Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1866-02-02
eaatrbman q State Juurnal.
BY Il. P. WALTON.
MONTPELIER. FEBRUARY .. 1865.
BY y. P. WALTON.

FIELD, GUNnoAr, HosPrAL, AND PRBoN; or
Thrilling Records Of the Heroism, Endurance,
and Patriotism displayed in the Union Army
and Navy during the great Rebellion by Mrs.
u. A. HAnaiord. Boston Dnsmore q Co.
Mrs. Hanaford, author Of the " Lie of Abra-
ham Lincoln," and other works, has performed a
good service in collating the materials which make
up this interesting and true volume. Under the
above heads she has brought together, from a va
riety Of sources, a multitude Of scenes and incl
dents graphically described by eye-witnesses, il
lustratiye of the heroism and noble constancy Of
our men in every phase Of the great rebellion. It
forms record of which every true lover Of bis
country may feel Justly proud. Those details and
deeds of individual daring. minute particulars
which cannot be incorporated in the condensed
pages of the future historian, are Of too much
value for their moral bearing, as sublime and beau
tiiul traits, to be lost and forgotten among ephe
neral matters, and Mrs Hanaford who probably
formed her design at the beginning of the war,
has happily found niche for them in her present
work, which will be welcome at every freside, and
should find place in every household The re-
turned soldier will pore over is pages with de-
light and the young will gather therefrom exam
piles OF devotion, not excelled by any in Greek
Roman story, and will be more fully impressed
from these vivid descriptions with the cost and
sacrifice by which the great triumph has been at
tanned. The work is especially valuable as Illus
trating the depth and universally Of that loyal
sentiment in the heart Of our people, which is the
surest augury for the future, and will make the
ideas Of " Liberty and Union to be 4" one and
inseparable, now and forever The question has
sometimes been argued whether Eastern or West
ern men make the better soldiers, that is to say in
physical endurance and qualities resulting from
different modes Of living but it has never been
questioned whether they have been animated by
the same patriotic spirit. With regard TO states
it cannot be said Of the stars in our galaxy Of
the stars in the natural irmament, that " star
dinereth from another star in glory The in
stances here on record 10 honor to all sections as
they do TO all ages and both sexes. We have
here the sclisacrifce Of venerable parents freely
relinquishing all their sons the alacrity and en-
thusiasm Of bcardless boys a maniiestion Of the
same brilliant heroism on sea and land, or the
field Of battle the wounded and the dying in
camp, hospital aud prison, whose last words will
in many cases prove precious legacy TO those
who come after. Such deeds as the war called
forth might well awaken the sumbering fires of
poetry; and Mrs. Hanaford has garnished her
volume with numerous poems, written under the
inspiration Of the times. Many Of them have the
true ring; but as they are by different authors, SO
they are of different degrees Of merit. The book
commences with the first gun fred at Sumter, and
the first cbanter incorDorates extracts from the
celebrated sketch by the iamented Major Win
throp, describing the services of the Eighth Mas
sachusetts and New York Seventh, in the march
through Baltimore. The last chapter is a tribute
to the martyr of martyrs We cheerfully COM
mend the work for the interest which attaches to
its pages and for the lessons which ii imparts. 1t
is adorned with portrait OF brave Uric Dahlgren,
and the style in which it is issued is highly credit
able to the enterprsing firm Of Dinsmore & Co.