Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1874-04-18
New Publications,

NARRATIVE OF MILITARY OPERATIONS d.
RECTED DURING THE LATE WAR OF THE
STATES. By Joseph Il. johnson, G. )
A. Illustrated by steel-plates and maps.
New York: ID. Appleton * Co. Through
the Washington agent for its sale, NJ. 4l2 Ia
street,
This work, which has been looked for with 80
much interest, both on account of the military
reputation OF the author and the hearty en-
couragement given TO its production by lesdIn.
military authorities on both sides in the late
combat, appears with the following modest and
concise introduction: 81 offer these pages a.
my contribution of materials for the use OF the
future historian OF the war between the states
The narrative throughout is marked by the same
modesty and trankness, though it is IN the
tuTe OF defence OF his military operations
against the acrimonious censures OF JEFF. Davis.
The first feature OF special interest in the book
Is the narrative OF the battle OF Bull Run, and
hls march from the Valley TO the support OF
BeauregaTd on that occasion He sta e., with
The candOr above noted, that in that battle, at
he tactics of the Federals had been equal to
their strategy, We should have been beaten. IL
instead Of being brought into action in detail,
their troops had been formed i'll two lines with
proper reserve. and assailed Bee and jackson
IN that order, the two Southern brIgades must
have been swept from the field in few minutes
OF envelOped. General Mcdowell would have
made such formation probably, had he
not greatly under estimated the strength OF
nis enemy" As regards the censurc bestowed
upon him by the ''non- cOmbatant military
critics" for his failure to capture Washington
after that battle he points out at consider
able length the military conditions that for bude
An attempt on Washington. Among these was
the fact that ''the confederate army was more
1isorganized by victory than that OF the United
States by defeat. The Southern volunteers be-
lieved that the object OF the war had been &C
cOmp!ished by their victory, and that they had
achieved all their country required of them.
Many, therefore, in ignorance OF their military
obligations, left the army not to return"
Again, there was the unftIess OF raw troops for
marching OF assailiDg Intrenchments, the want
OF supplies and transportation, the lnterp0si
ton OF the immense Notifications OF Washing
ton mounted by at least 50 900 Federal troops,
bali OF whom had not suffered defeat; and the
presence upon the mile-wida Potomac of
United States vessels, the heavy guns OF which
commanded the wooden bridges and southern
shore. He Gays in this connection: "As we had
none of the means OF besieging, an immediate
assault upon the forts would have been una
voldGb!e; II would have been repealed, inevi-
taby, and our half supply of ammunition ex-
hausted; and the enemy previously increased
10 20 900 men by the army from Harper's Ferry.
and become the victorious party, could and
would have renewed their march TO Richmond
without fear OF further opposition. And, il We
had miraculOusly been successful in our assault,
the Potomac would have protected Washington
and rendered our further progress impossible"
ASH has always been fruitful topic OF spec
ulation what would have been the result mad
the confederate troops advanced on Washing
ton alter Bull Run, il is q matter OF interest 90
know what were the views OF perhaps the best
Q,
death OF Gen. Sidney Johnston. Gen. Johnson's
theory throughout the war was that "the con-
iederacy was too weak for offensive war" and
that waging it only served to rouse the spirit OF
the northern people, as was shown by the re-
suits OF Sharpsburg and Gettysburg with
formidable, well-drilled armies, - directed by
Lee, aided by Longstreet and jackson" II was
also Gen. Johnson's opinion that the confed-
crate forces should be massed to crush this or
that assailant, and not scattered over a vast
extent OF territory. These ideas, and his Fa-
rAfT m Inr aI.r-
perior enemy, gained for him the inveterate
hostility Of JEFF. Davis, causing his supersedure
by Lee in the East and by Hood in thu West; sll
OF which is duly set forth in this " Narrative"
AS this Is quite sure to form standard work on
the Rebellion, we would suggest that in future
editions the number of maps and diagrams OF
creased. Those in the present volume are good
IN quality, but the number is not sufficient tor
the full calculation of the text
FAMOUS CASES OF CIRcuMsrANTIAL EvI-
DENCE. With an introduction on the Theory
OF Presumptive Proof. By s. n. Phillips
author of "Phillips on Evidence" Boston:
Estes & LauriAt. Through X. b. Mohun &
Col
Since the lecent publication of this book the
different cases of circumstantial evidence, gath
cred with 90 much industry and set forth in such
admirable terms, have been so largely quoted
by the press as to be already quite familiar to
the reading public. OF yet more importance,
general readers Is the exceedingly clear and able
Introductory article on the theory of presump-
tive proof.
ARAADALR. A novel. By wilkie Collins. New
York: Harper & Brothers. Through j. C.
Parker.l
This Cfrom the popular library edition of Col
Inns novels, published by Harper & Bros.,) is,
IN the opinion OF its author one OF the best In
conception, plot, and execution of any of his
series. Though not pleasing, as q whole, the
hoiu upon the reader made by IL is something
remarkable. As specimen of the successful
elaboration Of an intricate plot il is worthy of
study apart from its n ere interest as a story