CHAPTER XVIII

AIDES-DE-CAMP

(See corresponding chapter in SUPPLEMENT for additional matter and changes, if any.) The proper performance of the duty of AIDE-DE-CAMP, like the proper performance of any other duty, requires work and attention to business.

A

Requisites of a Successful Aide-de-Camp. A man's success as an Aide-de-Camp-his usefulness to his general-depends upon two things; his intelligence and professional ability, and his tact. If he combines both in a high degree his success is assured under almost all conditions; if he has only the former he will be a useful officer to a hard-working general, but not an ideal Aide-de-Camp; if serving with a general who occupies himself with merely routine affairs, his ability may count for little in the absence of tact. This quality, tact, is the oil which makes the official machine run smoothly, even when the parts are badly worn and ill-adjusted; it is the lubricant which diminishes the jar and friction of heavy bodies working in contact. If this quality is important to all the members of a staff, it may be said without exaggeration that the Aide-de-Camp is especially charged with the diffusion of its soothing influence.

B The Chief of Staff. An Aide's relations with his general's chief of staff often present some difficulties, especially if both are men of character and decided ideas. It is more the duty of the former than of the latter to take pains to keep these relations agreeable. An Aide may often keep secrets from the chief of staff, but rarely from his general; the relations of the chief of staff may be strictly official with the general-those of the Aide are always personal as well. A chief of staff may sometimes resent what he considers the preponderating influence of the Aide with the general, and, considering the

greater intimacy of the latter's relations, it is his business to avoid any such appearance of predominating influence. His tact and good sense can never be shown better than by disposing of this feeling before it becomes pronounced in the mind of any other member of the staff.

A Loyalty. It is needless to say that an Aide's loyalty should be absolute. No word or act of his should ever betray a weakness or a foible of his chief to even the most intimate friend or relative. Honor demands this as well as prudence, for the intimacy permitted him with his chief makes him the repository of a confidence which the outside world does not share.

Some generals are regarded by the public as military heroes. An Aide may find that for him, worship is replaced by admiration, respect, and love, much more lasting and useful sentiments; but he should always be very sympathetic toward the hero-worship of those more distantly placed.

It is the duty of an Aide-de-camp to study his chief's imperfections, prejudices, and foibles, if he have such, that he may the better understand, protect and serve him.

B Frankness. While it is the duty of an Aide to be agreeable, he should not descend to servility; often an Aide is called upon to say most difficult and disagreeable things to his chief. He should be sure that he is right and then not hesitate, even if he knows that his advice will be distasteful or lead to an angry outburst. The intimacy of his relations demands sometimes that he should, in loyalty, give the sort of advice which a chief of staff may not offer.

These occasions are most rare, but when they occur they should be met unflinchingly. It has been said more than once that a characteristic of General Grant's staff officers, as differing from those of several other generals, was the frank way in which they gave their opinion when asked and their freedom in differing with their chief. This is worthy of being pondered over by young Aides-de-camp. General Grant was a great and successful general; but he listened to the opinions of others even if he did not accept them; he encouraged his staff to say what they really thought rather than to agree with his own ideas.

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The General's Wife. The position of an Aide with regard to his general's wife is sometimes said to be difficult. It may be, de

pending on the tact of all concerned. The simplest way to look at this question is that the Aide should be animated by a feeling of personal attachment to his chief-if he has not that feeling he ought not to remain his Aide; the wife, then, of that chief is preeminently the woman whom he should wish to serve in all the ways that a gentleman may serve a lady. This principle being accepted, its application is purely one of good manners and thoughtfulness on both sides.

A Duties. With the exception of the paragraphs of Army Regulations which prescribe that Aides or other members of the staff shall be placed in charge of small arms target practice at division and department headquarters, the Army Regulations are silent on the subject of the duties of Aides. The duties of Aides are what their chiefs make them, some generals giving their Aides considerable work, others requiring them to do very little.

An Aide is always on duty and this duty is always personal and always official. The limits of this personal and official service can not and need not be defined, since they are coincident and continuous.

