The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-06-18
LITER ATU r E.

OfGreat Public Interest. BY Brevet Lieutenant-
Colonel John j. Craven, NJ. ID. fG. w. Careton,
New York. Philadelphia Agents: Messrs.
Ashmead d Evans, No. 724 Chesnut street.
The fact that DR.. Craven kept an exact record
OF all the sayings of jefferson Davis from the
moment of being deputed as physician and that
he is enabled to present us in book form with so
minute a detail is the best evidence of that
thrift, which would coin wealth out of events
transpiring around. We do not blame the oc-
tor for being influenced by laudable desire to
acquire funds by accumulating for publication all
The incidents of his patients iie but is 1t within
the limits of official morality to give to the world
facts which only came to his knowledge in the
discharge OF his duty? Would Mr.. Cameron be
justified in revealing secrets which only were
revealed to him when the held the portfolio of
the War Officer We think not; and as it is
evident that all the events in the life of Davis
were designed to be kept secret (else why the
exclusion of correspondentsO, we cannot avoid
the belief that the incoherent conception of the
work was founded on a system not allowed by
the code of official honor. But DR.. Craven has
seen fit to take advantage of his position and
we have only to deal with what he tells us
rather than with his motives. The work is one
Of the most undeniable interest. 1t brings US
opinions on the events OF the past, his sorrows,
his passions, and give us his views on the pass
ing news of the day and the character of public
men. We do not now care whether his beliefs
are false or true, whether they have not been
viewed through the roseate glasses off per-
sonal favor, but merely consider that as the
avouched sayings of the prince OF traitors
they cannot but be of deep interest to our
readers.
DR.. Craven has something of the jenkins in
his composition. He narrates small points with
minute care, and describes with affecting pathos
the solitary mouse which the captive fed. He
speaks of his meals, and gives us his fare, how
he eat, what he eat, how he talked, and how
meek and Christian aud evidently innocent was
he OF all misdeeds. In fact, from the affection
with which the Doctor speaks of jeff, we cannot
but believe that imprisonment has wonderfully
improved his temper. Now it is notorious
fact that he was one of the most irascible and
dsagreeabe men that ever appeared in the capi-
tai. We do not mean dscourteous but bitterly
vindctive, and because OF the unpleasant nature
of his dislikes, he was disagreeable to such as
did not please him. We have him pictured to us
as a sweet lamb, decked with all virtues, and
brutally chained by barbarians. That he is
querulous and fretful is fully revealed by the
work, and that he is extremely dogmatical is
also attested. In fact he seems to have had
wonderful influence of the Doctor and his rules
in the atmosphere of his cell, remind us of the
conversation between Hamlet and ''Polonius:"
"Hamlet: Do yon see yonder cloud, that's almost
in shape of camel?
Pol BY the mass and tits Ikea camel, indeed!
Ham. Methinks it Is a weasel.
Pol 1t is backed ike a weasel.
Ham. Or like a whale
Pol. Very ike a whale"
Such was Davis conversion of Craven He
thought the air was damp. Craven was conf.
dent it was not. He was sure the air was damp.
Craven was doubtful. He was confident the
air was damp, and Craven concurred.
In order to give an idea of the work, we quote
freely before we speak of its general merits. In
his preface, after an anecdote almost pointless,
he says:-
"This is the material part of my preface, and con-
tains the only apology shall offer in any over
sensitively loyal readers may Iee affect to tee
shocked on finding in the following pages some re.
cord of the imprisonment OF Jefferson DAVIS, not
wntten to glOat over the msiortunes OF fallen
enemy-certainy not aiming to palliate his political
other errors but to depict so much OF HIM as was
revealed to the writer during medical attendance
of many months while Mr.. Davis lay prisoner IN
Fortress Monroe. should any such Directors be
found the writer believes himself safe in predicting
that they will be drawn pretty exclusively IRON that
loyal class who were non.beliigerent except IN the
for higher percentages OF profit, during the recent
contest Tor the Union"
From this it will be seen that DR.. Craven not
only seeks to give us a book whose aVowed OBJ
ject is to excite sympathy tor the arch Rebel,
but even goes so far as to accuse all who do not
agree with him, and who see II his book an often.
sive defense OF traitor, either as ''shoddyn OF
''profters by percentage" Now, we are neither
one nor the other, and vet the whole tone and
tenor of DR.. Craven's book is in opposition to
our sense of justice and our political sentiments.
AS 10 Davis opinion on the various generals OF
both the Northern and Southern armies, we
give his remarks entire:-
'To my question what he thought of General
Grant, Mr.. Davis replied that he a great soldier
beyond doubt, but OF Il new school. Ii he had not
started WITH enormous account in bank, his
checks would have been dIshonoIed before the cul
mination " as reached. AT Shiloh he was defeated
the first day. and would have been destroyed or
compelled to surrender next morning, but for
BuelPs timely arrival with fresh and well dlscl
pned reinforcement, the strength oil which had
been varlousy stated.
the ablest officer in the army, and had employed
him on two important services-as Military Com
missioner IN the Crimea, and TO explore route for
the Pacific RailrOad-bOth of whlcL duties had been
discharged in almanner increase his reputation.
He organized the Army OF Inc Potomac admirably
but 1t required a commander OF more dash to WELD
the WEAPON IN the field HcClellan's caution
amounted very closely 10 hmidIty-moral hmldlty
for he was personally brave On his hrst landing
in the Peninsula there had beeu only seven thou
sand troops to meet him, and these he should have
rushed upon and overwhelmed at whatever cost
Cautious and wishing to spare the blood OF hls men
he commenced a regular siege at Yorktown, gIVin(
his enemies time TO concentrate suttcient number
and drive hlm back. AS magnanimous enemy n
respected McCle lam but thought he mad been pro
NOTED too rapidly tor his own good-0efore he ha(
Tipened IN command and gaIned the experience re-
in n ta