New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-07-03
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
CAMPAIGNS OF TIE CIVIL WAR.

ANDREW A. HUMPHREYS. Brgadier-Geheral, Nn i
of Engineers. etc. 12mo. PIP. XII, dol Chafles
Scribner's Sons.
The twelfth volume Of this series brings to close
history which for the ingenuity OF its plan ana
the IL oroughuess Of It's execution deserves very
high eucomium. As the work has gone on we nave
seen mere and more reason to admire tho editorial
tact which organized the publication and PROVIDED
for its regular and rapid progress as well as the
ability with which nearly all the cooperating writ
ers have discharged their respective parts. we
NAV wait many years for great general history Oh
the rebellion, written with the fulness OF de-
tail which such q struggle deserves, and Win
the philosophic breadth of view and the
vlgor and purity of style which mighty
and heroic theme ought to inspire III we
ever have an adequate narrative OF that struggle
its author will rank among the famous historians
of the world. IN the meantime work on the plan
of Tho Campaigns Of the Civil War" is probably
the most valuable thai we can read, as well as one
of the most interesting. The conflict extended
over so great an area, embraced such various ana
slightly connected operations, engaged such multi
tudes Of men, presented such extraordinary dlfer-
ences of plan and circumstance, and involved the
regulations OF so many commanders, that the sVoIS
may we'll employ many hands. by intrustng each
section to some officer who has special personal
interest ia it, tho publishers have made sure Ot an
intelligent treatment OF a difficult subject, ana Oh
Jealous and exhaustive Investigation OF obscure
particulars The sneularly careful examination
and comparison of official records, including reports
In possession of the War Department and III the
Confederate archives and papers preserved by the
Generals on both Sides will give this series excep-
tionsl authority as references indeed for the
statistics of battles and military operations gener-
ally it seems to an Indispensable guide,-as any
one will understand after reading, for example, one
or two Of the notes in the appendix TO the present
volume with General humphreys explanation lof
the current discrepancies in various official reports
The closing instalment covers an immense field,
If we take into account the multiplicity Of the
movements which it details. the severity and ire
quency of the fighting. and the magnitude of the
results; and it Is not surprising that General Hum
pbrevs has taken for the last campaign OF the war,
extending from Grants march into the Wilderness
10 the surrender at AppomattOx. about twice the
space allotted to the other volumes oil the set Yet
his narrative is almost painfully concise lie CON
fines himself to bare facts With rigor which We
cannot help finding somewhat ascetic He Will
make no concession to human weakness, even when
he reaches the climax of the American epic. If he
has any sense of the romantic or the picturesque.
stern conception of duty bas taught him to put 1t
down. As General Meades chief of staff until near
the close of the war-when he succeeded Hancock
in the command of the Second Corps-be was cog
infant Of all the minute OF the operations of the
Army of the Potomac, and of many military plans,
etc. of which there public record; and one
cannot help Imagining him writing this precise
book at a desk full of pigeon-holes with the docu
mentary material neatly docketed, folded and ruled
with red ink. There is no denying that lie is dry.
But it may be urged in his excuse that the scheme
of the work did not admit of mere lowing general
narrative presenting broad effects Ieliof, and
fastening over the particulars. An authoritative
and iiual statement of particulars was iust what
was wanted The character of the campaign of
1s64'65 rendered this extremely complicated and
il was hardly possible to make an exact military
narrative which would not be more less fatigu-
ing to the civilian reader. General Humphreys pre-
ferred to make hook of practical value TO the
student Of the science of war-a task for which his
opportunities and his professional plisbments
eminently fitted him. That he can write a clear,
spirited and interesting description when he
chooses TO devote his space to that exercise is APP
parent from his account Of the famous mine fiasco
at Petersburg, and his story Of the final assault
upon the rebel works In this latter passage he de-
clares that he uses as far possible the language
of the clear and instructive report of Maor-Gen-
oral Wright, commanding the Sixth Corps. But
the credit OF selection and adaptation is neverthe
less his.
The controversies connected with this campaign
General Humphreys treats for the most part with
extreme reserve He is emphatic however, in his
contradiction of General Badeau on several points,
and once at least he convicts that writer OF gross
and amusing blundcr IN relation to the behavior OF
the black troops at Spottsylvania. Badeau repre-
sents Ferrero and his colorod division as hand
ing the rebels severely" ut that place and adds in
a burst of eoquence that then "on the soil of Vir
ginia men who had once been slaves beat back the
forces of those who had held them in slavery.
After that time white soldiers in the Army of the
Potomac were net ashamed to receive the support
of black ones They had found the support worth |
having" This appears unfortunately to be pure |
fiction. General Ferrero's command In The affair |
referred to consisted OF TWO regiments of veteran !
white cavalry, besides the negroes, and it was only
the former who took any part in the fight. THE
enemy fell back with slight loss, two cavalry
regiments losing two enlisted men killed, seven |
wounded and two missing. The c0lOred division |
had not casualty of any kind whatever handled |
nobody, severely or otherwise; In fact were not |
engaged" The circumstances of the removal OF |
General Warren from his command at Five Forks |
by Sheridan are tod with particularly; and with |
out expressing any formal opinion the author |
leaves it clear that he regards that act
sary and unmerted. Respecting Grants message |
authorizing Sheridan to make the removal in case
of need. he says: I" At times during the campaign |
beginning in May, there had been msunderstand- |
,ngs between General Meade and General Warren, |
the latter sometimes modifying the plan OF opera
lions prescribed by the order of the day for the !
Fifth Corps, so as to make them accord with his
own judgment as the day went on, notifications
which General Meade sometimes did not approve.
and hence something like controversy grew up oc-
casionally in the dispatches that passed between
them 1t appears to be probable that General Grant
apprehended that something of this kind might oc-
cur between General. Sheridan and General Warren,
and considering the time to be critical one, sent
the message mentioned to General Sheridan" In
treating of the responsibility for the failure OF Cen
eral Burnsdes mine, be does not mnce his words,
81 L. i.l..r IL