The New York herald., 1868-03-13
BOOK NOTICE.

BIoeR.ps,c,I REGISTER OF rus OFFICERS AND
GRADUATES or THE UNITED STATES MILirAhr
lishment March 10, 1902 to the army reorganizs-
ton OF ls66-'17. By Brevet Major General Geofgo g
w. Cullun, Colonel Corps OF Engineers, unitea
States Army Vols. and III.
LATTER many years OF perseyerng TOLL" says the
auth,r, II present to my brother graduates OF the
Mitar Academy this record Of their services. hon
orable to themselves, giving world renown to their
Alma Matev, and claiming for their country placo
In the first r. INK Of military nationsu
This work vii not be considered by the public In
the light In whi ch It's author modesy regards It, 40
having its chief erest in the circle of the graduates
from the Military Academy LISA contribution to the
history OF the count ry and just now will be more
especially regarded at contribution TO the history
OF the war; 1t Is hard possible to over estimate It's
value in this regard. II contains, well digested In
cyclopmdic form q vast mount OF Information OF
kind always difficult to Nbtain nasmuch as 1t Is in
so great degree personal. IL comprises In its TWO
volumes Of over six hundred pages each 'Ihe Elats
de Service" OF all gradu. ates from the estab-
lishment OF the Military Academy In 1902 to
the present time; complete Register OF the officers
Of the institution, with their his. Ores; full list OF
the military posts Of the United Mates present ana
past; an alphabetical table OF all battles combats.
actions &C., in which graduates have participated;
besides much other useful and statistical Informs
ti0n.
And these "Esats de- SeTvice,r 100 In number,
though Biographies In the ordinary sense Of the
term nevertheless contain the prom lnent facts OF
each individuals military or public lite TheJ are
the protracted creations OF lifetime, and do NOS
come In the category OF tho numerous easily written
variations and soealed histories OF the events OF
great civil with which the press teens, and.
moreover, they demand habits Of mind, Intellectual
qualifications and tastes which are rarely combined.
auchu IA wxr at IN int IA
appear 1t at once becomes Necessity No historian
write, student can read oS study his country's
without ~ wae 70 pae wo and
one who has become acquainted with the character
OF this work and feels interest In the civil or military
career Of any one OF the Acaiemy's graduates,
would have a remembrance Of the events Of our
various struggles with foreign Powers OF those OF
that m0mentOus one for OlE national existence.
willingly be without these volumes.
The preface to the work sets birth in bsef the i'm
pOrtance Of military education Is seems srung8
that 1t could be necessary argue such point that
we could expect individuals or nations 70 excel IN
practice which every other art or science Or calling
demands for its perfect exercise.
Yet cannot ignore the fact that there are tsose
who depreciate military education and by the Phrase
"heaven born generalsr would understand men VINO.
from the bar or the plough pass at once TO the SUE
cessful command Of armies. Such anomalies are
never presented. Cromwell, indeed, had little edu
cation Of any kind when he entered public life, bn
1t required years OF the stern teachings OF actuS
warfare to make him the great soldier he becam.
Great soldier as he was, he became yet greater as.
practice In the art 0f statesmanship The arKuInem
against education would In Ills case bc as stron,
therefore, applied TO its use for making statesma
AZ soldiers ~
Many however, admit the necessity Of militay
education while denouncng the Military AcadeIy
q means to that end.
Against aspersions OF such IT is the featureM
General Cullums work that 1t furnishes so rich IA-
teriais for its vindication To showing how the Acs
DENY has been not only the means OF giving us III
accomplished body of officers for army but aso
OF raising the standard Of scientific education In all
the colleges of the land and OF stimulating the de-
veOpment OF works OF civil engineering and Internal
improv ements by furnishing the country with able
civil engineers, portion OF the preface Il oevotea,
and we think his statements, founded az they are
upon the carefully collected facts which the pooK TO-
cords, must be convincing to all who are not prey"
diced beyond the power OF truth to convince.
The author Is not less earnest and full ID ueauS
with charges Of "disloyalty.n He proves ina. % INC
most loyal branch OF the public service, when iooksn
at as q whole was that mainly constituted by tina
Academy and its graduates. ,,., -
In the brief space we can devote 70 the subject we
can but indicate its main features and express our
conviction Of the conscientious fidelity Win WHICH
the author has elaborated his work ana oi the pecu
liar value Of that work TO the country. which shoud
Krareiul 10 author since gratitude
must be taken by him In part payment for the sald
| or such books seems necessarily restricted.