The Longevity of Generals

I was troubled by a comment made by Victor Davis Hanson in his otherwise great review of Warren Kozak’s book LeMay: The Life and Wars of General Curtis LeMay (“American Ajax,” August 24). Hanson writes that LeMay was “the longest-serving general in our history.” Has he forgotten Old Fuss and Feathers, Gen. Winfield Scott?

Alex F. Wysocki

Wilmington, Del.

Victor Davis Hanson Replies: I think the problem involves the exact (four stars) and generic (one to four stars) use of “general,” as well as the difference between modern and 19th-century military usage and parlance. LeMay received his fourth star in 1951, and thus was properly “general” for about 14 years of active service before retiring in 1965 — and had 39 years of combined active and retired service at general rank when he died in 1990.

Scott was promoted to brigadier general in 1814, retired in 1861, and died in 1866, so he had the longer tenure at the rank of brigadier general and above (47 years of active service and 52 years of combined active and retired service vs. Lemay’s 22 years of active service and 47 years of combined active and retired service). I am not quite sure what the 19th-century equivalent of “general” was (at first probably major-general, and then lieutenant-general), but Scott was promoted to major-general in 1841 (giving him 20 years of active service and 25 years of combined active and retired service). He advanced to lieutenant-general in 1856, giving him five years at that top rank, and a total of ten years active and retired.

Who Needs the Oxford English Dictionary?

I recall that Mr. Buckley, after he had read a particular book, would make a list of words from the book that he had not recognized. I often have the same reaction after reading your publication. In fact, sometimes I get the impression that your stable of writers write for one another and not for me.

What prompted me to write was a word from a recent Ross Douthat movie review (“Misanthropy on Tour,” July 6). That word was “twee”: “touching but not maudlin, and clever but not twee.” Just what the heck does “twee” mean? I looked in two dictionaries and that word does not appear.

Kenneth Polley

​Reading, Pa.

The Editors reply: Twee. Adjective. Chiefly British. Affectedly dainty or quaint: “twee writing about furry little creatures.” Dictionary.com, dude.