to the gates of Rome, it was Hannibal; it was not the Macedonian army which reached the Indus, it was Alexander; it was not the French army which carried war to the Weser and the Inn, it was Turenne; it was not the Prussian army which for seven years defended Prussia against the three strongest powers of Europe, it was Frederic the Great.” From such opinions by men whose careers evince superlative knowledge of the subject, it is clear, that: I. _There exists a system of Strategetics common to all great commanders_; II. _That understanding of this system is shown by the skillful use of it_; III. _That such skill is derived from innate capability_; IV. _That those endowed by Nature with this talent, must bring their gifts to perfection, by intelligent study_. So abstruse are the processes of this greatest of all professions, that comprehension of it has been evidenced by eleven men only, viz.: Epaminondas, Alexander, Caesar, Hannibal, Gustavus Adolphus, Turenne, Eugene, Frederic, Washington, Napoleon, Von Moltke. Comprehension of this system can be attained, only by innate capability brought to perfection by intelligent study of the words and achievements of these great Captains. For life is so short and our memories in general so defective, that we ought to seek instruction only from the purest sources. None but men endowed by Nature with the military mind and trained in the school of the great Captains, are able to write intelligently on the acts and motives of generals of the first order. All the writings of mere literati relative to these uncommon men, no matter how excellent such authors may be, never can rise to anything more than elegant phraseology. It is of enlightened critics, such as the former, that the youthful student always is first in need. Such will guide him along a road, in which he who has no conductor may easily lose himself. They will correct his blunders considerately, recollecting that should these be ridiculed or treated with severity, talent might be stifled which might hereafter bloom to perfection. It is a difficult matter to form the average student, and to impart to him that degree of intelligent audacity and confident prudence which is requisite for the proper practice of the Art of Strategetics. To secure proficiency, the student from the beginning must cheerfully submit himself to a mental discipline, which properly may be termed severe; in order to make his faculties obedient to his will.