Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1862-08-13
HISTORIES OF TIE WAR.

To the Editor of tks Wkig - e.t-Ea4'r
The public have been informed by Mr.. I. W. Asc-
Mshon, d at he il engaged in preparing history Of the
present war.
Mr.. K L. Pollard has already published volume Of
S74 pages, entitled "fhe First Year Of the War" Tss
second volume will be forthcoming I presume at the
end Of the sscSud year. he notifies u.s. AAo that be 10.
tends at early day TO publish aksteh Of the Life Of
Gen. Aslby.
The last nsmsd work IT, perhaps, admissible. The gal.
liant Ashby has played well his part and passed from the
stage of life.
Bat with all respect for the gentlemen engaged In
writing histories Of the war, must be permitted 70
press the opinion, that they are making mistake A
work written in the very midst OF the events which IL
undertakes to weigh, narrAe and pronounce judgment
upon must necessarily be full Of blanders Of Judgment
and of consequent Injustice to the act,Is whose
deeds are recorded. Hsrodous, Thucydidss and TAei
tus accomplished great deal but what means have
of ling whether the accounts they have given
correct Ia age like that in which they Sursled, when
there was no press and but few means Of preserving
record Of passing events, |. was very well that they
should have undertaken to prepare contempcraneous an
nails Tor tho enlightenment Of pOsterty But ouch
Oessy exists 10 our CASE II the newspaper pres1 Of the
country will be found daily record OF curien! events,
where materials otherwise perishAbl diligently cell
looted and preserved for the uso Of the historian.
Ths business Of these remarks ia shown BY the fact
that Mr. Pollard attributes all disasters the past WIN
ter TO The stupidity aud imbeoiy of the Government
whereas M AAohahOn informs 10 advances, that he
ot.iy disssnts from Mr. Ps views relative to our
administration The weakness and folly Of the Govern
constitute the groundwork Of the one work the
wisdom and ttoeaoy Of rulers that Of the oihe;
Nov, which ID righ,' Bo;h cannot b..
This CCn radiction eom.s OF writing history, - you
Sold manufacture piece Of oloh Just the material
Is lu nShsd Measures Of GOVernpeat cannot b. judged
OF in this Gay. Tine which tests all things Necessary
" eGa6ls 10 comprehend fully the scope and effect OF
measures Of State and the coacuc of public alirs He
must bs prophet who ioresee from the beginning
lhs result Of given policy to be able pronounce
upon 1t in advance Aud YET Ihese worthy gentlemen
essay this ,ult task 10 the midis Of the those
of revelation. i they Sy's!d erie Gi,tny All legis.
'Ation vel every military campaigu ia at the GU
set, TO great extent, merely experimental
al gle insta CO OF the injustice thai may be done, is
found the S6,t page OF Mr.. PJIards "Fst Year OF
the War" where he speak, OF the Stupid aud unneces
JAry destruction Of the Virginia b. Commodore Tat
na And yet twelve naval officers Of great ability and
s,irciion, declire that
Being thus situated the only alternative In the opn
ion OF the court to abandon aud burn tho ship then
and there which, In the Judgment Of the court, was de
berately and wisely toHe by order OF the ised."
It vel to gather up the perlshabls materials Of
history pass a1ng; but the time has not yet
TO prepare work that will be either oredi.abe to the
al hor or satisfactory to the reader.