Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1867-01-13
1tuiou and dispatch.
sUNDAY. JANUARY Ia, 1857.
Large.I CIrcnIatIon In IN and .sLale.
ANOTHER WAR MEMOIR-G GENERAL
EaRWvrrg RnnH

EARLY's BOOK.
Gen Early. who is now an exile IN
Canada, has written and published at To-
ronto. memoir Of the last year Of the late
war, containing an account Of the opera
tion7 Of HE commands in the years 1864
G5. Only limited number Of copies was
printed, and none for sale From the
preface we make the following extract, a.
indicating its character and the feelings Of
the author.
Ii was my fortune 30 participate ia most
OF the great military operations in which
the army in Virginia was engaged, both be-
fore and after General Lee assumed com
mand In the last year Of this momcn-
tious struggle commanded, at different
times a division and two corps Of General
Lees army in the campaign from the
Rapidan to James river and subsequently
a separate force which marched into Mary
land, threatened Washington city, and then
went through an eyentlu campaign in the
alley Of Virginia No detailed reports
Of the operations Of these different com
mands were made before the close Of the
Wlr, and the campaign in MARYLAND and
y
IcCt OF much comment and misapprehen-
sIun. have now written q narrative of
the operations oi all my commands during
the closing year OF the war, and lay il be-
fore the world aa a contribution To the his
tory of our great struggle for indeprnd.
euCe. In giving that narrative ] have made
such statements of the position and strength
Of the opposing forces In Virginia. and
such reference Co their general operations
aa were necessary 60 enable the reader 20
understand il bat ] douol pretend 10 de
tail the operations of other commanders.
have not found IL necessary to be
guilty of the injustice of attempting to
pull down the reputation of any of my
fellow officers, iu order to build up my
own. Ny operations and my campaign
stand Uu their own merits whatever they
may be. Nor i'm anything ! may have
found il necessary Co say in regard 10 the
conduct OF my troopH 10 ] wish 10 be I'M
der-tood as, in any way, decrying the
soldiers who constituted the rank and file
of mv commands. / believe that the world
has never produced \ body of men superior
in courage, patriotism and endurance, to
the private soldiers of the Confederate
armies. have repeatedly seen those
soldiers submit, with cheeriulness, to pri-
yatiOns and hardships which would appear
90 be 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. stagger-
ing, reeling, and flying, have often thrilled
every fibre In my heart ] have seen with
4 I !.
CRY Confederate soldiers perform deeds
which, If performed in days of yore by
mailed warriors in gittering armor, would
have inspired the harp of the minstrel and
the pen of the poet.
DO not aspire 10 the character of a his
torian, but, having been a witness Of and
participatur in great events, ] have given q
statement of what / saw and did, for the
Use of the future historian. Without
breaking the thread Of my narrative a il
proceeds have given, in notes, comments
on some of the errors and inconsistencies
committed by the commander of the Fed
eral army, General Grant, and the Federal
Secretary of War, Mr. Stanton, i'm their
reports made since the close of the war
also some instances of cruelty and barharity
committed hv the Federal commander
which were brought 90 my immediate
attention, as we'll ~ some other matters of
interest
la regard 10 my own feTvicea, all have
10 say is thqt / have the consciousness of
having done my duty to my country, to
the very best of my ability, and whatever
my fate, ] would not exchange that con
/ sciOusness for oruutoldmillions have come
/ into exile rather than submit 90 the yoke
! of the oppressors Of my country; bat
/ have never thought of attributing aught Of
/ blame OF Censuue 90 those true men who
after having nObly done their duty in the
/ dreadful struggle through which we passed,
now that it has gone against us, remain TO
share the mistortunes of their people, and
| 90 aid and comfort them in their trials; on
| the contrary, ] appreciate and honor their
motives. / have not sought refuge in
another land from insensibility TO the
wrongs and sudering7 of my own country;
/ but / feel deeply and continually for them
/ and could my life secure the redemption of
/ that country, as lt has been often risked, SO
now il would be as freely given for that
/ object
There were men born and nurmred in
/ the Southern States and some of them u
mv own State who took sides with our
! enemies, and aided In dcsollting and hu-
initiating the land of their own birth, and
! Of the graves of their ancestors. Some of
them rose TO high positions in the United
/ States army. and others tn high civil posi-
/ tion= envy them not their dearly bought
| prosperity J had rather be the humhlcst
/ private soldier who fought in the ranks of
/ the Confederate army, and now, MANNED
and disabled hobbies ON his rmtches from
! house 90 house. to receive his daily bread
! from the hands of the grateful women ton
whose homes hr fought, than the highest
of those rncgadc5 and traitors. Let them
cnioY the advantages of their present posi-
| tions aa best they may, for the deep 8ud
bitter eNccrations ut an entire people now
attend them, and an Immortality Of intmy
I await. them.