"An Army is a collection of armed men obliged to obey one man. Every change in the rules which impairs the principle weakens the army"

This quote by William Tecumseh Sherman speaks to the value of a unified chain of command in an army. He is highlighting that an army is only as strong as its capability to follow orders and stick to the guidelines. He is suggesting that any changes to the guidelines that deteriorate the principle of obedience will ultimately damage the army as a whole. This is since if the soldiers are not following the very same set of rules, it can lead to confusion and disorganization. This can cause an absence of discipline and cohesion, which can ultimately lead to a weakened army. Sherman is worrying the value of a unified pecking order and the need for all soldiers to follow the same set of guidelines in order to maintain a strong and reliable army.