This double relation of personal and official service which an Aide-de-camp bears to his chief is one of the most delightful imaginable between soldiers who esteem each other and one of the most instructive to a young officer serving with an able man. Whether in battle or at a ball, whether at the desk or at the table, in company or alone, an Aide's first thought should be his chief's safety, reputation and pleasure. Any general who continually abuses this relationship, by requiring servile attention, would find his Aide, if the latter was a man of character, applying for his relief. There should, however, be no failure on the Aide's part to promptly perform any service suggested by the general. Likewise should the Aide refrain from any expression of dislike of the duty or service suggested. An application for relief, on the grounds referred to above, should be in writing, but should contain no reference to this abuse of the relationship. If, however, the general requested a full explanation of the reasons for the application, it would not be improper for the Aide to inform him, in a respectful manner, of his reason for applying for relief.

B Personal Reports. Immediately upon reporting for duty, make to The Adjutant-General, U. S. A., and to the adjutant of your regiment the report required by Army Regulations and thereafter ren

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der on the last day of each month to the same offices the report required by the Regulations. See Supplement, Chap. XVIII, Par. 125.

Usefulness. As far as it is possible for one human being to think for another, an Aide should think for his chief, especially in matters of detail. An officer can not be a good Aide without initiative in thought and in action-he should cultivate and get into the habit of doing things without being told-he should devote time, attention and thought to anticipating the needs and wishes of his chief, making it his special business to think of things and to do things that will add to his chief's comfort and save him from worry and annoyance, thus relieving him from details, that his mind may be free to attend to larger matters-in short, an Aide should make himself useful. For instance, if going on a trip of inspection:

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Before leaving:

See Sup

(a) See that the report required by the Army Regulations is made to the next higher commander. plement, Chap. XVIII, Par. 125.

(b) Make an itinerary of the proposed journey, giving the hours of arrival and departure at the principal points en route and furnish copies to the chief of staff, the adjutant general and others who should have copies.

(c) Give the necessary directions for forwarding mail. 2 Take along a railroad time table and familiarize yourself with the hours of arrival at and departure from the principal points en

route.

3 If connections are to be made at any point, ascertain the hour of departure, station, etc., of the connecting train.

4 If government transportation is to be used at destination, telegraph ahead for the same.

5 If provision is to be made for meals or quarters at a post notify the commanding officer in advance of the number in the party, and if there are any ladies, that fact should be stated.

6 Look after getting the railroad transportation, street car and ferry tickets and any other transportation that may be necessary.

With some generals, when going on a journey of any kind the aide takes along enough cash to defray all expenses (transportation, meals, street care fare, tips, etc.) for both himself and his chief, and upon return to their station submits an itemized expense account to the general for reimbursement. enough cash available before beginning the journey, he should so inform the general. If the aide has not

7 See that the general's baggage is checked and properly cared for. In case there is more than one piece of baggage, note on the back of each check the article checked.

8 See that copies of the daily papers published at the principal places en route are gotten for your chief.

9 Take along in your valise:

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(a) A roster of the troops of the department, and before reaching a post, look up the names of all officers there, their duties, etc.

(b) The Army Register.

(c) The latest Army List and Directory.

(d) The Army Regulations.

(e) The Drill Regulations.

(f) Official envelopes and some letter paper.

(g) Some official and ordinary telegraph blanks.

(h) Some carbon paper, a note book, fountain pen, indelible pencil, and postage stamps.

(i) A supply of the general's visiting cards.

In case of possible use, take along the general's personal flag. 11 After returning from a trip:

(a) Write, at the direction of the general, letters to every one who extended special courtesies to him.

(b) Make out and submit to him his mileage vouchers. And do these things WITHOUT BEING TOLD!

Pointers

1 An Aide can not be too punctilious about the neatness and correctness of his dress.

2 Courtesy is an indispensable quality of a good Aide. In your office and everywhere else, be invariably polite and courteous to every one. An Aide should never be too busy to be courteous. Politeness costs nothing and it always brings good returns.

3 Stay as much as possible within the call of the general.

4 Cultivate thoughtfulness in all matters, especially the civilities of life.

5 In case the general has gentleman visitors, see that they get cards to all clubs of which the general is a member.

6 Carry some of the general's visiting cards in your card case.