The tactical lessons conned in his tent would vanish in a sort of stage-fright when he tried to practise them in public.

Some would overcome the difficulty by perseverance, others would give it up in despair and resign, still others would hold on from pride or shame, until some pressure from above or below would force them to retire.

Some men of this stamp had personal fighting qualities which kept them in the service in spite of their tactical ignorance, like brave old Wolford of Kentucky, of whom it used to be jocosely said, that the command by which he rallied his cavalry regiment was "Huddle on the Hill, boys!" A man wholly without business training would always be in embarrassment, though his other qualifications for military life were good.

Even a company has a good deal of administrative business to do.

Accounts are to be kept, rations, clothing, arms, accoutrements, and ammunition are to be receipted and accounted for.
Returns of various kinds are to be made, applications for furlough, musters, rolls, and the like make a good deal of clerical work, and though most of it may fall on the first sergeant, the captain and commissioned officers must know how it should be done and when it is well done, or they are sure to get into trouble.