The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1873-12-05

inS 1mihtoh DOCK may suppose that his
story is Objectionable because of the breyity-
with which he treats this great feat but
thls oreFlty Is enforced, and is, think, im-
partially observed.
Rev. Mr. Jones complains that no mention
is made by Swinton Of the battles of Cross
Keys and Port Republic. By way of Offset.
I may remark that neither does Swinton
mention Kernstown, where Jackson "lost
twenty per cent. of his force in very few
hours of conflict and suffered his almost
only repuse.
2. His next criticism is in the following
words:
''Passing by numerous errors in his account
of the seven days battles, we come next to
his version OF the battle of Cedar Noun
tain (page 262),-' Cedar Run mountain is
the correct name-in which he says Banks
was able to hold Jackson in check for some
time; but when the main Confederate force
arrived Banks had to retreat
"Now, the truth is that the 'main Con-
fedcrate force under General Lee did not
join Jackson for some days after he had
whipped Banks, with the whole of Popc's
| army at his whipped him SO badly
| that he drove him over two miles, and the
QuartermaSter was compelled to ask for q
flag of truce to bury his dead"
AS to the criticism on The name employed
by Swinton to designate this engagement
| can only say that neither Of the histories COM
| mendcd by Rev. Mr.. Jones would afford lis
| any relief Holmes calls the battle Cedar
Mountain, (p. 2SI), and Mcdonald & Black
burn call it by precisely the same name (p.
| 1867.
| think Rev. Dir. Jones misintcrprets the
phrase "main Confederate force" here.
presume Swinton referred to the remaining
| troops under Jackson. Pollard (LoSt Cause,
| p. 303) describes this battle as changing in its
prospects throughout the day, and adds: "Thc
| fight was maintained with obstinacy between
| the enemy and the two brigades just named,
when rei1torcements coming up Il general
| charge was made, which drove the enemy"
| &c. But if Rev. Mr.. Jones thinks that
| Swinton sights this important engagement,
| what must be think of his fayorito, Holmes? !?
| Here is every word he has to say Of this ac
| ton:
"His (Pope'>) van, under Banks. was de-
| (eatcd by Jackson at Cedar Mountain " 9th
| Of August.
5. Rev. Mr. Joucs'S next objection is to
Swinton's account of the battle of Autietam,
| which is as follows:
The combat ragged all day; but the Union
| army held the ground, and Lee was COM
PEELED to recross the Potomac into the Shcn-
andoah valley"
| Now, Rev. Mr. Jones complains of this
because he happened TO hear General Lee
say that :" he held the Chicf part Of the bat
| tle-tield"; but he also heard General Lee
say that, for reasons emincntly satisfactory,
"Ithonght IL most prudent to cittdra,r the
nert night, and accordingly did so arithout
m0lestuti0n and lcithout loss"
| These two statements are as nearly con-
current as they could well he without iden-
tity. Certainly the objection savors of what
the lawyers call "sticking in the bark"
{. His last criticism is as to the account OF
the battle of Gettysburg, and his first COM
plant is that Ewcll's capture Of Winchester
and A. Z. Hills first days fight ut GcttyS-
burg are not mentioned But on turning
to Mcdonald Il Backburn's History find
no mention Of Winchester and no reference
to \. Z. Hill or General Ewcll rs havin.
anything to do with Gettysburg, although
the first day slight is mentioned. The truth
is, Il thousand facts must be omitted Of ncccS-
>ity in histories so compressed as these, aud
if Mcdonald & Backburn's History, Of 500
large duodecimo pages, omits such incidents
Swnton's History, of 800 small duodecimo
may be pardoned.
. Rev. Mr. Jones continues:
Gle places the Confederate loss ut Get
tysburg at 'oCcr thirty MouSaad'-a gross
exaggeration-o oil mention of the Fed
eral loss, which was much greater than ours
: and says Lee rctrcatcd after this battle ht
rccrossed The Shenandoah &c, without the
slightest mention of the pregnant facts that
he remained in line of battle at Gettysbur!
, tor over twenty-four hours after the filiur,
of his attack OH the heights, that he fell bacl
very deliberately, and at Hagerstown TO
several days threw down the gage of battle
!. which Meade did not dare to accept
. First. is the statement of the Confederat
loss at Gettysburg at 10000 gross eraggt
ration?
Now, let us see if we can prove thi
charge or disproye it by the histories whic
Mr.. Jones commends.
Holmes says (page 29G) that the Feder6
loss in this battle was " more than $4,000.
!, Mcdonald s. Blackburn say (page 451)
"The loss on both sides was great, th
CoNFEDERATEs SUFFERING THE MOST"
Dir. Jones utfirms that the Federal loss /
that battle was "much greater than ours"
do not propose to consider that question
, but refer him TO the historian he praises
with whom, and not with Mr.. Jones, ha
to compare SwntOn.
Mr. Jones also complains that Swintol
, makes no mention of Lees remaining in lin
: of battle ut Gettysburg for over twenty-fou
} hours after the failure Of his attack on th
heights; and, | reply, neither does McDo
nald & Blackburn's History make such
= statement. That book presents this accoun
+, only:
! might closed the bloody scene. Lee
) foiled in every attempt, and by this time eX
: baustpd of ammunition, determined to with
{ draw"
$ do not regard the further objections a
e fair in themselves. As have said before
: when a man is required TO compress th
5 story of a four years gigantic war into
o space not as large as leaf OF the DlSpdtc'
| il is idle to expect him, and unjust TO require
Y him, TO consume bis precious sentences will
VI informing child that General Lee on par
o ticular occasion 'retired very deliberately
? that ON another he threw down for severa
G days q gage of battle which was not ac
0 cepted, &e. r,u.,
t graphs, or for the leisurely pace of the hlsto
: rian. who writes at will. They are pleasure
j. denied TO one who must condcnsc merclless
d lv. That this condensation is not perSerte
$ to our prejudice have, trust, shown D
: MANY Illustrations, and can and will,
n needed, show by many more. One is pr'
: sented by the open page OF S"inton no'
t before me. Gettysburg is regarded by I'll
North its great victory, and to it sWlnto
devotes siz Scant lines page 2G'). Chance
| lorsyille might be regarded rs ours. 10
: SWintOn deyotcS three times as many (pas
i 2G6).
take leave of this matter for the presen
confidently submitting TO the reader tb