The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-06-02
LITER A r u r E.

Critical History OF Operations in virginia.
Maryland, and Pennsylvania, from the Com
menCement to the Close of the War, ls6l-5.
By william Swinton. G. B. Richardson, New
York. PhiladelphiG agents: National Publish
ing Company, No. 507 Minor sueet
The idea that one volume of GAO pages, pre-
seated within one year after the conclusion of
the events narrated and written by a private
citizen, who has not had Gccec1 to many OF the
secret official documents. could be the history
OF the Army OF the Potomac, ia fsllacy. We
care not what the desire TO be honest may be in
the authors breast-we care not what his eau
ton or what his facilisies as a correspondent
may have been, the fact nevertheless Is true that
time alone can enable historian to view
events in a properly clear and disintor, 5ted
light, and that the time necessary must exceed
year. While, therefore, we deny to Mr. S vim.
ton, or to any other writer, the claim that he
has written the enduring history of the Army of
the Potomac yet at the same time we are ready
TO grant all the advantages which aI.se from
rapid composition. Such work as that before
Us is a necessity of our time, and there ls pro-
badly no one who could have prepared better
book than Mr. Swinton has. His army expe-
rience as a newspaper correspondent, his contin-
Uai presence at headquarters, and the unrivalled
facilities possessed by al army correspondents
for Accumulating fact, all point to him as the
best man for the task. While, therefore, his
producIon is not the permanent record, it is
an essential part of it. 1t hgl not maturity, but
il has fire; it mas not the discretion and cool
analysis OF years. but it has what no analysis can
equal or supply-the heat and life of vivid re-
RenIbrance.
1t is yet warm from the field, it is fresh with
the events, and unless such an work was fur
nished, a proper future history would be inpos-
sible. We therefore hail Ithe "Army Of the
Potomac" by Swinton, as most valuable addi-
tion to our war literature; a necessity and aid
for the coming man who is to give us the endur-
ing record of our great events.
From what we have SAID, it must not be in
ferred that Mir. Swnton IS all hash and heat,
ana has no cool critlcGm. His work is the
most critical and discriminative of any
military book on our war we have seen.
He possesses the power OF Judgment
in remarkable degree, is pleasant
writer, and ably delineates his scenes. That
great climax of literature, the description OF a
battle, in such terms as the general reader can
comprehend the position OF the force, is de-
sideratum which few reach. Lord Napier is the
only author we can recall who excelled, but Mr..
u
made him wonderfully expert. We can gather
with what facts we already know a correct
idea of any fight which he undertakes to por-
tray. 1t does not abound in technical phrases,
but is clearly written, and will be generally
popular.
There arc other eXcelencies in the book to
which we must call attention. 1t is well filed
with correct steel portraits of all the command
ers of the Army OF the Potomac. We have seen
no better nkenesses anywhere. 1t is simplifed
by maps and charts, which render it reliable
and full and coplous index concludes the work,
and adds immensely to its usefulness. If authors
would only understand the Importance of good
index, they would devote more time to its pre-.
paration.
The impossibility of "cutting down" the ac.
count OF a battle, prevents us making such ex.
tracts as we would desire. We will, however
call attention to a subject over which con.
troVersy has waxed warm-the conduct of Fltz.
John Porter. The following is what Mr.. Swim.
ton says on the subject
As the view above taken Of the action of that part
OF the second Dull Run" fought on the .9th of
AuLust differs IN some important particulars from
previous accounts and especI- " IRON the oncial
report OF General rope shall here suOstantiato by
oil difference as are OF moment. The question tore.
most in interest has relation to the time at which
LongstIeet's Corps joined Jackson. General Pope
repeatedly states tnat this did not take place til
about sunset tsee Pope's Official report, D. 21l and
1t Is on this ground that he and the courtmartial
that tried General Porter based their condem aaU on
OF that officer 1or not turning Jackson's right Saws
Pope, Il beheve-in fact, am postve-tnat at 5
O'Clock in the afternoon OF the 29h, General Porter
had IN hls trout considerable body of the enemy
believed tuen, as am very now tn It It was
easily practicable tor him to have turned the right
flank OF Jackson and to have fallen upon his rear
at II he had done so we should have gained dec,-
sVe victory over tne army under Jackson before he
could have been joined by any OF tue forces of Long.
street." (Pope's Report p. 22l. Now, this assor-
tton is uayersed by the positive evidence of the
official reports OF several of The generals under
LOngstTeepS commOnd. who show conc clus iyely that
L0ngslreet joined jackson as early as noon Says
Longstreet hmselt;-"Elrly on lhe 29th the col.
umns were united and the advance to ioIn General
jackson was resumed. The noise of battle was
heard before we reached Gainesville. Ibe march
was quckened to the extent of our capacity. The
excitement OF battle seemed TO give new lie aud
strength 10 our jaded men, and the head OF my column
soon leached position In rear OF the enemy's left
flank" (RepOrt OF the Army OF Northern Virginia,
vol Ii p 81 See also hood Ibid, D. 200 But Gene.
raj D. h Jones, who commanded the rear division
"Eary on the morning of the Goth, took up the
march IN the direction OF the old battle. ground OF
Manassas, whence heavy firing was heard. ArriUing
on me ground ABOUT noon, my command was sta.
toned on the extreme night OF our hne" Sc Ibid
.2l7] Ills would appear to settle the time of the
arrival OF IOngstreet; and | shall now snow that
before Porter came up from Mauasses Longstreei
hau taken up such position as to bar hs advance
towards Gainesville On this head Longstreeps own
testimony VIII sutdce, and IL complete as could
be desired. After gVlng his dis positions Or his CON
necuon with Jackson's right he states that Hoods
DIVISION was deployed on The right and ieJy of The
UdTTe'oa turnpike at right angles with it. General
ID n Jones DIVISION was placed upon The Manassas
COP RdttrOnd to the right, ana III eche ON with re-
gard to tine three last Bigades" ibid, PIP. 81, 80
Polters whole front and that il barred his approact
70 GAINESVILLE. Any attacS by Porter would there