The National tribune., 1884-07-03
NEW PUBLICATIONS.

From the Lutheran Publication Society,
Philadelphia, we have a copy of " Sabre Strokes
of the Pennsylvania Dragons" by Comrade
L. +. Dornblaser, now chaplain of Lincoln Post,
Topeka, Kan. The author in his preface, an
nounces il as his intention simply to tell the
story of army life as seen and experienced by a
soldier in the ranks, but he is in this respect
too modest, for into this volume of two hun
dred and fifty pages he has managed to COM
press much authentic information of a definite
historical value 1t is well known that the
achievements of our cavalry in the late war
have so far failed TO receive the attention which
they meritand which long agowas accorded the
exploits of other arms of the service, and every
such contribution as this deserves, therefore, a
hearty welcome. Moreover, the Pennsylvania
Dragons served throughout the war in the
armies of the west, and their history, as it hap
pens, is the history of one of the most gallant
western commands-Minty's famous brigade,
comprising at the battle of Stone River, under
Stanley, the It'll Pennsylvania Dragons, Sd
Kentucky and 18th Michigan.
The early pages of the book are occupied
with an account of the organization of the 18th
Pennsylvania cavalry, under Colonel George c..
Wynkoop, which was recruited from the ranks
of the Dragons, (who had existed as an indie
pendent organization in Nittany Valley several
years prior to the war, and had offered their
services at the first call for $4,000 men, but had
been rejected because the War Department
at that time had no use for cavalry,') as well
as citizens of Clinton and Centre counties in
October, 1861, and abounds in entertaining
camp stories and "reminiscences. The command
spent part of its first winter at Muddy
Camp" Louisville. Ky, but in January, 1862,
marched to Bardstown, whence it was ordered
TO Nashville, reporting to Brigadier-General
Negley on the 18th Of March. Their campaign
ing during the next few months was chiefly
against Morgan, with whose forces they had
some rafting encounters (the one at Lebanon,
where Morgan made such a narrow escape, is
particularly well described by the author but
in August they were recalled to repel Braggs
invasion, and at Gallatin particularly distin-
guished themselves by gallant charge and des-
perate fighting. In the march on Murfreesb0ro,
preliminary to the battle of Stone River, the
regiment had the advance, and in the battle gave
a good account Of itself Indeed, it participated
actively in all the movements down TO the
battle of Chickamauga, and afterwards in the
Atlanta campaign and Kilpatrick's raid When
Sherman started on his march to the sea, how
ever, Minty's brigade were ordered to turn
over their horses TO Fitzpatrick, and in October,
1864, the command was sent back to Middle
Tennessee to be remounted, but supplies being
exhausted at Nashville, it hurried on to Louis
vile, and in December started back to Nash
vile with fresh mounts reaching there in
January, after hard march, in time to take
part in the pursuit of Hood. The regiments
last service was with Wilson on his memorable
raid and it took part as member of Minty
brigade in the pursuit of JEFF Davis. "0ther
historians do not seem to know it," writes
Comrade Dornblaser, nevertheless, the 9TH
was there and paid its respects to the ex-Presi-
dent" Appended to this extremely interest
ing history is roll of honor and muster-out
roll of the dead The price is $3.50 per copy,
and it can be ordered direct from the publish
ers, Lutheran Publication Society, Philadel-
phia.
In army Life" by Capt. Albert o. Mar
shall, of Joliet, IL, we have what, upon care
full perusal we feel justified in pronouncing
one of the most interesting and valuable con-
tributions that has yet been made to the liter
allure of The war. The author was a member OF
the famous (33d) Illinois Normal regiment,
and, incidentally, the history Of that regiment
is given III this book; but what he has here at
tempted is not history, but sketch, photo
graphic in its accuracy, of the common every
day life of the private soldier. The narrative
is reproduced from the journal which he kept
during his three years service, and it is, there
FORE all the more vivid and distinct, preserving
the spirit of the time at which it was written.
1t abounds particularly in entertaining anec-
dotes and stories of the camp, told with inimit-
able freshness and vigor, and it is calculated,
therefore, 10 interest every soldier, no matter
to what command he belonged. In fact bet
ter idea may be gained from its pages as to
what life in the army really was than from all
the histories that were ever written. The sec
ond edition is now ready, and can be had by
addressing the author, as above Price, 81.
Messrs. D. Appleton & Co., New York, have
added to their parchment paper series " Pic
lures Of Life and Character" companion edi-
ton to Du Maurier's Pictures of English So
ciety," and embracing collection Of the draw
ings of John Leech, who preceded Du Maurier
as the leading illustrator of Punch. These
drawings are reproduced in miniature, but are
not so greatly reduced as to impair in any de-
gree their value, and they not only happily
illustrate the authors artistic method of work,
but afford a most interesting study of the hui
morous side of British society and manners Mr..
Leech died in 1864, so that the period covered
| by his sketches was the second quarter of the
century. As compared with Du Maurier's car
features they show more vigor and cover a
greater range of subjects, and their humor, too
| is perhaps more hearty. but they lack the for.
mer's delicacy of finish. This delightful little
collection can be had in paper for 80 cents; il
| cloth for 80 cents.
|