The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-06-10

weather. Tho longest contribution which Lieut.
Wcyprccht has made to the work of his brother
commander is dcs ription of the aurora Of a
coming storm the aurora in its fullest splcn-
dor. No pencil can draw it. no coOrs can
paint it. no words can describe it in all its mag
nilcence. We stand and gaze on the mystery
which nature has written for us in flaming let
tcrs on the dark vault Of night. and ultimately
We can only wonder and confess that in truth
We know nothing Of it,"
should Our Naval History he R-writtenf
Roar-Admiral HENRY WALKE has written
book Aaral Scenes ~ the Cira War n, ne
Inttd Nidies-tF. II. Reed u Goa. in order 10
correct some important porversions and mis-
takes which occur. 1t appears. in the OIL ial and
Othor reports. The current accounts Of the
naval battles. for instance. Of Fort Donelson.
Island No. 10. New Orleans and Memphis are
affirmed hy the author Of this work 10 be too
curt or defective to convey an adequate idea of
those evcntiul engagements. especially Us to the
part taken by the gunboais engaged. and il IL
submitted that an act OF justice to officers and
men atrue and impartial statement should now
be- placed before the country. Tho authorities
on which Admiral Wakes narrative IL based
are the words and letters OF cyc-witncsses
and the loS-boohs Of tho boats. as well us the
oil 'ial records.
W. have had ample means ~ verifying in
this country durin.. the last decade the truth of
Mr.. Froudes ass rtiOn. that tho DIM ultcs Of
writing history. OF reproducing the past ~ il
really WAS. are wcll-nieh insuperahlo since the
part ~ any given chronicle which can be- urc"rt
eel with absolute assurance Is very small. Thus.
the so-c,dlcd Naval II .story Of the Rebellion"
issued under the sanction OF the national Gov
eminent. is dsnaurcd by not a few grave omis-
siuns AMI some strange distortions which could
not easily Ice rvrtlled hy the students OF another
generation. No doubt. the Navy Department
WAS burdencd ana pcrplcNcd 10y "A vast number
of conflicting statements. both official aud prl-
vatc; but after making due allowances on that
score. the shortcomings Of the aboye-named
history remain iueNplicAble except upon the AS
sumption that commanders n-chicf were often
too hasiy in adopting the reports drawn up ty
subordinatcs. The latter found themselves in u
position to make or mar the reputation of many
IN 'crs who accounted the faithful discharge Of
duty the sole proper ground Of promotion and
esteem. but who. for one reason or Hnothcr.wcrc
di-tasisful TO them. There seems. unhnrpiy.
t. hc abundant ld"nrc that ia" makers of such
narratives were not SLOW to profit By their op
portunities
II controversies over tho facts 81 tho late war
are inevitable. it is certainly well that they
should come now. and should be- conducted 10y
the actors In precpitatng thcm Gen. Suer-
mans Memoirs unqut stiouahly did good
service. whatever may hc thought II tho temper
which that book sometimes exhibits. The pres
ont work hy Admiral Wakc Will not only fur
thor the same end. but his dis ussi0us ~ some
nooted questions are so exhaustive that the
reader Will not improbahly incline To- accept his
conclusions ~ nnM. We note in him. too. a
proof ~ candor which is not often encountered