New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-06-22
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
A CHAPTER OF WAR HISTORY.

A CHAPTER OF WAR HISTORY.
BROOK FARM TO eEpaFR kMs ogEIAiK6Ss Is
With maps and Illustrations Boseoh' 'aHe' :"
Osgood Co.
This is a valuable contribution 10 the ns'ory y,
the civil war. The author was the nrst oo'onel %
An. Sseond Massachusetts, Regiment oil infantry
III .rn.rcoa from the war brevet Major-General
Of Volunteers. His impressions and reminisoenees
~ Nh, memorable scenes 10 which he was Que OF the
nr,,.i,aI actors have been recorded from time 10
fine for the benefit of his companions IN tbe rrgf
ment at their annual meetings; aud TO THIS series
of papers designed for private circulation nave "ten
added two volumes tor the general puoiic' Que oe-
voted mainly to General Popes DISASTROUS c''ui-
paign in his retire ut from Cedar Mountain 10 AieA
andria aud the other to subsequent events lIoi"
1868 to the close OF the The earlier papers are
coIeetea. revised and enlarged in the present vol
ums. 30 that the three volumes now FORM eolt'n-
mons history of the military operations OF which
the author had personal knowledge. General COR
don's varied experience imparis to this record
peculiar value and as he is a man Of marked lndI'
v,dnaty and force of character and Is master OF an
ipclsiye STYLE he has succeeded writing series
Of books that are at minute ana accurate III
detail aud vigorous and entertaining III haouo'
and matter tie Is an outspoken criUo VINO "''9
not mnce his words, but he is Thoroughly honeS'
and sucere and has conscientious regard lOf a0'e'
The present volume is a record OF the multAiy
service of the Second Massachusetts, ana OF tpo
brigade OF which 10 formed part from IT'S hfst en-
campmeDt in the historic fed OF BROOK al III Nv
West Roxbury. TO the disastrous day at Cedar
Mountain, when it retired, shattered. broken ana
exhausted from contest in which il had been hope
lessly over-matched by superior numbers. The
repiment's earliest service rendered ut Martins
l,urp and Harper's Ferry under General Patterson.
TO whose iucapactv was largely due the frst great
reverse OF the war for the Union arms. SuOse'
quently it took part in tie series OF marches ana
couuter.msrcnes III the Shenandoah. following Gen.
era Banks in his tight to Winchester and after the
hattie there across the Potomac to Wlliiamsport.
Il is the authors avOwed purpose. as he admits at
the outset to prove that the successful ezpiots OF
General StoneN all Jackson III the Valley were due
m large measure to the laundering stupidity OF
political managers in Washington acting upon the
jncapacity of their favortes the field While his
narrative is frightened by many graphic incidents
and occasional touches of grim humor, the vital
strength of this volume lies in the argGmentatve
prtions ana its incisive military criticisms The
fantastic dawding of Patterson, the ptecipitate re-
trcat to the Potomac after the battle OF Winchester
aud the criminal blunderng and reckless mlslnan
agemeut Of Cedar Mountain, form climax OF mil-
tary incapacity which is presented IN these pages
in strong light
The account given of Cedar Mountain is a most
vivid battle picture. and the structures which ac-
COMPANY IT are based not only upon accurate oOSer-
walton at the time and subsequent reflection ana
prolonged study. but also upon an exhaustive eX
ANIMATION Of the documentary history Of the CAM
paign, compiled from Northern and southern
sources This battle was fought between General
Barks's corps of z, 800 men and General Jackson's
heavy reiuforcements being days march IN the
rear The Union forces left a strong position ID the
woods ana attacked the enemy, who were not only
judiciously posted but in superior numbers The
assault was made with reckless dudacity but as
there were no reserves, the Union forces were
eventually overpcwered and disastrousy repulsed.
The following passage describes the meeting OF the
commanders after the defeat:
The boom OF artillery that echoed back to Cul,
pepper Court House IN the morning and continued
at intervals until 1t broke out into the heavy can
nonade which l have described, made II at last no
longer doubtful to Pope, and some officers OF his
staH that battle between our scorps and Jacksons
army was im pending or in progress Until o'clock
in the afternoon Pope sat, quietly reading ana
smoking at his tent-dOor IN Culpeper AT TINS hour'
AS peal after peal from artillery fell upon his ears
he sprang into his saddle. and calling upon ms stan
TO follow. ealloped rapidly through the village IN
the direction of Cedar Mountain, followed , ny
DAY had listened with anxiety to the combat. Gen
erai Mcdowell who accompanied Pope. gave TO
Ricketts, division OF his corps, as he came up 10 IT,
orders to form and move for ard Immediately. AS
Pope neared the bait % held the cannonade became
moro and more furious, the troops OF McDowen
were pushed on through road aud fields IN separate
columns and with Increased rapldlty. 5000 u
column of wounded with assistants was met, some
on foot, some on horseback or In ambulances. whom
Pope's staff MISLEADING for stragglers. vaiantly SET
upon and thus endeavoIed for tine 20 force PACK
men hose bloody bandagoe aud stout countenRnces
and arms. 20 which they still chung, denoted upon
a closer inspection, that there were no coWaTdS
among them And new the sound OF cannon ceased
aud that pIteous roll of masketry when nave 40
scrlbed was borne to POpes ears, while tho long
procession of bandaged anu bloody soldiers ana
dripping ambulances continued" Then came 81
lence for Banks had beeu overpowered.
Alone, or attended by single ara, IN the twirgnt
after our defeat, Banks encountered Pope ihey
General Pope briefly inquired of me as tn the con-
ditiOn of my command. do not think nave
now" said, more than three or four hundred
troupe together; we have been very much cut up.
"Generdi Gordon" Pope replied, You Will move;
as soon as relieved. to the right OF the pike and
form the centre OF new line OF battle don't eX7
pect much of your troops tomorrow, but You VIII
Iaake show and can support battery; You VIII
not have mnch TO do. shall have twenty tDonsapd
fl esh troops tomorrow morning"
This wa the first appearance of the maJor-generai
commanding the Army of Virginia uron the dls,
nstrous battle-teld OF Cedar Mountain ne ha9
como when disaster could not be averted to talk OF
his twenty thousand fresh troops, all OF whom had
been available TO give us the vctory--at least 70
save Us from defeat he had come to propose sup
porting a battery with my brigade on the morrow,
and / was angry withal. In an instant reJolned,
general POPE, this battle should not have been
fought, sirp To which Pope AS promptly replied,
lnever ordered il fought SIR" And to TINS General
Banks made reply, no retort or remonSsrance,
though he was standing by Pope's side.
Then turning to Banks full of indignation at the
crime, the blnnder, of tho hattie, exclaimed,
General Banks, l disobeyed your order received
during the fight"
What was IT, sirp relied Banks
"An order brought by an officer purporting to
come from you. to charge across the field where my
troops were thea fighting"
II never sent you snch an order, retorted Banks;
a am glad to know it"I replied; 1T would
have resulted in our rotal destruction.
So INN orlar y direct q denial de-