New-York tribune., 1866-12-06
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
sANcRoFrs HISTORY OF TEE UNITED


BANCROFT Vol TX I2 80. Boston Little Brown q Co
The conduct Of Washington during the most event
fnl period Of the Of the Revolution is the splen-
did theme which clothes the present volume OF Mr..
Bancrofts great work with peculiar attracuYeness'
We are so much in the habit Of contemplating the
rpe consummate gories Of the illustrioua Father OF
his country that We lose sight Of the weary interval
of peril and doubt in which his character failed Of
trusful apprecation bis motives were called in ques-
tion, even his very superiority made the occasion
Of malignant ealouses, his military skill subjected to
hppsnt, unfriendy criticism and subtle plots formed
In obscurity and silence to suppant him in command
of the Continental forces Nj Bancroft las done
mastery justice TO this difficult portion Of his task.
With judicial CamueSs and discrimination, he has
weighed the merits Of the opponents of Washington
IN an impartial balance Resisting the temptation to
the production Of scenic effect he has presented pic
ture of that gloomy epoch, which Is made the more
Impressive bg its freedom from overcOlOrng, and The
Pre-Raphaete fidelity and nauraluess Of its deEnea-
tiOns. The uster Of traditional regulations has not
obscurcd his perception Of individual characters with
unrelenting rlthtuncss, he strips the disguise from
decetfu pretensUns; ont Of their mouth he con-
demns the guilty; but the rgor Of his Judgments Is
vitiaed by the spirit of party, or the love OF
personal triumph. The perusa of the volume invests
the career OF Washington with fresh majesty. We
Kan more lucid impression of the purity and elev8
ton of his nature of the absolute dsnteTestedneSs of
bis purposes, Of the quiet, UnOstentatOus courage
with which he confronted the perils Of military lie,
of the signal wisdom with which he met the treache-
~ and malice OF the Toes IN bis own household, o Inc
aagacity with which he seized every advantage Of op
portunity, and the calm, hopeful endurance which
never deserted him even in seasons Of almost uniyer
sal dependency and misgiying
Within less than one month from the date OF the
Declaration of Independence the condition of the
Revolutionary cause exhibited but faint signs OF
promise. The gloom that hung over the country was
deepening its shades. Lord Howe had recently en-
tered upon the scene with oyertures Of peace. He
was confident of his ability to act the part Of sue.
eesSiul mediator. lie thought that he had only to
rde about the country and talk with the principal n-
hGbtants, in order to restore tho authority OF the
king By concession and compromise. Before his AZ
TIvsl in New York. he had bOaSted that within ten
days after bis landing peace would be made. Joseph
Reed who had held prominent place in the cOunscls
of the patriots, thought that the OyertureS Oh the
British Commissioner should not be rejected, ana
offered through Robert Morris most cheeriully to take
Eneh part "On the occasion as his situation and
abilities would admit" General Greene had already
warned John Adams Of the hOpeeSsness OF the con-
test; and again expressed the opinion, " still
think you playing o desperate game Dickinson,
OF PENNSYLVANIA, who had drawn up the articles of
confederation submitted to Congress on the twelfth
Cf July, gave way to similar discOuNgement When
the militia regiment of which he was Colonel began
its march, he not 80 be found. He followed 1t
OH horseback for certain distance, but bis nerves
were much shattered that after resting day, he
finished his journey to camp in carriage. Though
lodging within half mile OF hostile troops he never
took part in hard fighting and found an excuse 10
leave the army az the moment of greatest peril to
hrs country.
The political organization presented formidable OBJ
staeles TO the vigorous prosecution OF the war; The
attempt in Congress TO form effective confederation
Of the States had proved failure. The arrangement
Of its details offered questions Of difficult solution
Mutual jealOuses prevailed between different portions
Of the country Congress could discover no grounds
nd lrlrr was
ssry TO fight the battles OF independence under the
imperfect organization by which it had been declared
The Government had little power, and as a conse
qnence, the military operations were subject to per-
petUal embarrassment. Not single soldier had been |
enlisted directly by the United States. standing
army deemed deadly foe 10 the liberties Of the
people. Hence the enlistment of citizens limited /
20 short terms. The national defense was committed
20 the ebb and flow of hemitia Of the several States
In the urgency Of danger, Washington made a requ |
Eition on Connecticut for foot soldiers. But in
fantry could be dispatched, Governor Trumbull sent
three regiments OF light horse instead. Composed |
chiefly of the rustic yeOmanry, mounted on their |
farn-hOrseS, armed with Owlng pieces, and without
Uniform dress the undiscplined soldiers became OBJ
ieets Of TdicUle to officers from the south The
was promptly returned by the Connecticut farmers |
who looked upon these dainty warriors butterflies
and coxcOmbs." There forage for their horses,
there service for them cavalry, and in less
than'ten days they were discharged in disgust AT I
the same time, the army was prey TO petty dissen-
vailed. Every one insisted on his own opinion. |
Every one questioned the wisdom Of bis superiors. /
Gen. Gates, for instance, though holding command
under Washington, neglected TO make reports at head
quarters. When mildly rebuked for his retreat from
Crown Point he resented the interference Of Wash
ilgsOn as unprecedented" procedure, and claimed /
An equal footing with the council of the Commander
in-Chef. Washington bore these rivares Of his SUBJ
ordinates with dignity and oomposure. Their insd- |
i0us attacks never disturbed the serenity OF his spirit
Shielded by his cOnscOusnessOf rectitude he regarded
them less as personal 0denses than aids TO the pub
he enemy. 4----.~- .---l'--a-l--..-. o.
Previous to the disastrous battle Of Long Island, |
Tie resources and discipline Of the army were III sueh
deplOrably defective state, would have thrown /
less earnest and courageous commander than Wash |
ington into despair. The task before him was one Of
appalling difficulty. In accordance with the wishes |
Of Congress- and Of the State authorities, he felt him.
self bound 10 attempt the defense Of NewYork Island.
In order to protect the city, he compelled to bold
Kngsbridge, Governors island, Paulus-hOOk, and the
nights of Brooklyn All Of these posts were divided
by water, and some Of them fifteen miles apart FOR
their defense, he bad but little more than ten |
Thousand and five hundred men ft for duty. Many |
Of them were often obliged to sleep without cover.
Good physicians, medicines. and hospitals were want
ing. Diseases were contracted from exposure 20 the
rain and dew and than three thousand lay sick.
They were obliged to seek shelter in the neghbOrng
barns and sheds, and Sometimes nestled III II.kets
and at the side Of board fences OF the effective men,
not SIX thousand had any experience Of military ser,
wee None had been in the army po.e than one year.
some W were wholly without Weapons Not one regi-
.en " I,IIo was pery equipped The regi-
nieht VI alLie1y p no skilled gunners engineers.
nnoA, Us "" incl had been Boston bookseller. The
eenn' IN the field works were mostly Of iron. old and
..oneycombed. The constant arrival and departure !
of militia made good discipline impossible Among !
tho generals around Washington there was not
one ON whom be could fully rely. The military judg
mani Of Greene was still crude. The brgadieTs were
unframed. and some OF them without aptitude for