The New York herald., 1867-12-22


OF garrison. Psmberton. according his own state
ment put eighteen thousand nye hundred mon in the
anty soldership OF the army Of the Tennessee that
" was unable TO carry works OF the strength
OF those which rspolled IT, manned By
nearly equal 10 their Neither can the generalshp
which directed this assault be fairly censured The only
possible chance OF breaking through such defeaces
and defenders was IN massng the troops so that ths
weight OF the columns should be absolutely
irresistible. But the broken tangled ground
made massng impossible; and this could not be
known in advance; The rebels too. had no. shown
In the week preceding the assault any OF the deter
mnation which they displayed behind their earthen
walls AZ Vicksburg; the works at the Big Black
defended and Grant could know, beforehand that
Pembertons men had recovered their former metle,
inaccessible were the accIves aud how prod the
difficulties which protected hese soldiers
But Bsda]os was thrice beseged and oener assaulted
ere II fell and the stories of sagunum and saragossa
prove, that vcKsburg not the only citadel which
long resisted gallant and determined armies.
GRANT AND THK AMERICAN SOLDIERS
II 's not national Partially which declares that tho
combination OF traits that made this army what il was
and enabled Il to do what did essentially Amer.
vduai intelligence, Of patriotic feeling with practical
LIANT nor more devoted than the misguided countrymen
they fought; nor do believe that their courage en-
durance was greater than has often been displayed
European fields. But 1t Is seldom In the history OF
war that has sprung to arms Ike that which
the battles Of the Union. Not indeed highly culti-
Vhtou people, Dut ono IN Wn0m general education
more widely dused than n any that ever fought Il was
the appreciation each had or the objects OF the
and his determination 10 accomplish them; his intelli-
gent love for the Union, inspiring adv
ness often acquired in the Western woods and tho
Indian frontier and combined with the American
ucanessitsef often the result Of frontier le-that
produced the American soldier
That soldier had devotion and galantry which
Is war; but On aasss or
applying his intelligence to the everyday means and
the ordinary events Of campaign or SIEGE enabling
amid dtnar
as dangers, and whom one means failed TO try another
and when ali means seemed lacking, to create means
HIMSELF and with these to achieve victory This gual
~ was conspicuous IN the who conquered vicka-
burg This made soldiers and officers and division gen-
s,s n uha % Uosps s % ~ aC y one, al cper
plans-act indeed, as the body OF which he was the
head; he the brain to conceive and the will to Direct
while they were the means, the limbs and nerves and
For Grant himself shared tho same combination OF
trails His military character was thoroughly tho
suit OF American life and America institutions The
same devotion an idea, which was mani est not in
words nor 10 enthusiastic expression, but In the deeds
OF everyday the same intensity OF purpose, that was
betrayed more 10 achievement than effort; the
practical determination, the self reliance, rather than
selfassertion tho heating Of the iron while hot rather
than redto blaze not but to burn more all these traits
no shared with the soldiers whom he led 70 victory.
Holiday Books.
The depressed condition Of the book trado is attcsted
BY the unusual meagreness OF ts exhibition Of holiday
books OF domestic manufacture Too many publishers
OF the trade" and, importing few hundred copies with
their imprint on them) Of London holiday books, make
showy display Of finely bound and illustrated imported
works several Of these, however, arc really superb,
and not few show how extensive the application Of
photography to the illustration Of books likely
come In London also, the book trade has in such
q lauguishng state recently that publishers
have not mad great variety Of novelties to import
They have fallen back for the most part the glitter
ing "Juveniies," (" Of which the London market n6ver
lacks for supply. OF these. Mcssrs Routlodge Sons
Mary Howns '.Four-Footed Friends" Mrs.
Eivart's : Boys Of Beschwood," Anne Bowman's
o tho and
Poems" by Jane ana z Taylor, are among the most
noticeable Mr. James Miller Offers long and attractive
list OF books for little people, including the Nursery
Picture Book'' and, the ''Child's New Picture Play
Book" scribner imported all the juvenile pubca-
trated by Oscar Petsch. Ticknor Fields at their New
York House. have perhaps the largest assortment Of
sa o
Itay," Alice Carys "snow Berriesn Mrs. Chd's
.Rainbows tor Children" and Mrs. Stoves Queer
Little People, They have also s'Grimms Gobnsn
with hnc colored illustrations from Cruikshanks' de-
signs. And their 'Atlantlc Almanac, edited by Homes
and Mitchell is full Of colored illustrations fully equal
to the London standard. some OF them. indeed, arc
superior % \. But Cor the most part our publishers
have not made special effort to asonish by
mafkaDy 6ne holiday booka
.aMa CELESTIAL.
STELLAR KEY TO THE SUMNER LAND. BY
Andrew Jackson Davis, author of Natures
Divine Revelations - .Harmonian "Arabuav
and other volumes on "The Harmonial
Philosophy" Part l. Boston, William White
4 Co.
Among other whimsical questions propounded by
Charles Lamb to Colerdge, while tho latter studying
In Germany, the following = s1n future state
will the mind acquire knowledge BY aborous investea-
tion or by awkward process or ntuitions" This
At least the purport Of tho question II 10 obvious
ttc
Seer Andrew Jackson Days that be prefers even q the
present state Of senoe omS aAkSxfd procsfs of in
tui.ion." Nevertheless, in tto present volume no
PROCESSES, in approaching the repositories OF
ideas and essences, to ask for such facts
ana ilI9psations as can be seen and admitted
oy p9'..sophsrs and sksptcs Of the most mate.
In the recognized fields Of positive knowledge for
scientinc facts and RECEIPT discoveries In matter. which
shall serve stepping stones for the millions whereby
they can, intellectually and nationally, gain a clear
vision OF spheres celestial and heavenly" There arc
therefore, ntersporssd throughout tho most rhspsodca
passages OF tho volume ample evidence OF the fact that
Mr. Davis 10 not unfamiliar with the latest scientific
works his early disciples used to claim that he was
that he almost wholly lhtcrate in order 70 render
more marveous the ''revelatons" with which he
ss world Under the q the .ruao
pIished most extensive course Of reading.
whether he ever proaled or not in bis
of books In the roar, II We mistake not, OF tanners
shop In Poughkccpss, tho fruits Of his extensive
reading, well his peculiar methods OF
and spiritual training have ntimated visible
the .Stsax Key The object Of the book fur.
nish scientific and philosophical evidences Of tho
existence OF an inhabtabc sphere or among the
suns aud planets OF space These evidences, SAYS
M Davis "are indispensable, being adapted TO all who
seek . solid, rational, philosophical foundation on
which their hopes OF substantial existence aer
deathn Tho book illustrated with diagrams and en-
cravings OF celestial scenery. II were sure that
they were from photographs taken on the spot. they
certainly would fotify belief In the glowing descrp
lions OF the text. Mr.. Davis has become most vo.
luminous author and the largo number OF his ayowed
disciples must secure q large sale FOR hts works.
Social science.
The FRIENDSHIPS OF WOMEN. BY William Rounse-
vile Alger. Boston: Roberts Brothers.
We confess that ws fecl much more at home In the
society OF tho whom Mr.. Alger introduces N
In this charming volume than among the stars OF Mr.