The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1882-11-22
Recent Publications.

L
DETAILED MINUTE OF SOLDIER LIFE IN THE
ARMY OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA l06l-1o6o.
By Carlton Mccarthy, Private Second Com
pany Richmond Howitzers, Cutshaw's Bat
talon Artillery, Second Corps, A n. v.
With Illustrations by VIM. L. Sheppard, Esq,
Lieutenant Second Company Richmond How
itzers, A N. V. limo PIP. 224. Price Sl.50
Richmond Carlton Mccarthy Co. 1882.
There is not in human annals more touch
ing and romantic story than that of the " Lost
Cause" No cause ever carried down such
flower of chivalry as rushed to the unmarked
graves that strew the wales and hills of the Con-
federate States. AS time rolls on, fainter and
fainter in the public mind grow the outlines of
those gallant forms around which in the breasts
of few now in middle life, or nearing the al
lotted limit of three-score and ten, linger so
many sweet and tender memories. On those
fatal fields, or in the yet more fatal prison-house
or hospital, persisted in his pride" the darling
of many lovely circle. All that is beautiful
in human life was represented around the camp
fires of those tattered Confederate uniforms
which are so wildly described in this book.
Thank God, in no inconsiderable degree, In
many of those brave hearts burned the flames
bosoms of the sturdy warriors who followed after
the great Puritan soldier of the civil wars of
England. Most appropriately might we breathe
over these
1.-The knights are dead. their swords are rust,
Their souls are with the saints we trust"
The present modest little volume is touchingly
dedicated to the memory of my brother, Ed
ward Stevens Mccarthy Captain First Company
Richmond Howitzers: who fell at Cold Harbor,
June 4, 1864, Confederate soldier"
The author (then mere boy) was, himself.
also, we understand, gallant soldier. We re-
joIce that such one has undertaken to tell the
story not of the Generals" and 1.-The Grand
movements" of that day, but of the everyday
lite of the Confederate private, and we rejoice
that he has proved himself competent to the diff
6culty task which he essayed.
The topics of the various chapters may be
gathered from such headings these: "a
Voice from the Ranks" The Outfit Modified"
Romantic Ideas Dissipatsd" Cooking and
Eating" "O On the March, Camp Fires of the
Boys in Gray" etc., etc
The work is a SEXES of pictures, interpreted
with numerous incidents and anecdotes, of the
Confederate soldier from 1.-The first year of the
war to the close at Appomattox, and the return
home. We regard it as a valuable contribution
to our war literature, and fitting memorial of
that gallant body of men with whom our author
marched for four terrible years. Mr.. Mccarthy
possesses wonderful artistic power in repro
ducing the scenes through which he has passed,
and his volume is written in that fresh, simple
unambitious, but vigorous strain which is char
acteristic of the true painter The language is
always chaste and appropriate; the topics are
well selected; the sketches are always vivid :;
the sentiments are always just and the whole
Is marked by sterling good sense. There are
passages which move us to drop tear over
those dear boys whom so many of us knew and
loved; there are others full of brightness and
humorous incident that mingle our smiles with
that deep tragedy
The book is one to be put in the hands of our
school-boysi to be put in the list of Readers"
in our public schools; it is one to be put in the
hands of our young men and women; it is one
which the survivors" of the grand army"
ought by alImeans to secure if they would
fight their battles Ger again" and revive the
memories of that eventful period
We cannot in brief notice like this make
the quotations Just here which we should like to
make, but we may take occasion to do so in
other columns of this paper at some future day,
and cannot forbear giving in the present issue
the powerful extract published elsewhere enti-
tied, Why the Confederate Soldier Failed" 1t
is the best statement of this point we have ever
seen.
The work is happily illustrated by our gifted
townsman, VIM. L. Sheppard himself lieuten-
ant of the famous Richmond Howitzers, which
numbered so many gallant spirits.