Often wargamers are faulted for not being "realistic" enough, or for not portraying Generals in an appropriate "historical" fashion. Players with the role of "commander-in- chief" especially come in for criticism from underlings who look to their superior& for guidance or "proper" behavior. However, while perusing my Bunbury, I came across his description of Sir John Stuart in command at Maida. Sir John reminds me of many wargamers I've encountered over the tabletop (in fact, he also calls to mind Toad of Toad Hall). If your subordinates ever dare to complain, or if you are asked to write a "battle report" by some wargaming journal editor, refer them to this article: "But where was Sir John Stuart? And what great part did he play in this brilliant action? In truth, he seemed to be rather a spectator than a person much, or the person most interested in the result of the conflict. He formed no plan; declared no intention, and scarcely did he trouble himself to give an order. Perfectly regardless of personal danger, he was cantering about, indulging himself in little pleasantries as was his wont; and he launched forth with particular glee when a Sicilian marquis, whom he had brought with him as an extra aide- de-camp, betook himself to shelter from fire behind a haystack. But after the charge of Kempt's Light Infantry, and the utter rout of the French left wing, a change came over the spirit of Sir John Stuart. Still he dawdled about, breaking into passionate exclamations: "Begad, I never saw anything so glorious as this! There was nothing in Egypt to equal it! It's the finest thing I ever witnessed." From that moment he was an altered man, and full of visions of coming greatness. As I found that I could get no orders from him, I made it my business to go round to the leaders of our several brigades, to give them what information I could, and try to supply their wants... ... At daybreak next morning we relanded ... Here Sir John Stuart set himself seriously down on the 5th of July to write his despatches to England ... During forty-eight hours our troops remained kicking their. heels and eating grapes around Maida, while the General was absorbed in his compositions. He issued a general order of compliments and thanks, but he could not finish his dispatch to the Secretary of State to his mind, nor could he give his consideration to the farther movements of the army. At length ... he resolved to go back to Sicily ... ... At Monteleone Sir John Stuart again applied himself to the important business of writing his dispatches. The aide-de-camp who was to bear them had been held in constant readiness for four days, and so had the brig which was to convey them to England, but the hero of Maida was still unable to tell his story or round his phrases completely to his satisfaction; and in fact the letter which was published in the London Gazette was not finished till we reached the Straits of Messina, a fortnight after the battle." Back to PW Review October 1988 Table of Contents Back to PW Review List of Issues Back to MagWeb Master Magazine List © Copyright 1988 Wally Simon This article appears in MagWeb (Magazine Web) on the Internet World Wide Web. Other articles from military history and related magazines are available at http://www.magweb.com