The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1875-09-02

General Sherman launched against th
place in assault. In his subsequent vol
umes the historian will have the advantag
OF the Mentors" +" and will not be likel-
to differ from General Sherman on am
point unless compelled by stronI
conutervaiIing evidence. If he has seen thi
"Memoirs" since the new volumes wer,
ready for publication he probably preferred
to make the few corrections needed in tht
form of note to the next volume rather
than change the plates after the edition had
gone to the binders. We may at any
rate, tr1st his scrupulous fidelity to facts
so far as he has the means of ascertainine
them. We have alluded TO this sub
/ ject chiefly to illustrate the impor-
tance to future historians of such works as
those of Generals Sherman and Johnston
| President Lincoln comes more fully into
| view in these volumes than in their
| predecessors. The final chapter of the fourth
volume. which contains recital of all that
was done on the great subject of emancipa-
ton up to the time of the final proclama-
ton, is written with great clearness of
insight and an appreciation of President
Lincoln's course which shows that the au-
thor's mind is entirely free from any bias
derived from the views of General McClel-
| Ian. The Compte de Paris discusses this
subjecE with great penetration, justifying
every step taken by the president, from the
protection of fugitive slaves in the
camps and the enrolling of them as
soldiers up to the second and final
proclamation of emancipation. He also
recognizes the great impediment to such
steps which existed in the public sentiment
of the border states. and thinks President
LincOln's slowness and caution was as wise
and prudent as his final action was necessary
and inevitable. Ofthe propriety of the earlier
steps, the Compte de Paris speaks in this de-
cided tone: The protection accorded to the
quence of the war; their enrolment in the
federal armies was the second" He warmly
indOrses MIR. Lincoln at every stage CT his
progress toward emancipation: 1.-THE day
came when be took his part, coursgeously as
sumed the responsibility of it on himself,
and executed it with resolution. We believe
that
HE CHOSE THE oPPoRTUNE MOMENT,
it was Immediately after the battle of Antie-
tam, and this great decision was like re-
sponse to the invasion by the Confederate
army of the states faithful TO the Union"
In speaking of the second and final procla-
nation the author says: "That procla-
nation, sufficient to render the name of its
author illustrious, marked the beginning of
year destined to be more bloody than the
year 1Se2. 1t inaugurated at the same time
a new period, and the struggle, extricated
from all the remembrances OF past conces-
sions, took thereafter its veritable
character. 1t could terminate only by
the complete abolition of slavery on
the soil of the Republic, or by the triumph
of that institution in the greatest part of the
American continent under the protection of
the confederation, aggrandiZed and all pow
erful. At the epoch at which we leave the
recital of military events, after the terrible
defeat of the federals at Fredericksburg,
their serious check before Vicksburg and
their barren victory at Murfreesboro, the
most optin,ist spirits of the North began to
doubt the success of their cause" We have |
translated this impressive paragraph, with |
which the author brings his volume to |
close, in order that American readers may |
perceive the authors Just sppre.
ciation Of the real character of
the struggle whose events will be
learned from his. pages by a majority of
European readers in this generation. This |
admirable history has no tinge ofMcClel- |
lsnism, though 1t does full justice to the |
military capacity of that general; nor does |
it bestow indiscriminate praise on President |
Lincoln, but treats all the actors in the war |
with the enlightened imparriality of q mind |
OF perfect candor and scrupulous moral |
rectitude. The comte dwells in detail upon |
the circumstances of McClellan's displsce- |
ment from the command of the army of the |
Potomac, and defends that gentleman with |
all of his great ability, as he was a member |
of his staff at the time. In this connection |
he admits entertaining sentiments of pro- |
found gratitude ana or faithful |
friendship for his former chief. |
Among the subjects comprised in these vol |
umes upon which opinions are expressed, |
in connection with full recital of the facts, |
are the blockade, the finances of both parties |
to the war, the suspension of the habeas
corpus, the case of Gen. Fitz John Porter, |
Gen. Buffers rule in New Orleans and the |
rising merits of Gen. Grant, who had not |
yet established bis fame by the most skillful |
OF all his military enterprises, the capture of |
Yicksburg. We have not space Tor extracts
on these interesting topics, the chisf object |
of this notice being to call the attention of
readers of the earlier volumes TO the fact |
that they can now extend their acquaintance |
with so reliable historian.