National Republican., 1876-02-07
The Army Of the Cumbsrland-Van Horns's
History.


We have received from Mr.. George Ban
croft, sole agent for this city, copy of Van
Hornes History of the Army of the Cum
berland," just issued by Robert Clarke & Co.,
of Cincinnati. The work embraces two VOL
umes of text, Of about $50 pages each, and one
volume OF maps. The latter are twenty-five
in number, and were drawn from actual sur
veys, made with great care, and executed in
the highest style of typographical art. They
give, with extreme accuracy, the positions of
the Union and Confederate forces, and in and
of themselves settle some OF the most impor-
tant disputed points in reference to the part
taken by each division of the Union forces in
these battles over which general controversy
has arisen.
The first volume opens with comprehen-
sive account of the condition of affairs in Ken
lucky at the opening of the war, and sets forth
in clear Hight the great strength and import
ance of the Union movement in Kentucky
during tho first months of the war. The
oiium which properly attached to what was
styled Kentucky nrutr.llity was so great as
at tho time largely to obscure the noble ec-
forts Of the strong band of Union men in that
State.
This volume gives to these efforts their
proper place in the history of the war. Sup
ported by them, the Army of the Cumberland
came into being under General George II.
Thomas, and the earnest assistance which he
received from the Union officers of that State
did much to impress upOu this army marked
and cOmmendablc characteristics.
The statements of military movements are
made throughout from the inside knowledge
of affairs possessed by General Thomas himself,
and the official papers relating to the same
were placed at the disposal of Mr.. Van Horne
so far as General Thomas himself had access
TO them. There were some which he does not
seem to have had in his possession, which
somewhat modify one or two of the positions
of the book, but speaking generally of the i'm
pOrtant movements of that army and of its
battles the work is by far the most accurate
history of any OF the great Union armies which
has vet appeared. It was completed two
years before General Sherman's " Memoirs
were published, and while it affords important
material by which to test the accuracy of the
9 'MCmOir:, it was net published as an answer
to General Sherman. From the fact that it
was first written it is the more valuable as q
work with which to study the C. Memoirs
The history OF Shiloh is exhaustive, and con-
clusively shows that the Union army was iucx-
cusably surprised there.
The account of the battle of Chickamauga
is given with 4 minutencss of detail which en-
ables the reader to fully comprehend every
feature of that greatly misunderstood and
widely misrcpresented action. 1t brings again
to notice the cause for the partial disaster to
the Union lines on the second day, and while
it does not relieve General RosecranS from the
responsibility of the order which led to the
break, it certainly makes it necessary for Gen
cral Thomas j. Wood. who Withdrew his diYi-
sion in the face of the enemy, AMI thus allowed
the COntederatcs to march unoppOscd through
the centre and TO the rear of the Union lines.
to answer to the country anew for his rcspon>i-
bility in that affair.
The battle of Chattanooga, including the
attack of Lookout Mountain AID the storming
of Missionary Ridge, receives the attention.
which the brilliancy and Importance of these
battles demand. The condition of affairs
about Chattanooga are set forth with care and
accuracy, and the fact that General Shcrman's
army was not relieving army, since the line
of supplies had been fully opcm nearly three
weeks before he arrived. COncluSiVely appears.
The look holds to what is tradition in the
Army of the Cumberland rather than fact in
regard TO the stOrming Of Missionary Ridge,
the tradition being that the assault was owing
to the enthusiasm of the subaltcrn officers and
men, acting without orders; the fact being, as
General Grant sets forth in his report, that
the Army of the Cumberland was moved for.
ward in the first place with the intention of
reaching the summit of the ridge. This fact
is also established by the reports of general
officers whose troops took part in the assault.
The story OF the Atlanta campaign is more
fully told than in any previous history, and
this would naturally be the case since the
Army of the Cumberland itself formed about
three fifths of Sherman's entire army at that
time.
Tie march to the sea and the subsequent
operations about Savannah and the Campaign
northward through the Carolilas also receive
full attention, and many new facts heretofore
locked up in the records in regard to those
movements are brought to light.
One of the most interesting portions of the
work is that which treats OF the campaign in
Tennessee, closing with the battles of franklin
and Nashville. 1t is this campaign which, per-
haps, more than any other, brings out the great
abilities ofGeu. Thomas as soldier and as gen
erai, and the narrative given by Van Horne is
the only history of this great campaign worthy
of the name. No reader can examine this por-
ton of the work without becoming satisfied
that 1t was the success which crowned this
campaign in Tennessee which alone indicated
the march to Savannah.
The last volume contains a more complete
history Of the cavalry operations in connection
with the campaign through Tennessee and
Georgia than has yet been published. II does
proper honor TO the mastery operations of
Gen. James ii. Wilson, who directed the cav
airy on these lines during the last year of the
war. Ills achievements fully yindicated the
action Of Gen. Grant in assigning him to COM
maul i'm the midS, of that preat "a m nai6n