Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1867-01-08
GENERAL EARLY'S BOOK.

we are lnueDted 10 the klndnesa OI
friend for copy of the volume recently pub
lished by General Early, under the fol!own
title:
A MEMOIR Of the last year Of the War fer Inde
pendepce In the Confederate States Of America =
containing an account OF the operations Of hi
commands in the years 1864 and 1865, by Leuten
ant General Jubal A. Early, OF the Provisona
Army Of the Confederate States. Dedicated t.
the memory Of the Heroic Dead, who fell light
Ing for Liberty, Right and Justice. "DEo VIZ
DIcB." Toronto.
The narrative covers operations Of whicl
no detailed reports were ever published O
even made, and concerning which there i
much both Of ignorance and misapprehen
sion. General Early has, therefore, made al
important contribution to the truth Of his
tory, and performed to his countrymenand BIZ
late command, grateful service, in the publ
cation before us. AS but limited number
Of copies was printed, and none for sale, w
shall publish copious extracts from the book
for the pleasure Of our readers and the graft
tication particularly Of the battlc-scalree
heroes who 80 enthusiastically followed "0lt
Jube," to many glorious victory; We can
not do better to-day than to present the Pref
ace. Tho style shows that the old hero:
pen is as sharp as his sword but it is rcplett
with noble sentiments, and shows that tht
writer is as generous as he is brave. VI
read in it stern rebuke Of such as refer Il
ante-war differences on the theory Of seces
sion, and seek an idle dispute over response
bilities for result forced upon us from with
ont, and which was simply q necessity to Il;
all. The General pours hot volley, too, into
those who write carping criticisms Of cam
pagns which they took care not to share
and pass harsh judgments on those who
were entrusted with Confederate AFFAIRS
The generous tribute which ho pays to Pres
ident Davis and General Lee, is evidently
the homage both Of his judgm ent and bis
heart.
We append the promised quota ton:
rREFAcR.
Under q solemn sense OF duty 10 my unhappy
country and to tho brave soldiers who fought uhdel
Inc, as well as TO myself tho following pages have
been written.
When the question Of practical secession from the
United States arose, HI citizen OF the State OF
Virginia, and q member Of the Convention called
by the authority Of the Legislature Of that State,
opposed secession with all the ability possessed
with the hope that tho horrors OF civil war might
be averted, and that returning sense Of duty and
justico on tho part Of the masses OF the Northern
States would induce them to respect the rights Of
tho people of the South While some Northern
among the most unscrupuous and vindictiye of our
enemies, aud now hold mo to bo traitor and rebel,
were openly and sedu!ously justifying and on.
couraging secession, / WIS laboring honestly and
earnestly to proserve the Union.
IA Inembor Of the Virginia Convention, voted
against the ordinance Of secession its passage by
that body, with tho hope that, even then, the col
lision OF arms might be avoided, and somo satis.
factory adjustment arrived at. Tho adoption Of
that ordinance wrung from bitter tenrs Of grief
but ut once recognized my duty to abide tho dec-
sion OF my native State, and to defend her soil
against invasion. Any scruples which nny have
entertained to the re ht Of secession, were soon
dispelled by the mad, wicked, and unconstitutional
measures Of tho authorities mt Washington, and tho
frenzied clumur Of the people OF the North for war
upon their former brethren Of the South. / then,
and over since have, regarded Abraham Lincoln,
his councillors and supporters, as the real traitors
who had overlhrown the constitution aud govern
pent Of th3 Epils3 S:atrir crd es:nhliSi u IL hal
Lhoroof an odiOus dcspotism; and this opinion l
entered on the journal Of tho Convention when |
signed the ordinance Of secession. l recognized
the right Of resistance and revolution exercised
BY our fathers in l17G, and, without cavil as
TO the namo BY which it VIA called, entered the
military service OF my State, willingly, cheerfully,
and zoalously.
Whom the State OF Virginia became one Of the
Confederate States, and her troops were turned
over to the Confederate Government, embraced
the cause of the whole Confoderacy with equal
lrdor, and continued in the service, with the de-
termination 10 devote all the euorgy and talent
possessed to the common defence. fought through
the entire war; without once regretting the course
| had pursued, with an abiding faith In the jus.
tioe Of our cause and I never saw the moment
when would have been willing To consent to any
or settlement short OF the absolute in
dependence Of my country.
1t was my fortune to participate in most Of tho
great military operations in which tho army in Tir-
ginia was engaged, both before and after General
Leo assumed the command. In the last year Of
this Inomentous struggle commanded at differ
ent times, division and two corps of General leos
army in the campaign FROM the Rsp!dan to James
river, and subsequently a separate force which
marched Into Maryland threatened Washington
city, and then went through an eventful campaign
In the Valley Of Virginia. Nodetalol reports oftho
operations Of these different commands were made
before the close OF tho war; and tho campaign in Ma
ryland and tho Valley OF Virginia has been the sub
ject Of much comment and misapprohcnsion. !
havc now written O narrative Of tho operations Of
all my commands during the closing year of the
war, and lay it before the world contribution
to the history Of our great struggle for independ
ence. In giving that narrative have made such
statements Of the positions and strength Of tho op-
posing forces in Virginia, and such reference TO
their general operations as wero necessary to on
able the reader to understand It but do not pro-
tend TO detail the operations of other commanders.
have not found 1t necessary 10 be guilty Of the
injustice OF attempting to pull down the reputation
Of any Of my felow-offlcers, in order to build up
my own. My operations and my campaign stand
on their own merits, whatever they may be. Nor,
in anything may have found It necessary to say
in regard to tho conduct Of my troops do wish to
be understood as in any way, decryng tho soldiers
who constituted the rank and file Of my commands.
I bolieve that the world has never produced Rbody
Of men superior in courage, patriotism and endu-
rance, to the private soldiers of the Confederate
armies. have repeatedly seen those soldiers sub
nit, with cheerfulnoss, to prvatons and hardships
which would appear to be almost incredible; and the
wild cheers Of our brave men, (which wero 80 differ
ont from the studied hurrahs of the Yankees when
their thin lines sent back opposing hosts OF Federal
troops, staggering, reeling, and flying, have often
thrilled every fibre in my hosp. l have seen with
my own eyes, ragged, barefooted and hungry Con-
federate soldiers perform deeds, which, il performed
IN days Of yore by mated warriors in gttering ar
NOR, would have inspired the harp Of the minstrel
and tho pen Of the poot.
I do not aspire to the character OF historian,
but, having been q witness Of and participation in
great events, have given statement Of what
saw and did, for the use Of tho future historian.
Without breaking the thread OF my narrative as
it proceeds, have given, in notes, comments on
some OF the errors and inconsistencies committed
by the Commander of tho Federal army, General
Grant, and the Federal Secretary Of War, Mr..
Stanton, in their reports made since tho close Of
tho war; also some instances of cruelty and bar
barity committed by the Federal commanders which
were brought to my immediate attention, as well as
some other matters Of interest.
As was to have been expected, our enemies have
fooded the prees with sketches and histories, in
which all the appliances Of meretricous literature
have been made fuse Of to slorify their own cause
and its supporters, and to blacken ours. But some
Southern writer's also who preferred the pen to the