| Bartford Hamilton Steele | |
|---|---|
 Harry Morgan as daffy General Steele | |
| M*A*S*H character | |
| Vital information | |
| Rank: | Major General (O-8), U.S. Army |
| Job/Role in Unit: | High ranking General who visits the 4077th M*A*S*H |
| Home: | Bethesda, MD |
| Hair Color: | Grey |
| Eye Color: | Blue |
| Height: | 5'7" |
| Weight: | 140 lbs. |
| Family/Personal Information | |
| Born: | 1890 |
| Birthplace: | Maryland, U.S. |
| Nationality/Race: | American |
| Spouse(s): | Marjorie |
| Relatives/Children: | 3 brothers, who are also high ranking Army brass |
| Appearances | |
| First appeared in: | "The General Flipped at Dawn" (Season 3; his only appearance) |
| Last appeared in: | N/A |
| Appeared on/or in: | M*A*S*H in guest appearance |
| Played by: | Harry Morgan |
Major General Bartford Hamilton Steele was a two-star General whose sole appearance in M*A*S*H was the season 3 episode The General Flipped at Dawn. He was portrayed by Harry Morgan, who received an Emmy nomination for his performance, and who, of course, later joined the cast as Colonel Potter beginning in Season 4 and remained throughout the rest of the series.
About General Steele
General Steele was born around 1890; upon his arrival in camp he mentions he is 62 years old, and the episode itself takes place in 1952. He comes from a prestigious military family; he has three brothers, all West Point graduates and all generals, one of whom became a U.S. Senator, and another, according to Henry, was the first soldier to volunteer to be part of the building of the Panama Canal, adding that he was the first to be bitten by a mosquito there.
When Steele arrives in camp, he appears to be more eccentric and scatterbrained than the normal Army brass, as he issues numerous silly orders including sterilizing tongue depressors, and while inspecting the troops, espouses several assorted axioms, including:
- (to Father Mulcahy): There are no atheists in fox holes!
- Mulcahy: I've heard that.
- (to Margaret): Gut in! Chest out! (to Henry) Blackjack Pershing, 1915.
- (to Radar) The Irish were rotten Indian fighters! (noticing Radar's rank) Non-coms, the backbone of the service. Where you from, son?
- Radar: Iowa, sir.
- Steele (shouting): No talking in ranks!!
He then makes an attempt to move the 4077th to five miles from the front, citing "You do your best business on the 50-yard line". When Hawkeye and Trapper try to get Henry to persuade the loony Steele otherwise, he explains that his hands are tied.
After Hawkeye countermands Steele's order to use a chopper to observe the bug-out, Steele angrily orders Hawkeye brought up on charges of insubordination, disobedience of orders, and impersonating a civilian. Unfortunately for Steele, the charges fall apart after he excuses the chopper pilot, Warrant Officer Williams, and then asks him to perform "a little musical number", and then breaks into song himself singing Mississippi Mud, dancing around the room and then out of the Mess Tent. Now also convinced of Steele's daffiness, the presiding MP cancels the hearing.
Weeks later, Hawkeye and Trapper are both taken aback when Henry reads from Stars and Stripes that Steele has been promoted to Lieutenant General, awarded a meritorious service medal for his duty in Korea, and is now assigned to the Pentagon overseeing military operations for the entire Asian theater.
Steele became the fifth in a long line of generals who have supervised the medical units in South Korea, including the 4077th, succeeding Generals Hammond, Barker, Clayton, and Mitchell (all Brigadiers). Most generals lasted for a few episodes before disappearing without comment or explanation; Steele is unusual in that he lasts only for this one episode, and the circumstances of his change of position are revealed.
There is no replacement General mentioned for the rest of the third season or the entire fourth season; Lieutenant General Robert "Iron Guts" Kelly visits the 4077th later in season 3, but does not appear to be directly responsible for overseeing the M*A*S*H unit. During the season 5 opener Bug Out, Colonel Potter talks on the phone with what would appear to be the next General in line to fill the supervisory role, the offstage character of General Irving "Binky" Hamilton.