The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1867-01-17
nrcGowAN,s BRIGADE.

command OF the eauanG, tne =cnlVarous OhEad,
holds place in the affections Of the State to
which, we believe, none Of the numerous younger
sisters ever attained. A true and q just mother,
she loves them all, and deep in her heart OF hearts
are enshrined their suffcrings, privations, woes
and persocutions-all endured for her sake. That
there should be certain prestige attached to the
frst-born, is only natural, and, re presume, will
excite no jealousy in the noble bosons of the
younger members Of the family.
Colonel GnEaa's was the first organized regi-
ment that took the field. It was afterwards conf
manded by Colonels HAMILTON and McCREARY, and
from first to last almost latter the troops wero
>brigaded by States), this regiment was member
of GREdd's, and afterwards McGowANs, Brigade.
The other regiments Of the Brigade we're oRa's
Rifles, the 12th the 18th, and the 14th-fye, there
fore, in all.
But in thus plunging, in nedias res, ne have
come near forgetting that we are reyie ring book,
laid upon our editorial table by Mr. JOHN RUSSELL.
Said book is entitled:
.erHE H1sToRY OF BRIGADE OF SOUTH CARoInn,Na,
known first Gregg's, and subsequently as MeGo~.
an's Brigade. BY J. F. ]. Caldwell lately an officer OF
the First Regiment s. @. v"
Mr. CALDWELL, for this his labor Of love, has
our cordial thanks, and We should like to see the
book in the house OF every ex-member OF this
South Carolina Brigade, or in the hands OF their
surviving relatives or friends. The author, wo
learn, has published the book on his own RESPONSE
bity and should be assisted by every lover of the
ex-cause, aid thus be shielded from pecuniary
loss.
We want just such books of the war as this be-
foro u.s. The author, a son of the late Chancellor
CALDWELL of this State, is scholar Of no mean
attainments, and very properly endeayored to emu
late tho beautiful and classic simplicity OF the Ana
basis rather than the turgdly ornate style OF the
Decline and Fall. Like XENoPHoN, he takes up his
command at the beginning Of the campaign and
follows them through all their vicissitudes. I'VE
might have been tempted here to cito the Virgill-
an, s'Pcr varios casus, perot discrlmlna rorum,
but having seen the words in tho work OF recent
lady novelist, they are no longer legtimatoy quot
abe.1
Mr.. CALDWELL expresses no opinion IL regard to
the causes that led to tho He is no politician
lin his book, but soldier only among soldiers
Ho gives o simple, truthful chronicle Of all the
variocs experiences of his brigade. These, and
such as those, are by far the most valuable contr-
QuElOQS 10 Iuc luCuIe 1u5GoA5 VI tAAo "oA'
MAoAULAY, in one Of the chapters OF his History
of England, has long dissertation on the sources
Of history. We have often thought it very unfor-
tunate that the distinguished hiatorian should
have made such record of his textbooks. Every
body read MAcAuLAY when his history first ap-
poured; and everybody, finding that the great
mans brilliant volumes were made up from the
novels sermons newspapers, street ballads, plays,
tracts md pamphlets OF tho time-everybody at
once must set to to make history. This has been
specially tho case in this country since the late
war Histories innumerable hayo been written OF
the 'Iost Cause, tho 8sGreat Struggle" the
"Great Rebellion" the Civil Var" the Southern
Confederacy," the ssGrsat Secession" etc. The
number OF 6ctions, of all kinds and styles, found
ed on facts" connected with the war, is beyond al
computation. Poetries Of the war, also, are be-
ginning to crowd each other. Newspapers, magar
zines, reviews and books, all teen, with war sub
jccts Be they ever so stupid they still have MA-
cAuLAY in reserye-sssources Of future history"
But in justice to MIR. CALDWELL, VIC must again
repeat that his modest little volume in no way is
open to these objections. We are much pleased
with it, and 80, we feel assured will be all the
officers and soldiers OF the brigade. The author
it is apparent, did his utmost to be perfectly just
and impartial to all the several persons and bodies
both Confederate an Federal, who pass under bis