The New York herald., 1863-07-29

cases 10 oIm cient EfeCc0e0L
Coloael Estvaa's Pictures Of tho War.
Colonel Estvans "War Pictures from the
South, +" just repuhished in this oity, is most
interesting and remarkable book. 1t is q
criticism as well as history. 1t is written
with great ability, perfect impartiality and
admirable tact Colonel Estvan is . brave
soldier and vigorous writer. His description
of the seven days battles before Richmond,
which we translated and reprinted some time
ago, has never been excelled His present work
sustains the reputation he acquired by that
description. The gallant Colonel's position
was peculiar one and extremely favorable to
unprejudiced observation. He is Hungarian
by birth, served with distinction in several
European wars. and came to this country and
started military school at Richmond. While
engaged in this enterprise our civil war began.
Estvan was sent south by the Richmond au-
thorities as military inspector, and was after
wards appointed colonel in the rebel caval-
~. Still he did not heartily sympathize with
tho rebel cause. In the preface to his work he
tell us: "Although circumstances led me
to take service in the Confederate army, have
not been the less disposed to do justice to both
sides in this lamentable contest" and at the
close of his volume he prays for and antici-
pates a reconstruction of the Union. The spin-
our war are not to be lightly considered.
In order to make it still more evident that
Colonel Estvan, though looking at the conflict
from Southern standpoint, is not tinged by
rebel prejudices In his criticisms and remarks,
we must also quote his explicit declarations
that "the Southerners were the originators
of this disastrous war. We were the rebeilious
sons of worthy mother And again he en-
phatically says :-''And now. drawn into the
whirlpool of events, found myself, almost
against my WILL serving in the ranks Of a for
eign army and fighting for q cause with which
neither my head nor heart could thoroughly
sympathize." These sentiments of this brave
soldier Of fortune give additional point to his
keen criticisms of the shortcomings of our
administration and that of JEFF. Davis, and also
lend additional heartincss to his praise Of such
generals, in both armies, as seem to him de-
serving. Thus he says of General Mcclellan,
after the battle of Rich Mountain -
"But the enemy the rebels had most cause to
fear was Gen. Mcclellan himself, the abiest and
best officer Of the Union, whose military quail
ties commanded the respect Of his opponents
Commenting upon the battle Of Manassas, Col
Estvan also says:-'1t may be fairly asserted
that If Mcclellan had held the command a,few
weeks earlier the battle of Manassas would not
have been lost" In strong contrast to these
chivairic and truthful eulogies Is the Colonel's
contempt for the administration which sacrificed
its best general to its politics. Let the follow
ing extract suffice upon this point for to day.
"Lincoln no doubt meant we'll, and endeavored
to do his duty; but he was, unfortunately, sur
rounded by q party who, governed by selfish
motives, did not scruple to bring their once
happy but now afflicted country to the very
verge of ruin. Mcclellan was made to suffer
from this factious conduct, which not only
grieved him sensibly as patriot, but greatly
obstructed his operations rs a military COM
mander, and in fact threatened to endanger the
eventual safety Of his army" Such wsrds as
these from generous soldier ought to bring q
blush to the check of even the most fanatical
Of the abolition radicals.
But the radicals may object, as they have OBJ
jected before, that the rebels praise Mcclellan
because he is their ally. This infamous argument
will not apply to Col. Estvan's book. He praises
Mcclellan, but he also speaks highly and ap-
prociatively Of Rosecrans, Grant, Buell., Lyon,
Sigel, Mcdowell, Corcoran, Tyler, Heintzei-
man, Hunter, Franklin, Burnside, Fremont,
Fitz John Potler, Butler, Sherman, Nelson,
Colonel Mulligan and the other Unien officers,
and does full justice to the bravery of the
Union soldiers. In a word, he admires and
blames as he thinks right, without hesi-
tating because the person under discussion is a
Union man or rebel. This makes his book
all the more valuable and his conclusions all
the more imprcgnsble. His scathing exposure
OF Floyds cowardice is an illustration of bis i'm
Partially, and not less entertaining is bis de-
scription Of this thieving Secretary at Fort
Donelson, when he became suddenly brave at
the prospect Of being captured BY Grant, and
probably would have sooner encountered any
risk from cold, hunger or other privations
rather than that Of becoming a prisoner under
the federal authorities JEFF. Davis himself is
not exempt from Colonel Estvan's criticisms
He shows conclusively that large party In the
confederacy Is bitterly hostile to the rebel Pres-
dent, and accuses him Of demoralizing the public
mind by showing the white feather whenever
Richmond was in danger. But perhaps the
most singular feature Of Colonel Estvans book
Is his evidence Of the thoroughness Of the rebel
spy system at Washington. Thus he says:-"It
had been learned, through private sources Of
information, that Mcclellan purposed making
flank movement with his army" And
again:-"No sooner was his intended
scheme Of operations known at Washington
than 1t was communicated. by means Of
active espionage, to the government at