Armstrong then goes on to relate a shocking anecdote. PAUSE: It has been the observation of the undersigned on occasion that people who are uneducated or not highly educated sometimes nonetheless possess an ability, almost a sixth sense it has seemed to me, to size a person up better and quicker than does an educated person. UNPAUSE.
Humphreys was a "micromanager," Arner's term, and he frequently devoted time and effort to the unimportant at the expense of the important, Armstrong's opinion, and there is some support for it. Humphreys was also obsessive, everybody's opinion; he did not know when to let go of a thing. Once started on a purpose he just kept at it. The men of the Vth Corps saw instance after instance of these character traits in Humphreys, which brings us back to Armstrong's anecdote:
In one of these rapid rides ["galloping furiously and purposeless from front to rear, and from rear to front...cursing"], his eye caught sight of a brace of young hounds following one of the Sergeants.
"Where did those dogs come from?"
"They have followed me from the last wood, sir."
"Let them go, sir, this instant. Send them back, sir. Damn you, sir, I'll teach you to respect private property," replied the General, deploying his staff at the same time to assist in driving the dogs back...notwithstanding the efforts of the Sergeant...they crouched at a respectful distance and eyed him wistfully. "Damn you, sir, I am the General commanding the Division, sir, and by God, sir, I command you, as such, to send those dogs back, sir!" nervously stammered the General as he rode excitedly from one side of the road to the other in front of the Sergeant.
...the dogs would turn tail but for a short distance.
Humphreys was a "micromanager," Arner's term, and he frequently devoted time and effort to the unimportant at the expense of the important, Armstrong's opinion, and there is some support for it. Humphreys was also obsessive, everybody's opinion; he did not know when to let go of a thing. Once started on a purpose he just kept at it. The men of the Vth Corps saw instance after instance of these character traits in Humphreys, which brings us back to Armstrong's anecdote:
In one of these rapid rides ["galloping furiously and purposeless from front to rear, and from rear to front...cursing"], his eye caught sight of a brace of young hounds following one of the Sergeants.
"Where did those dogs come from?"
"They have followed me from the last wood, sir."
"Let them go, sir, this instant. Send them back, sir. Damn you, sir, I'll teach you to respect private property," replied the General, deploying his staff at the same time to assist in driving the dogs back...notwithstanding the efforts of the Sergeant...they crouched at a respectful distance and eyed him wistfully. "Damn you, sir, I am the General commanding the Division, sir, and by God, sir, I command you, as such, to send those dogs back, sir!" nervously stammered the General as he rode excitedly from one side of the road to the other in front of the Sergeant.
...the dogs would turn tail but for a short distance.