The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1866-12-14
Communicated
What liz History? "The Lost Cause

While ! nave obtained from the North
and from different parts of Europe assn
RANGES that my history of the war, The
Lost Cause, has done so much to clear and
adorn the name of the South in the late
war, and has been of signal advantage to
the reputation of my country, ii has panied
me to see some sinister criticisms in south
ern journals, emanating invariably from a
class that thinks it has not properly been
distinguished in the record of events.
Now, | wrote this history in allegiance to
Truth, and in the interest of the people of
the South, and not in behalf of any hand
full of "mutual admirers" The conse-
quence is that a certain General does not
think his figure quite large enough in the
picture gallery of "The Lost Cause" an
other complains that | have omitted from
nv pages some crossroads battle in the
trans-M Mississippi, which he thinks "the
most important battle of the war" and q
third declares that, with malice prepense
against the distinguished officer who
figured on that occasion, | have takcr no
notice of the capture Of some tug in the
North Carolina swaSh.
Such criticisms not only amuSe, but they
really convey a lesson, showing what little
luea SOIDc lltu nave vi IllsIOIN > topSNlaly
when it is of events fresh in their minds,
but recently enlarged in the newspapers,
and measured by their personal recollec-
tons. 1t has been well said, 1t is the
task of the historian to eliminate from the
million facts, that seemed important IN
their day and sphere respectively, the two
or three thousand that have an abiding
and general interest, presenting these IN
their due proportions, and with their pro-
per relative emphasis" | admit that there
are events of the war which the actors
thought very important that | have not de-
tailed and | should consider myself ut
terly unworthy the task of the historian II
/ had attempted a record Of the war by an
enumeration Of events, after the fashion OF
the almanac, having no regard to the pro-
portion of incidents, and the dramatic
unity Of the narrative. | have yet to
learn that the fight at Cross ollows, or
the capture of the tin-clad Fanny, or the
presentation of a sword to Captain Semmes
at a clubhouse in London or Paris, had
any effect on the general current or deter
mination of the war.
Bv the a &c uno disco omaneS, in this
matter of puerile criticism of history. Said
Semmes writes in the Mobile Gazette that
the author of The Lost Cause is lamenta-
bly, ignorant, because, in his account OF the
destruction of the iron-cladsi in James river
on the evacuation of Richmond, he puts 1t
in the context Of the general destruction
ordered there by General Ewell, in COM
mand of the city, and does not expressly
and particularly ascribe it to the separate
order of the Navy Department. Now,
whether the order to destroy the ordnance
came from the Ordnance Bureau, or the
order TO destroy the whisky came from the
Medical Department, &C., &C., is a thrilling
matter in history, when We know all these
things were destroyed as matter OF course.
The bit of criticism in the Mobile Gazette
~fevidently the eructation Of wounded
xxanityl. as to the difference between Tom,
Dick, and Harry in the destruction OF the
Confederate property at re-
minds us of a certain style OF structure we
have frequently experienced on our DE-
scriptions Of the greatest events, as, Tor
instance "Lieutensnt Ftznoodle, seeing
the card of Mr.. p. asking for information,
&c. from actors in the war, so as TO secure
! correct narrative in his book, begs TO say
that Mr.. P. is greatly and ~lamentably In
error in saving in the battle OF - that
he Confederate left rested on the rat
Pic road. when in fact they were twenty
aids from it !" &c. We suppose the fool
measured il but then "you know u Is
we'll to be exact in history" -
Now. 10 all those paltry, il-natured, ana
sinister criticisms the author mas no iepiy
10 make In behalf Of any panied OF d'sof.