Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1863-07-30
From Kentucky.
Lexington, KY, July Is, 1863.

an impartial and accurate history of the
great rebellion. Snll the attempt has
been made on both sides, and have Just
finished the reading of book entitled,
"The First Year of the War;" by Ed
ward A. Pollard, editor Of the Richmond
Examiner. 1t is published by Charles B.
Richardson, 594 and 500 Broadway, N.
Y. 1t contains about $50 octave pages,
and the price is $3.50 in paper covers.
1t is hardly conceivable that so large a
book should not contain some truth, but it
contains several statements which | know
to be false: several others which | GER
talnly do not believe, and very few that
seem probable. In almost every battle
that was fought, from Bull Run to NAL
vern Hill, the Federal forces are represen-
ted as being three or four times as great
as the rebels, and the Federal losses in the
same proportion. AT the battle of Lees
burg or Balls Bluff, the rebel force is Civ
en- at 1909, and that of the Union at
"four times that NUMBER The rebel loss
was 1873 killed and wounded, --'the loss
of the enemy was 1900 killed, wounded
and dro wned; 10 prisoners captured
among them % commissioned officers, be-
sides 1900 stand of arms, and three
pieces of cannon taken" s'This brilliant
victory was achieved on our side by the
musket alone, over an enemy who aeoer
Ueatared to emerge from the cooer, or ex-
pose himself to our artillery fre.n-
"There We're no instances among them of
desperate stubbornness, of calm front, of
heroic courage" The only ''tint of glo-
| ry" was in the case of Col. Baker.
This is fair specimen of the manner,
and the veracity of the author, till about
the time of the battle of Evansville, De-
cember %, 1861. In reference to this af-
fair, he says THE affair at Drainsville
was no serious disaster, but it was a sig
niicant warning. The Yankees were
learning to stand fire, and, out of the ma
terial which was raw at Bull Run, Nc
~Clellan was making troops which We're no
longer contemplate"
In reviewing affairs at the close of
1861, the author says THE Justice of
history O. compels us to state that two
causes-the overweening confidence of the
South, in the superior valor of its people,
induced by the unfortunate victory of
Manassas { Bull RUM, and the vain delu-
sion that European intorforonoo- poe "or-
tain-combned to reduce the Southern
cause to a critical condition Of apathy
tsrhe l,i,a,veri~s soryioe had yielded us
but poor fruits, and by this time
the South had learned that its resources
were about as delusive as that other crude
expectation of aid-the power of 'Eina
Cotton.'n.
The author INDUCES in chapter o
| Jeremads on the ingratitude of Ken
lucky, its unnatural and traitorous course
and its sad degeneracy. He lashes JEFF
Davis, Gen. Lee, Mallory, Benjamin, &
Co., awfully, but finally concludes that h
may have occasion to alter his tune so ia
as Lee is concerned, He seems to be
PARTICULAR severe with that officer be
cause while in Western Virginia he Spen
his time la ''playing at strategy" anC
and thereby contributed essentially to tn,
irretrievably loss of that magnifcen
country.
He has very contemplate opinion o
the Confederate Government generally
he thinks the South is bound to succeed
no thanks to the Government-solely OF
account of the "brave spirits in the field,
He probably wants to be President o
PRIMER himself, and consequently is ia
from being in good humor towards thos
who stand in his way,
would certainly recommend to a.
those who have little spare time.
little spare currency, and disposition
be amused rather than vexed at grotesqu
absurdlties, to buy the book and give it
careful reading.
The people continue to watch the move
ments of Morgan with interest. Hi
friends at one time fully expected hin
here, and their ''sevants" were all abou
town obtaining eggs, chickens and othe
"fxlngs" for a glorious entertainment
But now death-like stiffness reigns abou
certain fine houses, where week ago al
was hustle and activity Some of hi
sympathizers have started the idea that b
is making his way towards Lees army
They are busy at their lessons in oeoora