The New York herald., 1862-12-23
Jessie Bsntsa Fremont's ssstory Or the
Guard"


Guard"
IT Is . singular fact that the wars Of country
form the basis Of its literature. The wars Of
Greece and Rome inspired the ancient poets
and historians. The wars Of France still sup
ply the material for its literature The wars of
England and Scotland furnished the foundation
for the works Of the greatest British authors.
The early border and Revolutionary wars Of
this country have given us our best novels and
histories So the great civil war in which we
are now engaged will create a new literary era
in this country, and for century to come our
authors win lind in the rise, progress and incl
dents of the present conflict TIE grandest sub
jects for their labors
About this war, however, there will not be-
that mysterious obscurity which hangs like
cloud over the historical contests Of Greece.
Rome, France and England. Nowadays, while
history is being made at Washington, it is also
being printed all over the country. This
newspapers give daily chronicles of the
times. aud are according to Macaulsy the best
books Of reference Besides these, such
productions ~ the "Diary" of the Count
Adonis Gurowski, Ne Story Of Jessie
Benton Fremont and the work which the
Chevaler Wikof is writing will serve our
future authors as bricks and mortar from which
book after book can be readily constructed
Therefore, although by no means permanent.
nor perhaps valuable in themselves these con-
trihutions TO the current literature of the war
will be immensely useful at sone future day.
The glmpses tbsy give Of scenes behind the
curtain are now very entertaining, but will
become more and more deeply interesting as
years pass away and the true records Of present
occurrences come TO be written BY impartial
hands. AS President Lincoln sagacousiy OBJ
serves. 1--WE cannot escape history;'' and ~
great battle scenes will some day be painted
from the popular photographs Of the war and
its generals, SO great histories will some day
be made up from the hasty sketches Of our
present writers. Probably with this idea in
view Mrs. Fremont has published book de-
failing the story of her husbands body guard,
and has devoted the proceeds Of her work "
the widows. mothers and orphans Of the brave
men who fell during the charge at Springfield
Mrs. Fremonts book consists OF q collection
grams, strung together by very pleasantly
written narrative of his campaign In Missouri.
in which great deal of marching was done, but
no battle fought. except by Major Zagoni and
bis one hundred and flty heroes. Although
somewhat in the form Of diary, Mrs. Fremont's
book is not 80 sharp, biting aud ill-natured a.
Gurowski's. She praises Fremont's friends.
but docs not abuse Frenoni's enemies
Gurowski's book Is A. deliciously spicy as .
plate OF Do~ning's oysters, well peppered, and
taken between meals. st No. 8 BROAD street.
Mrs. Fremont's book l. more like Downing's
boned turkeys for New Years dinners. In
Fremont's letters we find few hints about
that splendid expedition down the Mississippi.
over which he drcamt largely, and few COM
plants against the administration for interfer-
ing with him, sending spies to watch him and
encouraging disobedicnce of his orders OF the
palatisl mansion at st. Louis Mrs. Fremont
says nothing, except that her cellar was used
as a magazine General Fremont tells Us that
his coach and four was an ambulance Tho
mules which drew this coach are severely
sneered at and treated with some inhumanity.
Nothing is said in regard to contracts; and b
one letter-in which General Fremont promises,
"before we get through will show you little
California practice-that is, If we are not In
tcrrupted"-a footnote is added, explaining that
this alludes to the fine marching of the Califor-
MIA battalion in lS45-46, and not to McKinstry
!SCo
Mrs. Fremcnt's story is obviously her hus-
bands opinion of his own campaign As such
il will he taken for what it is worth, and
we doubt whether twill effect any change in
anybody's else opinion about the matter What
he intended to do was doubtless very grand;
but what lie really did amounted to nothing.
In his letters to Mrs. Fremont the General hints
at distractions and impediments thrown in his
way by the War Department.; but If these hints
mean anything they should have been made
more plain and direct. All the fighting in the
book is done by Major zagoni and bis company
OF cavalry though Hunter, Pope and Sigel,
with their armies were under Fremonts com
msnd. As a tribute to the memory Of the
fifteen soldiers of the body guard who were
killed at Springfield, the book will interest
many readers. We do not see however, how it
at all defends or explain, the shortcomings Of
General Fremont
THE RESIGNATION OF SECRETARY CiIAsE.--Ths
resignation OF MIR. Chase as Secretary of tho
Treasury is. under the circumstances like
pickpocket shouting stop thiefr The seeming
desire to resign j. all feignsd on bis part.
There is no other man who has done 80 much
to bring on the present crisis ss Secretary
Chase, who really controls the War Depart
ment, General Halleck and the generals in the
field. by his forcing the mischievous radical
measures of his fanatcal faction in the Cabinet.
and by devoting his attention to intrigues In
other departments of the government, resulting
in their Encouragement and failure, while hs