Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1862-08-01
Z No ULRER'S CORRESpONDENGE.
THE First YEaR oETuE WAR;

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NlEssRs. hDlToRs: This book has been read
by many OF us in camp. The authors style
is fascinating, and that portion OF his book
(the first hundred pages which recounts the
origin and causes oi the war, is lucid and
satisfactory. But, in his history Of the war
Itself, there are occasional indications Of a
i5ratultous auimosity towards men, which mar
the success vi the work. Many adeclives
ana inflated expressions, III various portions
OF the book, provoke the fear that the book
was written under the influence of undue
personal partialitcs rs well as bitter and un-
charitable hates. 1t seems to be assumed
that every officer Of the Government, whose
position makes him prominent, is either a
great ulan or an imbecle, gifted patriot or Il
miserable sneak.
Whether the author is guided by Judgment
or by caprice whether he has, been happy or
unfortunate in his likes or dislikcs OF Subor-
dinate officers, and whether his pets and
,iavurites are indeed our greatest Generals,
we shall not enquire, or join issue; but we
must enter our solemn protest against the
authors bilious effort to make his own jaun-
diced opinion OF our President part of His
'ory." In the eleventh chapter Of his book
he has strained the power oil language, in
more pages than one, 10 establish, by his own
"iDSs dich," what has hecn 'lispruvcd by the
whole course of Mr.. linviS's life. Indeed. it
is absurd to suppose that the best men III the
South, who had known Mr.. Davis for TWEEN
ty years, should have lrcn so utterly dccciy-
rd rs this book would have us believe; and If
they were not deceived III February, 'Gi, it is -
singular aunnoly that within few months llr
should have beled his past life, turned traitor
to himseli, and become, by some strange hal
lucinatiun, the unfortunate incubus nlon our
cause which this author represents.
As Gc0rgians, we enter our protest against
such Il "rccord" being called "llistory." We
neither approve it nor endorse II but i'll our
very hearts we condemn it. We have never
practiccd man-worship towards MIR. Davis !:
we are as independent as he; but we sincere
ly and deliberately estimate him as n l,an Of
high moral tirmness, patriot ";da% psHr Il
sans reprnche," and Statesman with unusu-
al military experience and fitness Tor cun.-
manh. This was said Of him at Montgomery,
by the Provisional Congress, and has since
been endorsed by the people OF the South.
The anImadvcrsnnS made upon distinguish
I'd officers of the Government hy the author,
are calculated to work out more evil than
could be rrmedied, II his readers should trust
lngly feed upon his opinions. Similar as
sauts upon the public confidence have al
ready raised up powerful factions at the North,
that give Mcclellan more trouble than "thr
rebels" Let US beware Of their errors for
ii every opinion expressed in the authors in
tended history" should he true, no good can
he accomplished by publishing it to the army.
The portion OF the book to which We have
excepted, will doubtless be swallowed down
as n delicious feast by those who have long
looked upon Mr.. Davis as the soul Of the re-
bellion. Lct US be careful to give neither aid
nor comfort to our enemies, nor create conhl-
sion or lack of confidence in our own ranks
at such time as this .'I'uI B0Ho."