# Southern Historical Society Papers/Volume 02/August/Book Notices

Southern Historical Society Papers, August 1876
Book Notices.
We are indebted to Rev. Dr. E. T. Baird, Secretary of the Presbyterian Publication Society, for a copy of this book.
The printing, stereotyping and binding is all done in Richmond, and its beautiful get-up is proof positive that we need not go North for such work. The book itself is the story of the life of one of the ablest ministers which this country ever produced, admirably told by one who knew him intimately, and was, perhaps, his peer in ability and scholarship. Of the charm of the life and character of this great man, the admiration excited by the story of his ceaseless work for the church, and of his delightful letters, we may not here speak.
​But the part of the volume which tells of his deep sympathy with the Confederate cause, and gives copious extracts from his letters and addresses vindicating from a Christian standpoint the course of the Confederacy, is a most valuable addition to our history.
We are glad to find given in full Dr. Thornwell's able paper on "Our Danger and Our Duty," which was printed in tract form during the war, and which "Stonewall" Jackson was so delighted with, that he subscribed $100 towards having it circulated in his corps.
There are also a number of other papers of great value as vindications of the South, while his letters during the war are beautiful illustrations of the spirit of our best people during that great struggle.
That Dr. Palmer has done his work with admirable skill and rare ability will surprise none who know the man. He has produced a book of deep interest, which will take a permanent place in Southern literature, and be widely read and admired.
This admirable little book, besides other important discussions, cuts up by the roots "Woman's Rights" and all kindred heresies.
We, of course, think none the less of Dr. Palmer, and his books, because he was one of the originators, and the first president of the Southern Historical Society.
This also is a Richmond made book, printed by Whittet & Shepperson, stereotyped by L. Lewis, and its publication superintended by Rev. Dr. E. T. Baird, Secretary of the Presbyterian Publication Committee (to whom we are indebted for a copy), and it is as beautiful a specimen of the bookmaker's art as one often sees.
This book was presented to us by the author sometime ago, and we have been waiting for time and space to give it such review as its merits richly deserve.
That has not yet come, but we will no longer delay saying that we have read the book with deep—interest that we regard it as a very valuable contribution to the history of that important campaign, and that we most cordially commend it as worthy of a place in every collection of "material for the future historian."
Colonel Jones displays indefatigable industry in the collection of his facts, and wields a graceful, facile pen in weaving them into a narrative of deep interest. We have derived from the book a much clearer idea of that campaign than we had before, and have been fully confirmed in our opinion, that Sherman's boasted "march to the sea" was simply a grand marauding expedition, which was undertaken and prosecuted in the full confidence that the Confederacy could rally no adequate force to oppose him, and which was conducted in a manner that is an everlasting disgrace to both Sherman and his army.
We may sometime find space to quote the concluding chapter, in which Colonel Jones catalogues some of the outrages committed, quotes Sherman's official report in which he says that he estimates the damage done to the State of Georgia and its military resources at one hundred millions of dollars; at least twenty millions of which have inured to our advantage, and the remainder is simple waste and destruction," and draws a vivid contrast between Sherman's conduct in Georgia and that of Lee and his lieutenants in Pennsylvania.
But we can now only advise our readers to get the book for themselves.