The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1872-04-07


| (From Backwood's Magazine. for March)
The American war, as it recedes further ant
further into the distance, is seen to have de
than from any other individual who tough,
upon either side. 1t would be difficult to
speak or think of the history of Europe be-
tween 1900 and 1916 without having the tongue
and brain occupied exclusively by Napoleon
Similarly, the name of Gen. Lee has blotted
out in North America all recollection of those
by whom he was supported or opposed. It is
very possible that if, at the end of 1862, Stone.
wall jackson had been transferred to the COM
mand of that Western Confederate army
which, under Bragg, Joe Johnston, or Hood,
Lees fame might have been shared OF dimin-
ished by that of another Virginian luminary.
But impartial history will eventually pro-
l!,1 that it q more impossible to regard
to maintain that Wellington and Butcher were
greater than Napoleon because they defeated
him at Waterloo. If in these few pages we
endeavor, however, inadeqnately, to draw the
attention of English soldiers to Lees great
qualities a commander, especially when act
ing upon the defensive, we do so in the con-
viction that the campaign of 1864 is the finest
specimen of resisting strategy that the history
of any nation, ancient or modern, supplies.
1t deserves as we'll to be studied in this light
by professional critics like Col. Hanlley or
poleon in 1896 to be viewed as a model of
scientific offensive warfare. And we are but
repeating the opinion of the ablest historian
that this campaign Of 1864 has yet found-we
lent book called The Army of the Potomac
when we say that, if the issue of the American
war had depended solely upon the two rival
armies which opposed each other in Virginia,
the Star and Stripes would never have Roated
above the Capitol of Rich mond. Vast as were
the resources in men and material of which in
Grant that Richmond was taken, but by Gen.
Sherman. lfany American doubts the correct |
ness of this view, we beg to refer him to the |
passage in Mr.. Swintons book which describes
the hopelessness and detection of Gen. Grants |
army after their bloody repulse OF Gold Harbor
upon the Sd of June, 1864. But in addition to |
the testimony of Mr.. Swinton, who served
himself with the Northern army, and was an
,cribes, we might easily quote many other
facts which irrefragably substantiate this view,
and dissipate the soPhisms advanced in the
case which our cousins have submitted to the
Arbitrators at Geneva, that the battle of Get
,ysburg was the death of the rebellion.
Whenever the private letters of B1r. Stanton,
The light it will be conceded, even by the
most thoughtless of readers, that if the fate of
he contest had depended solely on Lee and
irant the Great Republic would not to-day be
me and indivisible.
$50 gloomy" says Mr. Swinton, "was the
military outlook after the action at Cold Har-
,or, and to such q degree by consequence had
elaxed, that there was at this time great
LANCER of collapse of the war. The history
# this conflict, truthfully written, will show
his. The archives of the State Department,
When one day made public, will show. how
leeply the Government was affected by the
want of military success, and to what reselu-
ions the Executive had in consequence come.
Had not success elsewhere come to brighten
he horizon, it would have been difficult to
aise new forces to recruit the Army of the
Potomac, which, shaken in its structure, its
,alor quenched in blood, and Thousands of its
lil1od and wounded. the .
Army of the Potomac no more"
In reference to this famous campaign of
hitherto best historian, still stands much in
iced of Jomni Napier, We have but
pace for the following, passage from Gen.
Lees last biographer:
"The campaign of one month";" says Mr..
Cooke, "from May to June a, had cost the the 1
federal commander 10000 men and 5000 &
,fficers, while the loss of Lee did not exceed !
{, 600 men, (of whom few were oficers). The
esult would seem an unfavorable comment
lpon the choice of route made by Con. Grant:
Ten. Mcclellan, fwo years before, had reached "a