The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1867-12-26

consider whether the Federal army would not have
proved almost as unable as tho Confederate to
secure the fruits of victory; the troops on eltner
side being equally raw and inexperienced. BE this
as it NAV. there can be no doubt that tins first
great battle did materially affect the course OF tho
war. II gave the South time to collect her armies
and prepare for systematic defence; and 1T led the
North to entrust the duty OF training and organ
ling Il large regular force to q General partlcu-
larlS competent for the task. In his account OF
the battle itself, MIR. Swinton brings out clearly
some important points not always distinctly I'M
derstood-the original intention OF Beauregard to
take the offensive, and the consequent arrange
ment of his troops In q manner dlsadvantaSeou.
for concentrated resistance to the attack which
was actually made where it was not expected; the
early successes of the Federalists, and the bravery
they displayed in the onset; and t1e final decision
of the issue by the flank attack Of General Kirby
Smith with the army of the Shenandoah. He also
makes it clear that General Beauregard could not
have pushed his victory without extreme danger,
as his troops were disorganized, and Mcdowell
had in reserve q large force that had never been
engaged. The next move of the Federal forces
was made in the West; and here again Mr.. Swim
ton brings out very distinctly the nature OF the
Confederate plan OF defence, and its overthrow by
the disaster OF Fort Donelson, the enforced retreat
Of the Southwestern army, and the failure OF the
bold attempt TO recover their lost ground by the
offensive movement on Shiloh. In the subsequent
year another attempt was made by General Bragg,
whose onward march forced the enemy to aban-
don Tennessee and Northern Alabama, and was
only checked by the indecisive battle OF Murfrees-
borough. In each case the Confederates were on
the offensive; it was necessary Tor their success to
drive away the hostile army; and as they failed to
do this their victories were virtual defeats. MIR.
Swlnton takes no notice ofthe great victories ofthe
army Of Virginia on the Chickahominy and at Man.
assas in 1862, and at Fredericksburg and at Chancei-
louisville, in lS62-63; considering the campaigns
TO have been decided at Antletam and at Gettys-
burg respectively, where the Confederates were
thw arted in their endeavor to transfer the war TO
Northern soil. All that their triumphs IN Vrgnla
achieved was to prevent the intended siege OF the
capital. In the hnal campaigns OF Grant and
Sherman. the battles Of Atlanta and Nashville vlr-
tually decided the fate OF the West; the first lay
inc open Georgia and the Carolinas, the next de-
stroying the main Western army; though the 1atal
results of the former wero rather due to Hoods
ill-advised march into tennessee man 10 oner-
mans actual successes. In the Vlrglnlan cam
paien there was no decisive battle; and that OF the
Wilderness was only one OF q series OF engage
ments OF which slaughter was the sole OBJECT ana
result, the aim OF General Grant being, not to
force his way, but to wear out the Southern army
at arv cost to his own-a policy which was COM
pleteiy successful. The final battle OF Five Forks
only put the seal to a work which was really &C
compished during the months OF comparative
inactivity before Richmond and Petersburg. Dir.
Swinton shows distinctly that Lee did not surren-
der till the last moment; and that, If he hod hot
done so, his army, already surrounded by over
whelming forces, must have been cut to pieces
within a few hours. The history OF the campaign
of vicksburg, which forms as 1t were a separate
episode in the general sketch OF the wal, which
tins volume affords, is not its least valuable por-
ton; and 1t shows very torcibly the wisdom of
General Johnston. der to abandon the fortress,
and the ruinous disaster entailed by Pemberton's
obstinate resistance after the fleet had once forced
the passage.
THE Twelve Decisive Battles of the War; r History
the Eastern and Western Campaigns, IN relation to
the Actions that decided their issue. By William Swim
Author OF Campaigns OF the Army OF the Poto-
mac" New York: Dick 4 Fitzgerald. London: Trub-
ner Il Co. 1867.