New-York tribune., 1878-10-15
NEW PUBLICATIONS.

A REBELS REcoLLECTIQNs. BY GEORGE CAbi pns 5s
Sa1S,s SanGS Soma S'''"' -0N-'''
The freshness of description, the frankness
Of statement and the spirit OF excellent good humor
which mark this volume full warrant lot lIs up
pearance in a new edition within few years from i's
original publication Mr. EggesOn appears TO nave en-
tered the Confederate service after the commence
ent Of the Civil War. He found the army at that tme
but little more than mob Of illarmed young gentle
men from the country. Every gentleman In virginia
capable service promptly enlisted at the first call to
arms and the companies, unframed, and hardly even
organized, sent at once 70 camps OF In
ptructon. They taught the rudiments OF the
drill before being ordered 10 the front, ana IL
was not until after year or more In the neld that
they began to comprehend the real work OF the modern
soldier The volunteers went TO of their own Accord
and we're wholly unaccustOmed TO acting otherwise than
on their own notion They were ardent lovers OF held
spOrs addicted outdoor life, ana presenting excellent
material in all physical respects, for the formation OF
an army. But they were unused TO any control Ihey
pbeyed orders drill only because obedience was essen
tial TO success Of drill they did they pleased, Ike
gentlemen bound TO consult only their own Wills The
Tprit OF democratic equality pervaded the whoie mass
Oflcers were no better than men. They messed ana
,eut together without distinction Of rank 1t was in
this undiscplined state that the men who afterward
made up the army under Lee were sent to meet the
enemy at Bull Run and elsewhere The only wonder Is
that they were able fight at all They certainly were
not soldiers and knew little Of the duty Of obedience
as did their officers OF the art of commanding. Their
personal spirit and intelligence the sole elements
Of their strength. They needed officers and no disc
pne 10 insure their good conduct the field Of battle
The spirit animated the great body Of the people
They did not entertain the question Of success or defeat
They resolved do their duty without regard to
the consequences Their whole heart was in the cause
and even without hope they would have fought the
same "Ths spirit Of the people," says Mr.. Eggeaton,
=" was simply marvellous. So long as the question OF
under discussion, opinions were both va
rious and violent. The moment secession was finally
determined upon, revolution was wrought There
was longer anything to discuss, aud 80 discussion
ceased. Men got ready for war, and delicate women
with equal spirit sent them of with smiling faces The
man who tarred home for brief time, after
the call to arms had been given found 1t necessary to
explain himself to every woman OF his acquaintance,
and no explanation sufficient 20 shield him from
the social ostacsm consequent any long arrying
Throughout the war 10 the same and When the war
ended the men who lived to return were greeted with
sad faces by those who had cheerfuly and even joy
Ousy sent them forth to the batte The women Of the
sOutb is wen known, formed an important element
in the great conflict. No sacrifice for
them 10 meet with cheerful resolution. Poverty and
priyation OF the sorest kind the common lot They
denied themselves delcacy, and even suffered for
want Of food, when their abstinence could add TO the
stock for the of the soldiers.
The financial condition Of the South after the break
ing out Of the war described by the author in bis most
vigorous style. first thought easy thing TO
make wealth of nothing by revolutions OF the print
ing press Every not too lazy to gather free dollars
into pile TO be made rich by act OF Congress At
first the scheme worked to a charm. The whole people
was rich. Money easy and everybody had enough
The currency consisted Of treasury notes. which were
issued in unlimited quantities. Money easily got,
and its value wholly uncertain that could de-
ternine what fair price for anything People got
into the habit Of paying whatever was asked knowing
that by tomorrow they would have 70 more The pa
TfusNaA tn
ate Itwas "absolute fiat money and such the people
took 1t payment for goods The effect, as described
by Mr. EggestOn, at frlghtful and udicrous
1.-THE prices which obtained were almost fabulous, and
sngulary enough there seemed to be sort OF ratio
existing between the values OF different articles.
bought coffee at $40 aud tea at $50 pound on the
same day. Ny dinner at hotel cost me $50, while
So gained a seat in the dress-circle Of the |
theatre. paid 81 the next morning for copy Of The
Examtner, but might have got The Rhi0 Dispatch |
EQHirer, Sentinel, for half the sum- For some !
wretched taow candles paid $40 pound. The utter
absence of proportion between these several prices is
apparent aud know Of Of explaining IL except
upon the theory that the unstable the money
had supernduced reckless disregard Of all value the
part Of both buyers and sellers. acetOus friend used
20 soy prices high that nobody could them,
and that they got mixed for want Of supervision. lie
held however that the difference between the old and
the order OF things trihng one Before the
war he said, L went to market with the money
In my pocket, and brought back my purchases |
in basket; now I take the money in the |
basket, and bring the things home in my pocket"
The Government attempted to relieve the trouble by
new issues OF paper this only made matters
The financial condition went from bad to worse till
the close Of the "The highest price," says Mr..
Eggleston, 81 saw paid was for pair Of boots.
cavalry officer. entering little country store, found
there one pair OF boots which fitted him. He inquired
the price. Two hundred dollars said the merchant |
five hundred dollar bill offered but the merchant
having smaller bills, could change IT, Never
mind said the cavalier. 'Pn take the boots anyhow
Keep the change never let little matter OF three
hundred dOllars stand In the way of trade'" The
"fiat money" was Of little value that 1t gladly
parted with whenever it would purchase anything at
all desirable. Mr. Eggeston paid So the last Of the
for little salt and being thirsty drank his remain
ing 81 IN half pint OF cider Gold at last 10
twelve thousand per cent premium, when new order
Of things introduced by the return Of peace.
Mr. EggestOns whole narrative, It viii be perceived,
is no less rich in instruction entertainment 1t
could not have been amusing If the author had
himself up humors but its graver aspects will not
fail 10 attract the attention OF rejecting readers and
the lessons which they impart will be found to be im
pOrtant they are seasonabe.
TRUE MEN AS WE NEED THEM. BY the Rev BKRNARD
O'RELLT svO. PIP. 400. Peter f. Collier
The true conduct of life under the influence
OF religious principle, in the social aud domestic rela
ons here set FORTH illustrated by the example Of
noble and sanity men in different ages and countries
yhUu treating the subject from the standpoint Of the
Roman Catholic Church, the author holds up standard
Of universal validity, and enfOfces tho principles Of
character that are essential In every order and cOndi
lion Of society, and under every theory Of religious
faith. necessity Of practical religion the support
Of human welfare is dwelt upon with empna-
sis and elOquence. Nor does he spare the
prevalent vices of the day, but rebukes them
with tone Of decision