The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1866-11-22


The sun is not catering portfAjt painter,
but NE disciples Of Dssuerfs beat slf Thomas
Lawrence in making faithful likenesses. Crom-
well, WHO cried "Paint NE las I am" should
have lived Ia these days, when photography
fourishes. Perhaps even he would have
have WINGED under the light which Mr. shanks
uses in photogrsphing the more prominent
generals in the recent American war; During
that war every few generals appeared great
to the war correspondents" and Mr.. Shanks,
who has been described by contemporary as
1.-THE best writer among the HERALD's sixtythree
war correspondents" has written book
entitled Personal Recolleotions of Distin-
guished Generals In which he reduces some
of his subjects to truly lilipusian proportions.
His bump Of generation not being Unfortunately
developed, he could not see an Alexander in
every officer, and not all of his sltters and
their admirers will be apt to applaud the can
dor and impartiality which he manifssts. II
may be that in wishing to avoid the fulsome
batteries On the one hand, and the indiscrim-
mate abuse on the other, to which certain
idols OF certain scapegoats of the public have
become accustomed, the author Of "Per-
senal Recollections" may fail to have
his motives appreciated by all. He may
havS erred sometimes in his impressions, but
he has certainly given such as he had. And it
is refreshing, if only by way of variety, to
meet with writer who aims to give honestly
his actual impressions, even If he is tempted
occasionally to use rather stronger language
than may suit an over-fastidious taste. The
advance sheets Of Mr.. Shanks' handsomely
printed and illustrated volume have been sent
to us by the publishers. Messrs. Harper &
Brothers, and have enabled us to verify the
authors statement In his preface:-"I write
with the firm belief that historical truth should
be only less sacred than religious truth"
Without fear or favor he exhibits to the reader
group Of generals, just as he saw them him
self, ''not on parade, but in undress uniform"
He aims to illustrate not only their great mill
tary qualities, but more particularly their
mental peculiarities and characteristics. His
pages will be found to contain many facts
about some of the great battles which official
reports have left untold, with such recollec-
tons of our generals as history proper will
not perhaps condescend to record, and to en-
brace singular facts about great campaigns and
strange stories about great men. "The portraits
are freely drawn. They are made from actual
studies, if not special sittings; and while
taking care to give every beauty, I have
omitted" says the author, "none of the de-
formities or blemishes of my subjects, though
have told In full detail their virtues, and have
touched on their faults and vices lightly.
have avoided alike extreme extravaganza in
praise or censure. Still there is enough
shadow to the pictures to give tho necessary,
if not agreeable, contrast to the lighs.'
Sherman is depicted in this volume as the
strategst the genius Of the war, full Of life,
energy and originality but ill-tempered,
egotstical, and CAS- great despot at heart as
was Frederick the Great" Thomas, the tena-
cious, is q tactician, without originality or
strategic ability--of cold blood, and APP
parently, cold heart, but ''pure as Bayard;'-
of colossal mind, like Kleber, and slow In exc
cution, like McDonaid-in word, the reverse
FISHERMAN. Grant-whose genius the HERALD
was The first to appreciate and proclaim-is
the writer's hero, and he is delineated as the
perfect general-the full combination Of the
strategist, Sherman, and the tactician, Thomas.
Sherman is g as mercurial as q Frenchman and
as demonstrative as an Italian Thomas as
phlegmatic as q Dutchman and as tena-
cious as an Englishman while Grant, in
every characteristic, in doggedness, per-
tinacity, positiveness and taciturnity, ia
thoroughly American, and nothing else"
Sheridan is called "an inspiration, not
a general, '" without strategy and Of rather err
ratio tactics, but quick, dashing, stubborn
fighter A neatly drawn parallel between him
and Sherman makes the latters peculiar
energy "that Of the brain, inspired" Sheridan's
"that Of the blood, iniamed." Hooker is pro-
nounced to be Of the same school of lighting
generals" and one 30 addicted to forcing quar-
rels to direct issues that when there is no
enemy to fight he attacks his friends. Rousseau
is made "a natural leader Of men-bold and
rugged Of nature, and loyal, true and affection
ate to the backbone" Buell. is at once one Of
the greatest generals and the greatest failures
OF the war-"a perfect soldier In manner,
bearing, coolness courage and energy" Nc
Cook Is represented as "an overgrown school
boy" whom Sherman loosely called "the
juvenile McCook." Crittenden, who has lately
been taken from private life and made colonel
of one OF the new regular regiments, Is de-
scrbed as "a lawyer, with little legal and no
military ability" and Gilbert as "a martinez,
without an idea Of discipline or Systematic
worst kind Of martinez" Rosscrans Is made
out an inrostor on ths American public {;
knowing nothing Of war but Its tricks, more at
to be chief Of spies than a general; nervous
to incoherency and incapacity." Gordon Gran
ger, In command Of corps, is made TO appear
only as captain Of battery. "Old steady"