The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1882-10-01
II. Life of Gen. George II. Thomas.

No part of the military history OF tho civil
war has Of Into boon so much the subject OF dis
cussion as the campaigns of 1868 4 In Tonnes
see and northwestern Georgia: md in tho Life
of Major Cen George IT. Thomas. by THOMAS u.
VAN HORNE. U. =. A. (Scribncrs). wo have
valuable and timely contribution to the litern-
turc OF this important topic. In fact. this excel
lent volume which is neither too long nor too
short settles many controversies in regard to
the great rebellion. Chaplain Van Horne was
duly commissioned by Gen. Thomas to write
| the history of tho Army of tho Cumberland.
with which and with the troops constituting 1t
Thomas was identified during the period in
question. BY the study Of this subject. and tho
consequent inter course with Gen. Thomas tho
author naturally became intimately acquainted
| with the character and public services OF that
distinguished soldier; and Immediately after
| his death which occurred in 1870, he determined
to write his biography. He naturally had access
to all tho authentic sources of information con-
troled by the family or friends OF Thomas, and
after ten years Of patient investigation we have
| the result in this volume. 1t has not been
| hastily prepared but every point touched upon
! has been patiently and laboriously examined.
and perfect care has been taken to present it
| in n trustworthy and Ineligible form.
| Over twenty years have elapsed since the be-
| ginning OF the civil war, and over twelve since
the death OF Gen. Thomas. 4 new generation
has come upon the stage to I've educated in the
history Of the country during the struggle
which il passed through for the pre- servntion OF
! the Union and the destruction " slavery For
| this purpose no biography which has yet come
| under ourobscrvu,ion can be studied to greater
| advantage than the one before us whether in
regard to moro historical details. or, what is of
| far greater importance. the character and SER
| Vices Of the actors engaged in the cNtraordi-
/ nary drama.
The young men and women Of the republic
! will find here the story Of a great soldier a
/ pure patriot. and perfect gentleman and to
! them we specially commend II rs an antidote
! for the false n pirntions too frequently cngen-
| dcrcd by the mcrr'ricious lives Of the success
| full politicians and business mon Of the day.
! But tho work under consideration has also
/ great and lasting value to the special student
| OF military history. Ii abound- in the discus
. sion Of interesting professional questions as
well as Of general historical details and in all oi
these it is characterized by Il spirit OF fairness
T and industry in the search for truth.
The author is enthusiastically and lovingly
/ devoted to the character and memory of Gen.
| Thomas and in defending both from unfrend-
| ly criticism he not only spares no pains to get
! at the genuine facts. but he does not hesitate
! to expose what he concciycS to be the false
| prctensions ana bad gcncralship Of others. no
matter what their rank. or whether they are
! living or dead. Ii is within the memory of
many yet with us that Gen. Thomas was
severely criticised for s,owness in the cam
raign Of Fraukiin and Nashville. and that
! honors justly belonging to him were claimed
/ by others. The letter 81 Gen. sctoliold Of Sept
/ 10 1850. to line Society II the Army OF the Cum
/ bcrland; the Life 81 Con. Grant by Adam
] Euinnn and rho history a. - The March a. H..
| sea Franklin and Nashville" by Cen jacob
{ j.. Cox twLich wc shall more fully notice here
! after, have with greater or less severity ami
maLvcrtod upon the conduct Of Thomas. and
sought 10 deprive him of a part Of the credit so
ungrulgingv awarded to him lay the army aud
! the .ountry at large but Mr. Van Horne square
/ ly meets every assertion. and not only sets at
rest the disputed facts but in every instance
rclutns the faisn inlrrcnces and unjust criti-
ciems based upon them. II j. rare that so
much can be Justly said al the work Of any
author; but i, is still more rare that history or
/ biography has had to do With such an eNem-
plary life or such an exalted character as that
/ of George Henry Thomas.
Thomas twas native of Virginia. Of mingled
English aud French parentugo When twenty
years Of age after he had begun the study of
/ law he was appointed to West Point and grad
uaicd there in 1910 rs the twelfth in Il cl,.ss of
! which William I. sherman WA the sixth. His
/ scholarship was good and b.s attachments
/ solid rather than brilliant He was assigned as
a Iieutenan. 10 the Third Regiment of Artil-
lery and after the usual garrison duty in time
/ o! peace saw his first active service in the Mex
Jean war. He took n cons picuous part in the
defence IF Fort Brown and the battles of Mon
/ terey and Bucna Vista securing the brcyet of
| Captnin for gallant and mcritorious services
in the former uNl If Major in the latter. But
what was OF moro importance TO him and the
country was the fact that he established rcpu.
tation throughout the old regular army not
only as an accurate and scientific artillcrist. but
Al an officer Of singular steadincss Judgment.
and ability. After the Mexican var he served
| in Florida against the Indians. was transferred
/ thence to T2Sa- next to Fort Independe nee
Boston Harbor and in 1851 to West Point as
! instructor Of artillery and cavalry After this
tour of duty at the Military Academy he Was
/ ordered to Fort Yuma in Lower California. In
1915 he wu, appointed a Major Of the Second
| Cavalry n newly organized regiment Of which
Albert Sidney Johnston was Colonel. Robert T..
. Lee Lieutrnant- Colonel and VIM. j. Harlee
senior Major These officers were all selected