The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1867-11-08
aAisrelianeuus.
STONEWALL JACKSON.

SIONEWALL JAUkSUN,
1r would seem to nearly every mind
that of all the characters Of the war
none could pro cnt finer material for
the graphic pen Of a historian than
the very distinguished commander who
fell at Characteristic now nearly four
years ago. Whether Mr.. Cooke has
availed himself or the advantages pre-
scntcd By his subject will hereafter be
shown. AT very carly point in the
volume, however, the reader becomes
aware Of disctlr'ivo and disconnected
effort to carry along, Mt the same time
with the details of the life of General
Jackson, whatever of thrilling event or
important history can possibly be inter-
woven. This probably arises from n
fact already alluded to, that there has
been 80 little of authentic record con-
cerning the war, especially that which
pertains to the part enacted by the late
Confederate States, that the attempt to
chronicle any one episode or character
made prominent during the struggle,
tempts the writer to venture upon 9th
cr, and even greater fields Of interest.
General Stonewall Jackson was of and
in himself all sufficient to inspire c,ery
| line of every chapter of these four hun.
drcd pages without single digrcSsion
to pay homage TO the intrepid Ashby,
! the chivarous Stuart, or other southern
officers whom Mr.. Cooke goes out of his
way to sketch and honor.
However this Is n mere matter OF
! taste with the author, and must not be
unduly criticised without taking into
account how much Of unrecorded histo-
ry arose at every point of the narrative
and which could not fail to be of the
greatest value and interest. Hence we
shall not DIV ell minutely upon the exc
cution of the work. Mr.. Cooke was
known before the war a. a successful
| Virginia lawyer and Il somewhat popu-
lar author. While serving in various
capacities in the southern armies, he
wrote many brilliant accounts of bat
ties and sieges, which found their way
alike into American and English jour
mails. since the war he has been en-
gagged in writing for the New York pa
pcrs, and the book now before us Is
largely made up from these random
contributions to daily and weekly jour
nails. 1t is not unlikely that some read
crs will detect passages which they re-
member to have read elsewhere, and
which appeared originally in some OF
our morning papers. such is the case
of the very interesting descriptions OF
the death of Ashby and the death OF
General Jackson. They are very graph
ic, however, and will well bear Il second
/ peru.al.
We think it requires no sharp sense
of prophesy to declare which of the
names rendered conspicuous by our civ
| il conflict are 10 endure and which to be
! forgotten. On the northern side we
shall be very much surprised if the de-
vclopments of time do not place upon
the roll as one OF the most unsuccessful
Of all the commanders the name of Gen.
Mcclellan. First in honor, because
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