Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1867-04-25
A NEW BOOK.
The Siege of Washington.

Some one has written a history OF the
siege of Washington, adapted to the ca
pacity of children. The following ex.
tracts will amuse iAt
This, my son (alluding to picture of
General Joe Johnston), is an exact por-
trait of the General who sat behind the
great sand heaps at Yorktown, smoking
his pipe, and gave our George so much
trouble. George and he had been old
friends and playmates at school, where
they had played pitch and toss in a
harmless way. George took the hint
given him by the old woman along the
road, and when he got to Yorktown he
saw clear enough that his old friend John
ston was playing q game Of brag with his
big sand hills. And to show Mr.. John
ston that he was not to be outdone in
that line of art, George, when he had set
tied his army down in the soft ground,
went to work satisfying the nation he
could build just as big sand heaps as any
other General He made sand heaps
bigger than Mr. Johnston's, and stretched
them all the way across the Peninsula, so
that there was no getting on either side
of him. When George and his army had
toiled hard for nearly a month, had
thrown up whole mountain of sand
hills, and kept on crying for more SOL
iiers, and had got all his guns mounted,
and was Just ready to bring Yorktown
down about Mr.. Johnston's ears with
grand display of substantial fireworks,
that General made up his mind not to be
served in that way. So he packed up his
baggage one night and moved himself of,
leaving Yorktown and his sand hills as
legacy to George, who was very much
disappointed at being treated SO shabbily
by his old friend and playmate.
NY artist has drawn you an exact pic
ture of the manner in which this great
General Pope entered the capital of the
nation. The skies frightened, and the
country felt safe again at the thought OF
having such hero Children laughed
and gamboled, and said the rebels would
get it, now Pope had come to town.
Dogs ran out and barked, and snapped
for 10y. The crowd pressed forward to
look at him, and policemen, for once,
had enough to do Fair women waved
handkefchiefs and threw him kisses.
Then Pope went cut to see and have
talk with his army, He also published
a grand order to his soldiers which will
stand as a great curiosity in our war lit
erature. Our army must look only to
the front, keep its eye open, aud terget
that there was such thing as its rear.
This was highly encouraging to those
politicians who gaid our army must go
to Richmond over the shortest road. But
this was not all. He established his
headquarters in the saddle, and told his
soldiers they would always find him
there. Ny opinion has always been,
though l have never had much to do with
war. that the General who establishes
bis headquarters in the saddle, was not
always TO be found when you wanted
him.
Burnside was the best judge Of what
he could do, and freely confessed his in
capacity for chief command OF the
army. But the Government was not 10
be put Of by this confession of weak
ness on the part of General, preterring
10 reward him for bis honesty and make
no account of his caPaeity;~I / accept
This. my son, as the only reason why
General Burnside was given so high q
command. As for his capacity as a
General, he gave us proof of that when
he let the rebels fall back, and get we'll
fortified at Fredericksburg. Fo show,
bowever. what a General could do by
attempting impossibilities, be sent the
bravo Army of the Potomac to be
slaughtered by an enemy covered with
stone walls I tell you, my son, 1t was
dark day to the nation when that was
done. >,
General Hooker was brave aud bold.
But. nv son, he had such aweakEess for
blowing his own trumpet Yes, he could
blow it as long and loud as any trum-
meter YOU ever listened to-Pope ex-
eeuted. II was true, this General had
bsen very insurbordinate. He bad said |
a number of things, neither wise nor
nolite. of bis suPeriors. Andhe had set
an example TO his soldiers not calculated
10 improve their discipline. As, how
ever. be had declared himself thS man /
10 lead our army 70 victory, and the I
wanted Just such man, It |
took the General at bis word. and gave
him the command
When spring came, and the roads were |
drv. aRd the robins had begun to sing 10 |
the trees, aud the buds 10 put forth, Gen;
Hooker began TO feel strong aud full OF |
battle. He said to his officers tLsi they |
must get their courage up, and be ready /
for a big fight, every one in bis own /
wav. And 10 bis men be said that they
must have plenty Of powder IN their |
pouches, and notbe afraid TO use m. A /
General to be successful, ny son, need !
have confidence in himself General