New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-10-29


picture of poor old General Patterson frItterlng
away the reputation of lifetime, will be sure TO
fix themselves in the readers memory. The mill-
tary operations included in the scope of the book
comprise the first affairs in Missouri the West Viz
gna campaign which made McClelan's early repu-
tation. the futile marches and counteImarches OF
Patterson. and some smaller enterprises, and they
close with the battle Of Bull Run. TO which Mr..
Nicolay devotes his last four chapters. 1t would
be dif6cuIt TO find a more graphic and Ineligible
account of this famous engagement than is here set
before us 1t brings an admirable work to lifting
literary climax.
The second volume of the series is from the pen
of the Hon. NJ. F. Force. formerly Major-General
commanding the first division of the Sevent enth
Corps and now Justice Of the Superior Court or
Cincinnati II covers certain operations in Miss
ouri repeating in detail few incidents briefly told
bv Mr. Mic. Law: the capture of Forts Henry ana
Doneson the successes of General Pope and Com
modore Footc at New-Madrid and Island No. Ten :;
the battle of Shiloh and the siege of Corinth. The
book offers n strong contrast in style and method 10
Mr.. Nicolay's and that is just what might have
been expected from the nature of the topics Judge
Force presents a calm and mnutely careful nara
tive of battles, investments, and strategy cal
mannuvres in some of the most important OF when
he had personally an honorable share. His climax
s found in the exhaustive account of the battle OF
Shiloh. TO which he dcvoteS two long and compact
chapters. The distinguishing merits of his work are
severe simplicity and directness os style. ndomlf-
able patience and ingenuity in the search for facts
How Through his investigations have been we can
infer from the varied and important authorizes
mentioned in his preface. 4 good specimen OF his
literary workmanship is the following account OF
the escape Of Flovd from Fort Henry:
In thc night General Floyd and General Bnckrer
mot with General Pillow and his staff. Mt General
Pillows headquarters. 10 CONSIDER the sltnn''on.
After some recrimination between Pillow and Bnck-
ner whether the intention and plan had been 80
commence the retreat directly from th" 'attlchc,l,
or first 20 en- wav ont and then return 10 t'r
works oquip for march and retreat nv nieht;u
Wa agreed 10 "vrCpate that night and marrh or nv
tbp ground which had been g9Ined. Pillow ordered
the chief quartrrmaser and the chief commits to
burn the stores at halfnaSt IN the morning. f'c-
cqufiOn was taken, however, before Actually pre-
pairing Cor the movement 10 send ont scents 10 see
l. the way was still clear. The scouts returned
with report that he National force, had rroccuped
the ground. THIS being dnuhted, other scouts were
sent out who brought the same report III more pos
tive terms Pillow proposed 20 cut wa ont;
Ruckncr .aid that was now impossible. and Flovd
acguiecced. Pillow nj last asscntcd 10 this. but
proposed 10 hold the fort at least ono day ongr and
take the chances OF getting ont. Bnckner said that
impossible; a Judgment had been made IN me
key of his position: assault would certainly follow
ms aS II was light. and he could not withstand
IT, II was remarked that no alternative was eft
Int To surrender General Flovd said he wouh
never surrcndrr-he would die first. Pillow sad
substantially the same. BUckncr said, If he were
in command. he wou'd surrender and share the fate
of the garrison. FLOYD uquIrcdof Burbncr. "If The
command IN uld deyolve on YOU would Won permit
me to take ont my brigadcY" To which BncKncr
replied Yes if Won leave before the terms of capt.
ulatiOn are agreed on Forrest asked. " Gent cWcu,
have leave to cut my way 0utW Pillow answered,
Yes sir, cu your way out and asked. is there
ANYTHING wrong in my leavlngi' Floyd replied;
Every person must iudec for himself of that"
Whcreupom General III low SAID. " Then shat, Levy
this place" General How'd turned 10 General Pillow
and told him, Genera Pillow, turn the command
over SIR General Pillow said, And pass A."
General Bucner said. And assume it, and coun-
fernandez the order for the destruction of the com
missaTy and quart"gn1s'cr stores, and orieIed
white flags to be prepared and bugler to report 10
him.
At II o'clock that night Floyd tclcrrarhcd 70 Cen
eral a. =. Johnson 81 nous victory. Four hours
later. ut tho close OF the counc or conference he
telcgraphcd " We are completely invested hy an
army many times our numbers. regret 10 say the
unanimous opinion of the officers seems 20 hr that
We cannot maintain ourselvc. against these forces
Colonel Forrest reported that upon examination
he found that deep mud and water made an Escape
by land between The investing force and the nver
mpTaCtlrablc for infantry. Forrest marched ont
with all the cavalry hut Gantts Tennessee battalion
and two companies Of Helms Kentucky cavalry
taking with him the horses Of Por'er'- battery and
about two hundred men OF vIrious commands
There was not q steamboat af the landing General
Floyd had sent al up the river with wounded anl
pllNbiI'lr N'I II ~NllA ~ iNli '''tIN wv l'H'l u
little latbOqt or sCow wl. got hy some means from
the other side of the river and on this General Pi
low crossed the river with ms stan and Colonel
Gilmcr Two steamboats, returned al d1vbrc1k
one of them bringing about .our hundred raw
troops The ,Our hundred raw troops were dumped
on shores and Floyd took possession OF the boats
FLOYD, brigade. consisting Of four Virginia rgi-
ments and the 2Ofh Mi--issi pj. had been divided
during TIE siege. The four Virginia regiments were
organized into two nrGalcs, and the 2Oth Mis~is-
slppl attached 20 another command. Two virginia
regiments were icrrt,d accrps- the river ana the
2Olh Mississippi. understanding that they were 10
be taken on bulri with Floyd. stood on guard and
kept OH the growing crowd OF clamOrous soldiers
while he other two Virginia regiment, embarked
The rope was cut and Floyd steamed mp the river.
leaving the 2Oth Mississippi aud his aid-dc-camp,
Lieutenant breckenridge Drake behind. II was
said aitcrwaId that word wI- received from General
BuckucT that the boat must leave at once, or II
Woul not bc allowed 10 leave.