The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1867-02-20
SUPPLEMENT-
SHREVE POR1:
Wednesday Lorning, February goth, 1857
General EarlY's Book

~ General Early's Book.
From the Richmond Enquirer
We arc indebted to the kindness Of frien(
for: copy Of the volume recently published
by Gen. Early, under the following title:
hEHoIR Of the last year Of the War for independence
il the Confederate States of America; containing a,
.ncount OF the operations OF his commands i'll tn
sears 1861 and 1866, by Lieut. :nant General Jubal
Early, of the Provisional Amy of the Confederate
Str-eS. Dedicated to the memory Of the Heroic
Ds I'D, who fell fighting for Liberty, Right and Justice
@DEO FI&DICE. Toronto.
This narrative covers operations of which
no detailed reports were ever published OIL
even made, and concerning which there is
much both Of ignorance and misapprehension
General Early has, therefore, made an i'm.
r0rtant contribution to the truth of history
and performed to his countrymen and to his
late command, grateful service in the publ
cation before us. AS but limited number oil
copies was printed, and none for sale, we shall
publish copious extracts from the book, for
the pleasure of our readers and the gratifica-
ton particularly of the battle-scarred heroes
who SO enthusiastically followed "Old lube, p
to many glorious victory. We cannot do
better to-day than to present the Preface
The style shows that the old hero's pen is as
sharp as bis sword; but it is repIee with noble
sentiments, and shows that the writer is as
generous as he is brave We read in it a stern
rebukc of such as refer to ante-War differences
on the theory of secession, and seek an idle
dispute over responsibilities for result forced
upon us from without, and which was simply
a necessity to US all. The General pours a
hot yoley too, into those who write carping
criticisms Of campaigns which they took care
not to share, and pass harsh judgments on
,l3. vho were entrusted with Confederate
.#,Ms. The generous tribute which he pays
b.. i.rczlJcn! DAVIS and General Lee, is evil
dsuuy tic homage both Of his judgment and
lis b:eTs, ~, append the promised quota
ion '-S
FREFAlE,
Under . solemn sense Of duty 10 my I'M
Happy country, and to the brave soldiers who
.oUsA. under me, as well as to myself, the
following pages have been written.
When the question of practical secession
from the United States arose, as a citizen of
the State of Virginia, and a member of the
Convention called by the authority of the
Legislature Of tie State, 7 oT~osod secession
with all he ability ] possessed, WI.h Il hope
that tie horrors Of civil war might be avcrtcd,
and that q returning sense Of duty ana justice
on the part If the masses Of the &orhcrn
States. would Induce them 10 respect he rights
Of the eope Of the Ssgth Whl'e some
Jorthern politicians and cd'.ors WHO su5sc-
quenty tooa rank amyny The most UUscrUpu-
lous and vIad5cliv& Of our enemies, and now
hold me b. lrayo3 AMI rebel, were openly
and seduiou4Iy j,2thyjy- and cD.vura5 ing
secession, ! was IaGouDg honestly and earn
estly to pse>ylyo tGc Union.
AS a me5'Jcr of the Virginia t"n' ont'on,
| voted against tbE ordinance e. secession on
its passage by tbe,s bod, wiz the Hope that,
even then, W: ,oJ'.: a oil arms might be
avoided, & / some satisfactory adjustment
arrived a. The adoption Of thu ordinance
wrung froa ne bitter tears Of g]iei; but at
once reco9 o=yd my duty 10 1J' IL lie decision
of my naive state, and to defend her soil
against invasion. Any scruples which | may
have entertained as to the right of secession,
were soon dispeIled by the mad, wicked and
unconstitutional measures Of the authorities at
Washington, and the frenzied clamor of the
people of the North for war upon their former
brethren of the South. I then, and ever since
have, regarded Abraham Lincoln, bis coun-
sellers and supp ers, as the real traitors who
had oyerhrowrIl he constitution and govern
lieu thereof an fodious despotism; and this
opinion entered on the journal of the Con
vention when [ signed the ordinance of seces-
sion. recognised the right of resistance and
revolution as exercised by our fathers IN 1776,
and without cavilsas to the name by which 1t
was called [ entered the military service OF
my State, willingly. cheer(uy, and zcalously.
When the State of Virginia became one of
Hhe Confederate States, and her troops were
turned over to the Confederate Government,
4embraced the cause of the whole Confederacy
With equal ardor, and continued in the service,
with the determination to devote all the energy
and talent possessed to the common defence.
Fought through the ent'ro 7~nr, without once
regretting the course / had pursued, with an
abiding faith in the justice OF our cause; and
never saw the moment when l would have
been willing to consent to any compromise OF
settlement short Of the absolute independence
of my country.
1t was my fortune to participate in most Of
the great military operations in which the
army in Virginia was engaged, both before
and after General Lee assumed the command
In the last year of this momentous struggle
commanded at different times, division and
two corps Of General Lees army in the cam
paign from the Rapidan to James river, and
subsequently a separate force which marched
into Maryland, threatened Washington City,
and then went through an eventlul campaign
in the Valley of Virginia. No detailed reports
Of the operations of these different commands
were made before the close of the war, and
the campaign in Maryland and the Valley OF
Virginia has been the subject of much COM
ment and misapprehensQn. [ have now writ
ten Il narrative Of the operations Of all my
commands during the closing year of the war,
and lay it before the world as a contribution to
the history Of our great struggle for lndePend'
cnce. In giving that narrative, | have such
statements Of the positions and strength of the
opposing forces in Virginia, and such refer
cncc 70 their general operations as were neces:
sary to enable the reader to understand it;
do not pretend to detail the operations OF
other commands.
have not found it necessary to be guilty OIL
the injustice of attempting to pull down the
reputation of any Of my fellow officers, IN
order tO huIld IN NV own. NV operations