Evansville daily journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1863-1866, 1864-11-19

Vade Mr.. Greefey history. Anoeedi We
think the latter possesses even more
racinsss than the former Besides, be
ing better matGrsd, II has none Of the
faults of manner and style which una
voidsbly attach to leaders prepared on
the impulse Of the moment for morniu z
dailiea The American Conflict
bears evidence, throughout, of faithful
preparation and careful thought on the
part of its author. 1t is freer, tso, from
the faults Of prejudice than might be ex-
pected from one who has for the past
twenty-four years mingled daily in the
conflicts Of the political arena, where
blood is warm and passion high. Of
course kr. Greeley writes history alto
geshsE from an Anti-Slavery standpoint,
Jet no one, we are confident, after a
careful perusal Of bis book, will accuse
him Of any injustice to former political
opponents. On the contrary, his "Amer
lean Conflict" proves that his title Of
Philosopher Of the Tribune is a
valid one, and not inappropriAtely ap-
piled. His history Of Slavery in the
past and in the present is written in a
philosophical vein; things are regarded
as they have been and are, with nAught
set down in malice nor augkt extenu-
ated.
Mr.. Greeley's pozer of condensation
Is most remarkable. lie a very brief
space be gives US clear and graphic
views Of our country as il was At the
close Of the Revolution, and Of the
Slavery Question In all its aspects. from
It's inception on this continent until il
raised its powerful arm TO strike dowa
the Government As descriptive
writer, too, he has few equals Wha. is
more graphic than the folloving de-
seription Of HarPer's Ferry, In his ae-
count Of ths John Brown raid.
"Harpers Ferry was then village of
some ave thousand inhabitants, living on
the Virginia side Of the Potomac, and On
either eide of iss principal tributary, the
Shenandoah, which here enters il from
the South It's site is a mere nest or
cup among high, steep mountains; the
passage OF the united rivers through
the Blae Ridge at this point having been
pronounced by Jefferson a spectacle
which one might we'll cross the Atlantic
to witness aud enjoy. Here the Balti-
more & Ohio RAilroad crosses the Poto-
mae and the rich valley Of the shenan.
doah is tsaversed, for considerable dis
lance hence, by the Winchester and
Harpers Ferry Railroad. Washington
is ihy-sOven miles distant by turnpike;
Baltimore eighty miles By railroad
Modest as the village then was. space
had been with difhculty found fer lis
habitations, some OF which we're perched
upon ground four hundred feet above the
surface Of the streams 0ns Of It's very
few streets was entirely occupied By The
workshops and Offices Of the National
Armory, and bad an iron railing across
its entrance. In the old Arsenal build.
lng, there were usually stored from lOo.-
900 to 200, 600 stand Of arma The
knowledge Of this had doubtless deter
mined the point At which the FIRST blow
Of the libsratoFs was TO be struck"
Or the following account Of how Ger.
Butler opened communication with
Washington, afler Il was virtually placed
in state Of seigs, By he action Of the
Baltimore rioters;
The Eighth Massachusetts, under Gen.
Benjamin +. Butler, reached Perryviile,
on the east bank Of the Susquehauua
on the 2Oth, aud found its progress here
arrested By burned bridges and the want
Of cars on the other side. Gen. Butler
was not man to be stopped By such
;mpsdimenis. SEEKING the spacious and
commodious railroad ferry steamer
Maryland, he embarked his men thereon.
and appeared With them early next NOR
ming before Annapolis, the political
capital Of Maryland, thirty miles south
OF Baltimore, and about equi-dissaDt
With that city from Washington, where
with il is connected by branch or feed
sr Of the Baltimore road. He found
this city virtually 10 rebellion, with IT,
branch railroad Aforesaid dismar,
and partially taken up, in thsi- lest OF
Secession. Here, too, wp- shs Naval
Academy and the noble old frigate Con
ssitution; the latter without crew. and
in danger Of falling, at any moment, in
70 the hande Of The enemy. He at once
secured the frigAia, landed next day IN
opposed, took possession Of the ctr, and
was soon reinforced By the famous
Seventh regiment, composed of the
flower Of the young chivalry Of New
York City, which had been transported
from PhiladelphiA direct By the steam
boat Boston. The Maryland returned
forthwith to Perryville for stin further
rsinforcemenis, munitions, and supplies
NO one in Annapolis choosing, or dar-
ing, for some time, TO sell anything to
the Union soldiers Gen. Butler was
met by formal protest from Governor
Hicks against his landing at that place.
or at any other point In Maryland; the
specific objection 70 his occupying An
napolis being that the Legislature had
been called to meet there that week.
Gen. Butler, in reply, suggested that, II
be coald obtain means Of transportation
to Washington, be would gladly ''vacate
the capital prior to the sitting of tie
Legislature, and not be under the pain
fnl necessity Of incommoding your beau
tiful city while the Legislature is in ses-
sion.
On the morning of the 25th-sevsral
other regiments having meantime ar
rived-Gen- Butler pat his column in
motion, the Massachusetts, Eighth in ad-
vance, closely followed By the New York
Seventh. They kept the line Of the rail-
road, repairing il as they advanced. A
dismantied engine, which they found on
the way, was reftted aud put to use.
The day proved intensely hot Many of
the men had had little or nothing to eat
FOR day or two, and had scarcely slept
since they lef PAiladsiphia. Some fell
asleep as they marched, others fell out
Of the ranks, utterly exhausted; one was
sunssrnek, and had to be sent back, per-
msnently disabled The people whose
y Il