Juniata sentinel. [volume] (Mifflintown, Pa.) 1846-1873, 1870-11-09
ssThe War between the States, IT. Causes,
Character, Cendnet and Rcsslta."
By Hon A. b. STEPHENS.

By Hon A. 81. STEPHEss.
The National Publishing Company,
of Philadelphia. have issued the
second and concluding volume Of thu
great work. For some tims past there
has been general feeling Of apprshen-
sion throughout the country that the
precarious condition of Mr.. Stephens
health would prevent his completing the
work. but this apprehension is now reno.
we'd ty the fact that the book is finished
and in the hands Of the Agents of the
Company for delivery.
This is a matter Of congratulation to
the entire country. This book must from
its very nature, take precedence Of all
Southern histories of the war. The high
position held by Mr.. Stephens in the
government of the Confederacy. his great
abilities as the first statesman of the
South, and his acknowledged integrity
of character, make him perhaps the per-
son best qualified to tell the story of his
cause aud its failure. His position as
second officer of the Confederacy enabled
him to gain much information which was
inaccessible to the ordinary historian
the secret history of his government is as
familiar to him as an open book /; and
his constant and intimate association with
the leader of the South. prepares him to
speak with accuracy oftheir motives, and
to Judge their acts from more intelli-
gent standpoint than any other writer.
In the first volume of his work Mr..
Stephens confined himself entirely to
discussion of the causes which led to the
secession of the South. In the volume
now before US, he narrates the story of
the War. giving especial emphasis to the
action of the government of the Confed-
eracy, or to what may be called its con-
fdential history. His account Of the
important conference at Hampton Roads
between President Lincoln and the Con-
federate Commissioners, is one Of the
most valuable additions to the literature
of the War, and is in itself worth the
price Of the entire work. The vexed
question of the non-exchange of Prision-
ers of War has much new light shed up
on it, and the peace movements in the
South are thoroughly explained. The
fact that the first volume. which was but
the introduction to the history of War,
a sale of over 10000 copies,
fully warrants the assertion that this vol
une, which is not mere discussion Of
principles, but living, breathing narra-
tive of the events of the greatest struggle
Of modern times, by one or the most i'm
pcrtant actors in il, will reach sale un-
preceden,ed in this country. No fair
minded unprejudiced person can afford
to be without this book 1t is the official
history on the Southern side, and must
hold in the literature of the War even a
higher place than is accorded to Mr..
ireeley's american conflict. 1t will oc-
,upy in our history the place that is
given to Napoleon's Memoirs in the liter
.ture of the French Empire. 1t is like
hat work the last production of its gif-
ed author, and is entitled to all the
weight which attaches to the high char
acter of great leader presenting to the
world the story of his cause in vindica.
ion of it. The book is sold by subscrip-
ion only, and agents are wanted in every
county. .a aI. E. no