New-York daily tribune., 1858-10-28
Aesp!llurkDailp Gribume
NEW PUBLICATIONS.

BATTLES OF THE UNITED STATES ny sEA AND
LAND. BY BENsf b. DA@soS. SERIAL Nos. !, g
Johnson Fry Co.
With the successful labors that Of late years have
been devoted in many quarters to tbe illustration
of American history, il might be supposed at first
bush that the author OF this work hadengaged in a
suporluous undertaking. But his plan has not only
the merit of novelty but if carried out both with
scentiousress and ability will furnish the general
reader with more accurate and complete view of
some Of the most important passages of his countrys
history than he could easily obtain from any other
source. The method adopted by the author comprises
a succnct narrative Of the naval and military battles
Of the United States with copous references TO author
ities and the reproduction of the most important oris-
nal documents in relation to the subject. II will be
perceived, at opce that history thus prepared will be
entitled ts far weight than the popular compost
tions which merely repeat, in more or less attractive
FORM the current traditions and anecdotes, which arc
rather apology for history than history ITSELF The
numbers now seued present favorable impression Of
the character of the work, and Of the competence Of
the author lie has clearly taken great pains in the
consultation Of authorities bis Judgment though
sometimes at fault, is in the main sound and stwor
thy; he writes teinperaely and without prejudice;
and what is worthy of special notice in these days OF
loose and fashy compilation, in style of prevailing
simplicity and direcness. We observe occasional
negligence Of execution and few errors 10 which
attach the importance account of the evidont
desire 10 complete accuracy Of statement. Thus
In the account Of the battle of elngton and Concord
we have the name Of Gen. Warren given James
instead of JosepI p. H.. The same IS repeated
lp 20 and again (p. 3O, a. if different person was
allnted to from The martyr Of Bunker Hill who is Dc
scrbed as the youthful but noble Warren" with
nothing 10 identify him with the precediug.-The
British troops under Lieut.. Col Smith, who composed
the expedition to Concord, are said to have "eni-
barked at the Common and proceeded up ne Ctar'es
Rirer far place known as Phppss Farm, in tho
present town Ct Vast Cambridge" Every ac-
quarted with the localities in question wi perceive
that this statement involves a typographical imposs-
blity. The troops, in fact embarked in boats from
the foot of Boston Common, crossed to Eat
CamJridge, and then took mp the line Of march By
land through the swamps that covered the present te
Of port of Old Cambridge, to West Cambridge
They coud rot have landed at the letter place, as
represented by Mr. Dawson nasmuch as lies several
miles to the northward Of Charles River-Major Pit
carn said TO have been ordered to press or with SIX
companies of light Infantry, to secure the two
bridges over the Concord River near the town. The
two bridges North aud South were both ~ Concord
In the summing up Of the loss of the British during the
day Of Lexington the total amounts to 252 killed,
wounded and missing including t.cO leuenanl-co.ones
wounded, and one lieutenant-cOlonel killed tpo esp
tains wounded and one captain killed; whereas the
official account, quoted in the appendix makes the
total but 90 including but t-o lieutensutcolones,
either killed wounded, and ono captain wounied
The official report, however moi entirely 70 BE- relied
on for as here quoted il puts down Lieut.. Co.. Smith,
the commander OF the expedition, among the killed,
while in fact a. was subsequently ssoertanei he vas
only severely woundei-The author nsil.s.rs, ia cp-
position TO Bancroft, Irving, Marshall Gordos ant in-
deed uot respectable writers on tie sabjec, thai the
credit Of originating the attack on TcOnderOgs belongs
10 Benedict Arnold Whatever maybe the truth on this
point, he is palpaby wrong in charging en- inconss-
tency Oh Mr. Bancroft, ar frst making the Green
Mountain Boys" ard aitegward, on the same page,
John Brown Of Ptsfeld the author cf the idea. Mr.
Bancrofs statement (vol. vi. p J33 is, that John
Brown fret proposed the enterprise in letter from
Montreal" and in another sentence, that =" the sur
prize Of Ticonderogs he'd been Plored By the Green
Mountain Boys" There i not the shadow u Dis
cIepapcy between these assertions and We wontr th1:
candid and 20 cautious writer as the author should
have ventured the aecusation.-Mr Dawson is gem
elaly precise a1i scholariike in his quotations Of
authorities but We suggest the Improvement Of always
giving the name Of TIE work as well a. the name OF
the author in the first quotations. rule Of which the
general Observance only nases its occasional negec,
more no,iceable.-Ihe work is brought out IN soOi
style Of Typography, and is subelished VIA 'S'''''
excellent engravDes.
TIE EEw-EEGLASD TEEOcRAcYi AESIJesr ~ n " "
CoSGsEG.TIos.LlsIs ~ NEW ESSI1sp;, SJcdni,.vr' ~ ~, -
lhDis Translated from "a, SefnIs u ewYork: