The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1882-10-22

world till long after complete and overwhelming
victory had indicated the wisdom OF Thomas 3
policy.
The author gives great praise to Gen. Wilson
for his management OF the campaign into CEN
trail Alabama and Georgia. and especially for
the capture OF Selma and the defeat OF Forrest.
after another delay which had enabled him to
increase tho cavalry to 1900 mon mounted
and 10 900 dismounted. and to still further in
crease its efficiency by drill. equipment and
organizations but. true to his disposition to
criticise the subordinates and to spare those in
authority over him. he says: The march to
Macon had none Of the military Significance
OF the brilliant and instructive campaign
against Forrest. In u strategic point OF view
It was departure from the sound principles
campaign. Two-thirds Of Forests corps was
yot, taken. His true objective was west
Let us s9 eonsdcr ths statement Il should be
remembered that Wilson had already defeated
Forrest and ,eyscerated central alabama m az, de-
crate depot for the manufacture Of military
munitions that ne a was cHt 9if from Ia, all com,
knew or could learn. Lees army was still in.
tact, and that the great and final battle q the
war must b 81 be fEught east and
knew and had notified Candy by courier that
the war was srbstantially over IN Alabama. and
mreS and sct AS SS3 anew ina oa
at Ssass uad as Fssr %sts s alike Of
less to do him essential harm. and that their
% SRy Se s SH sons to to Sry S WY
that MONTGOMERY. West Point, Columbus. Ma,
f NH esdn b "Ra agYh e ASams and S
the Oconee. had SO far escaped the hand Of
punishment; and finally. that Sherman. in
from tho harmless. spoliatlon Of the hummer;
In view OF all this. It will probably be admitted
eoa, MHs wss LETT free 70 exercise the ssre
ton of an independent commander rather than
TO be compelIed to take hIs ideas s 81 strategy
truer appreciation q whore The Anal struggle
iiina east and north, " instead Of Laying
then re9 e go ros sSa and IN I'VE Ysst M
Of ali the cities above named as. well as
q many guns and prisoners. and in the
and military supplies. besides the .parolinC OF
10000 rebel soldiers and the capture Of the
edrs Of tho ThS
Gen. Johnston. Beauregard. and Hardec. rs to
the hopelessness q longer continuing Vet. the
elusive rs to the soundness of the principles
VIM Finally the tesfimony %. Of the distinsashed
English military critic, Col. Chesney. as to the
valve - Of the taugW By the &c
rebeiiion. il much more WORTHY, Of eonside era
and Badeau. Col. Chesney says in substance
I've quote from momory) that the history of the
Of tho Military Division OF the Mississippi, un-
der Gen. Wilson. constitutes the most valuable
military lesson OF modern times. and, while this
source 1t does. it Is worthy of the thoughtful
consideration Of military students.
that Mr.. Stanton. after the war was oyer, gave
evidence OF his sorrow for setting aside Sher-
point out what that evidence was The state
we'll known aud established that stanton acted
retracted it,. He was determined. and so was
Mr.. Lincoln. that the final terms made with the
civil Government and not by the Generals.
He was resolved that there should not be after
the country Mexican fashion. Sherman and
Johnston's celebrated articles of capitulation
were political quite as much as military; in
fact. more So and it was therefore promptly
great Secretary OF War. ills now equally certain
Mr. Stanton in that view OF the whole subject.
Gen. Coy's book has number. Of minor
"ea and Tssnst force F Ss
want of space c33mpels us to draw this notice to
n conclusion. 1t would require volume al
most as large as the one before us for the
exposure of all its shortcomings mac
curacies. and MISREPRESENTATION. The mans
as we'll as the plans OF battles, are nearly
that it would have been better to omit several
OF them entirely for any help the reader can
get from Thorn in following the text. 1t is not
to BIO denied that Gen. Cox has a pleasing and
animated style, and is II gentleman ofexccllcnt
attainments. He WAS. withal. fairly successful
ms II division and corps commander but 1t will
bc some time before he justly claim the ran k
of q frst-ciass stratcgist. or OF u fair impartial
aud trustworthy historian. j. Ii. w.