So many surrenders of small bodies of troops had occurred during the course of the war that the public, remembering how seldom the word 'surrender' had ever been heard in our endless succession of European wars, had become very restive upon the subject, and were sometimes inclined to question whether this new and humiliating fact did not imply some deterioration of our spirit.

The fear was natural, and yet nothing could be more unjust to this the most splendid army which has ever marched under the red-crossed flag.

The fact was new because the conditions were new, and it was inherent in those conditions.

In that country of huge distances small bodies must be detached, for the amount of space covered by the large bodies was not sufficient for all military purposes.

In reconnoitring, in distributing proclamations, in collecting arms, in overawing outlying districts, weak columns must be used.