2IO CONFEDERATE PORTRAITS
Also, Toombs was beloved by the men of his brigade and took excellent care of them. He looked out for their health and comfort in every possible way. ** Whether against Johnston, Longstreet, or Hill, the First Bri- gade, First Division, was sure of a fearless champion in the person of its commander," says the ardent bi-
The biographer seems to overlook the somewhat ex- traordinary sound of commending an officer with so much enthusiasm for his bellicose attitude against his own su- periors. But here, as everywhere, we meet in Toombs the same old defect. He was a splendid individual fighter ; but he could not learn that fighting, like everything else, to be fruitful and efficient, requires, first of all, subordi- nation. He could not learn discipline.
Thus, one of his sick soldiers was refused hospital on account of some technicality. Toombs was told that the rules were fixed by General Johnston. He rode right up to the general's tent and spoke out in his emphatic fashion. " You have been too rash," protested his own surgeon; "you will be arrested." ^^ Johnston did not arrest him, because he liked him and was generous him- self. But another commander would have done so.
Again, Toombs lost no opportunity of holding forth, even to his men, on the proper conduct of the war. If he disapproved of the action of his superiors, he did not hesitate to say so, and often without very thorough knowledge of what his superiors were aiming at. He
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