New-York tribune., 1879-12-23
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
CopuoN,s CAMPAIGN OF THE ARMY OF viR-

-. ,soRpoS Brevet Major General U; s youn-
,csrs svo. pp 4eS. Horchton, Osgoou q ~"
~. ,r.sspt voh,ne which forms complete and
,,aen,ndent work in ITSELF follows the plan OF the
.Uistorv of the Second Massachusetts Regiment,
which was prepared by the author at the request Oh
thesuryiying officers of the regiment IL comprises
the entire history of the campaign OF the Army Oh
Virginia from the Rapidan TO Alexandria, begin
ming with the close of the battle of Cedar Mountain
In the composition of the work General Gordon mas
evidently aimed 20 produce military history anu
military critcism: the volume before us largely IN
cludcs both elements; but is perhaps more OF
criticism than history. In sheathine the sword on
,bore,urn of peace General Gordon has taken pos
session of the pen, which in his hands proves no
less potent weapon than the steel the flow of blood
has given place TO the flow OF ink; but tho heats oi
warfare have not cooled down; the author is as iuii
of fight in the study he ever was IN the hed ms
lool il n battle: aud his words hiss ard scream like
bullets and bombshells The principal objects OF
General GordOn's hostility in this volume are Ueh-
. eral Pope General Haeck aud perhaps General
Ranks against whom. together with Others. he
brings persistent charges of military incompetence
md ill-condnc,, which OF course will not be per-
mitted to remain unchaenged by the persons most
deeply interested in tie authors criticisms. One OF
the earliest comments on General Pope relates to
his behavior after the retreat of the Federal army
70 the left bank OF the RappahannoeA;-
But Popes plans for the future we're no! alone deien
sive ones H Intended 10 remain Drnine DEN v Inv
McCeilau's from the peninsula, when he hoped
spaTs S and rht hm That river flowing between hos
affords security against an attack ih pTooi
tion 10 the douties be overcome IN crossing ~ Is
the r.;Inents Of military science TessII @ rvro
was learned IN some tnins arg ne mus IlI hs Rspian
that tue Rappabanno:k above ine moutno ol tne @
could not inierpose barrier TO the enemys movements
died into an insIs ncant stream. that II fcrdabe
every few miles. and that could lot N iSet nneuSe S
The march of determined foe. That Pope. BEHIND sucD
river In command of that army which i"d ai,ows,u Low,
Si Cedar Mountain should could believe that General
Lee would not dare cross the river IN ms nOnt, OF
that he would allow him await without serious mocs,
fan the arrival OF troops which he had defeated
on Peninsula under Mcclellan; must nave sernSe rs
contemplate crossing the river to resume offensive o@
raons. Yet it Was true thai rogSs ml,"y nesisn oi
was Tor this that the Rappahaunock railway
nrdSe sc caTsrv Had SSsi Snd artillery It was o s thai when
the second Brigade OF Ricketts, Division sitsenea up np
the river a tresile bridge was constructed duinS tne
night OF the Goth, aud 1T was thar the Dridte nssuS
might be hsd Gy dRe sSd battery occupied two
small hills that irom 100 TO 600 yards On the rsh'
bank Of the Rappahannock.
The structures which follow General lIalleck
are in the same spirit bitterly reprcachng the head
of the Army with the desire 70 promote the honor
and glory of Pope at the expense of General Me-
Clellan who is one of the few general officers of
whom the author usually speaks IN terms of warm
enthusiasm
The truth is that HaIeek. from his secure seat in
Washington had urged Pope tO believe IN the possDlny
of creaf achievements the field. Pore boasted with
such veor in his dispatches TO HaecK ,Ist ne b IIsJ
ilcy forgot for time The measure OF usualn Wuich
General Lee who had known him wei III happier times
and ne almost persuaded himself that the Confed
crate commander could be held Oh The ignt hh oi he
Rappahaunock hy salutary dread of MS vior The
effort made by Haleck TO mould John Pope INTO nero
before tns vey oS SysS tSon him for month and those
soldiers OF the Army OF the Potomac who had not Known
10 General Mcclellan. IL Is incredible but Is neon
trovertbe, that as Haeck used his position 10 elevate
Pope he perverted all the powers on
chief with igominy The then fallen cmeiuuno
am, rnops T I from the Peninsula to Aequia Geek and
10 Alexandria, to join Pore on the Rlppanann1eS, zen
know what his relations with his Old army were 10 be
But 20 oil these appeals haeen & mna'e" % n ,S S sih
of August Mcclellan had addressed pathetic mole TO
Word might be uttered from Washington In praise Of The
conduct OF his army at dorhto% NV IVES, 81
the seven days fight and recent retreat ASK tnis
wI0,e N MeSsl6 ser Them bnt myscf BIt to even this re-
onest no reply was deigned by the grim chieftain
General Jackson to allow him 10 bury his dead aud sue
cor MS wounded upon the disastrous field OF Cedar
mt sarS rS oe GShI had %o "e
TO unite two armies operating at distant points WITHIN
much depends upon rapidty OF movement and rapdity
and soldiers the Army Of The Potomac in
It's union with the Army of Virginia could have been
fortunes that than by the Indifference shown oy
dent 10 the soldiers Of the Army OK the Potomac that
alleck meant all his influence and bis power 10
degrade their commander. He censurcd him WIN scod-
ing letters and contemplate nnucndoes Tor his delay
although 1t Is undisputed that haI1y nad foPe ops
sie"mers crowded with troops sailed from the
Peninsula Tor Acquia Creek and for Alexandra.
Mcclellan used every TO dispatch his troops 10
Pope But 1t hardly the wisest method OF securing
for Pope bearies service to treat WIN open con,
enpt The commander whom the soldiers OF the Army OF
The Potomac loved with passionate fervor; ana whose
failure before Richmond they believed 10 DC s,s que TO
cd dlesD
mander's campaign Yet this was the course pursued
by Hseck for his ana % wSo ad se ss
mis- chief. and who might In the near future be re.
stored TO his old rank In all is dispatches, and in all
bS plans for his campaign. through days of toll and
OF iii temper, through nights OF slrepesspess ana OF
pain 10 elevate Pore and degrade Mcclellan was ever
The bitter and relentless pursuit ofdhc GoneranChief
4" Zen ss be Information which should have been given
10 enable Mcclellan render efficient service Tor the
In Ss,1 did General Mcclellan humble himself before
his chie and words OF humility beg OF Haleck II he
ccmnnce eS@ to him fully the state Of affairs ana his
plans then be would be abe 70 arrange % & details n
he should accompany his troops 10 Acquia creek, or
saoSa nrS1 u ao se,entIy Illuminated Mcclellan hasten
"a 10 avert the wrath OF Iaecks accusations OF delay
az forwarding troops TO Pope, by assuring him that he
had moi lost a hour in sending forward his troops that
he would put his own headquarters on board snip early
,osnt's notice that Frankins corps with him. and
that he would try 10 get OH some OF his troops TO
night" -, ., ,.., ,,o o,oo,,o,o farm. g.,
which General McSsm an cny m ~" Of OF crS n
the hour OF his triumph aiDcd thc genetanchel over
,ich as he had informed his army when Lee at
mis- fron there lufked disaster and shame Pope was
fhcre could be NO two Rchmonds in the field Further
retreat must be arrested. Without exposing his own
marches to the his of hunger TO the OF wasted
land 70 The hell Of southern ,nS
wrote hm and thus the degradation and humiliation OF
an complete.