Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1866-11-22

don, we can with contrite hearts repeat
Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive
those who trespass against u.s."
Southern Histories Of the War.
Below we give the circular of Genera
Hood making known his intention to pre-
pare history of his campaigns Whatever
may now be thought of this officer, he was
one of the few in the Confederate army
who rose by successive gradations in less
than three years from Lieutenant to the
command of an army. He bears as serious
marks upon his person of the dangers he
encountered as any survivor of the struggle
And while we recognize the fact that this
is no time to discuss his merits as soldier
still the reference to these facts will not
detract from the modest and soldierly ap-
peal he makes to the officers of his various
commands.
The object he proposes must commend
itself to all. While the North is overflow
ing with histories of the Rebellion, we have
seen but few attempts upon the part OF
Southern authors to place upon record an
account of the War, and in most instances
these efforts are from men who will carry
but little weight with them. 1t is said
General Lee is preparing a history of the
Army of Northern Virginia. and that Gen
eral Alexander, at the request of General
Longstreet, is engaged in writing the his
tory of Longstreet's corps, and we are glad
to see that General Hood will gather up
the records of his command and hand them
down to posterity in an authentic FORM
We hope, as Jackson's corps has, in the
lives of that illustrious officer already pub
lished, found "local habitation and a
name" that some persons will be found to
gather together the glorious annals which
tell of Ewell and Hill, "a. p and the
achievements of their veterans, and sincere
ly trust that General d. Fl. Hill will con-
tinue to give, in the pages of the Magazine
over which he presides with SO much abil-
ity, the history of his campaigns.
It may be too soon to write an impartial
history of the war, but it will be too late
when the actors have all passed off the stage,
with no authentic record Of the deeds &C
complished, and with no official reports Of
the most important battles. Not from any
fault of ours should our children be COM
PEELED to learn from Northern histories of
the rebellion of their section and the treason
of their fathers. Rather let them, from
manly, dignifed and impartial records pre-
pared by those. at least, not hostile to the
South, read Of deeds that must render the
actors renowned as long as gallantry and
heroism is honored.
We hope, therefore, that the example set
by General Hood will be promptly follow
ed by others, so that the future historian
may have reliable facts to base his work
upon. General Hoods Card is as follows
''History cannot be compiled from official re-
cords alone. Personal memoirs often explain
points which official papers are silent and it is
by comparison of different authentic accounts of
the same scenes viewed from various points of
view, that a just judgment of events is formed.
1t is too soon to write an impartial history of the
late war. But it will be too late when the actors
the struggle shall have passed away, to collect
facts which will die with the actors unless collected
in the mode now proposed and embodied in MARIA
tive form. We, therefore, heartily approve the
design of General Hood, and commend his exam
pie to the imitation of other commanders"
CIRCULAR.
New ORLEANS Nov. !, 1866.
Deeming it duty to the officers and men who
served with me in the late war, to place record
a brief account Of the operations they performed
| have the honor to request all commanders of
batteries bataliOns, brigades, divisions and corps
to forward to me, without delay, reports of all bat
Ties in which they were engaged while under my
direction.
This will begin with the companies of Virginia
cavalry which first communicated under Colonel
John B. Magruder, at Yorktown, in May, 1861, and
pass through the successive gradatiOns Of COM
mand to the period of the surrender of the late
Confederate army.
would also request the commander of each
separate organization to send, with his report his
photograph, and the photograph of any one of his
killed in action, together with such
'acts relating to his career and death as may be
interesting.
All officers who served upon my staff are reques-
ed to furnish me with their photographs and re-
ports of their labors and observations.
The following is regarded as the best form to
embody the most important facts
FORM.