The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1867-01-18
Another War Nicmoir--Gcn. EarI,,s
EoOk.

Gen. Elrly, who is now an exile in
Canada, has written and published mt
Toronto IL memoir of the last year of
the late WIZ, containing an account
OF the operations Of his command, IN
the years 1SG4-'65. Only !. limited
number Of copies WAS printed, and
none for sale. The following extract
from the preface Indicates the charac-
ter and the feelings of the author:
1t WAS my fortune to participate
in most of the great military opera
tions i'll which the army WAS engared
both before aud after General Lee
assumed command. IL the last year
OF tins momentous struggle, [ com
manded, ut different times, i. division
and two corps OF Gen. Lees army in
the campaign from the Rlpi,lan to
James River, and subsequently q
separate force which marched into
Maryland, Threatened WASHINGTON
city, and then went through au event
full campaign in the Valley of Vir-
ginia. No detailed leports of the
operations of these different com
mands were made before the close of
the war, and the campaign in Mary
land and the Valley of Virginia has
been the subject of much comment
aud misrepresentation. [ have now
written u narrative of the operations
O: all my commands during the
clsslng year of the war. and law it
before the world as q contribution, .o
the history OF our great struggle for
Independence. In giving that nara
tive L have made such statements Of
the position and strength of the on
posing forces in Virginia, and such
reference to their general operations.
as were necessary to enable the reader
to understand il; but l do not pre-
tend to detail the operations Of other
commanders.
l have not found it necessary to be
guilty of the injustice of attemp mpting
to pull down the reputation of anv Of
my fellow-officers, in order to build
up my own. My operations and nv
campaign stand on their own merits.
whatever they may be. Nor, in any
. thing may have fonnd it necessary
to say Ill regard to the conduct Of
my troops, do L wish to be under
stood as, Ill any way, decryiug the
Soldiers who constituted the rank
and file Of my commands [ believe
that the world has never produced a
BODY OF men superior in courage,
patriotism and endurance, to the phi
vate soldiers of the Confederate
armies. / have repeatedly seen those
soldiers submit, with cheerfulness, to
prlvatlons and hardships which would
appear almost incredible; and the
wild cheers of our brave men, (which
were SO different from the studied
hurrahs of the Yankees when their
thin lines sent back opposing hosts
OF Federal troops, staggering, reeling
and hyin 3, have often thrilled every
hbre III my heart. / have seen with
my own eyes ragged, bare-footed and
hungry Confederate soldiers perform
deeds which, if performed in days of
yore by mailed warriors in glitter;ue z
Armor, would ave inspired the haru
of the minstrel and the pen of til.
poet.
do not aspire to the character of
historian, but. having been a wit
ness of 2"d participator in great
events, have given u statement OF
what saw and did, for the use OF
the future historian. Without break
Ing the thread of my narrative as i,
proceeds. 1 have given in notes.
comnent ON some OF the errors and
Inconsistencies committed by the
commander of the Federal army.
Geutr,l Grant, and the Federal
Secretary of War. Mr.. Stanton. in
t'elr reports luado since the cluse< OF
the War; also some instances of
cruelty and barbarity committed by
the fcierdl commanders Which were
brought t" my immediate attention.
rs We'll as some other matters ol
interest.
In regard to my own services. all
have to s;y is, that 1 have the con.
scionsnt S. of having done nv duty to
my conntry, to the very best OF INV
ability, and whatever my fate. /
would not exchange that conscious
ness for untold uillons. have come
into exile rather than sn.,,lit to the
yoke OF the unpressor Of my country;
bnt have never thought OF nttr. b at
ing nught Of blame or censure to