New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-11-27
GENERAL HAZEN'S STORY.
"REMINISCENCES OF THE WAR.


liant soldiers of the civil war; gives in this Voluo
detailed account Of the military service Oh inc
brgade and the division which he excessively COM
mapded II is not 80 animated a recital as ohe
would naturally have expected from this ihip0' ioU
and dashing commander Two faults IN ino'no"
and treatment impair tho effect oil tne aiI"'i'0
One is the copous use made OF ohcIal oiuoi' "-'
reports which contain materials for splriteu "oo0ir
tion but are tedious and wearsone as theS s'~nu
Stone River was wonderfully well 1o' gnu pa'Vlo
and General Hazsn's brigade has always ocoh
accorded by military critics the honor OF
Inv its steadincss and valor crushing disaster to
the Union arms on that field. Tho author h'nSel
declares that the best service rendered by his com
mand in the war was in that battle. But when no
comes to describe it he writes preface oil oarely
eighteen lines and then appcnds his ohciai report
of the engagement Official reports are OF 'ho
highest value as the groundwork OF accurate
military history, but thew are hastily Wrt'o" anu
have no literary preteussDs A most thrIilhR on
ter on that brilliant battle might havo Oeen SUI
stituted for that dull and tiresomo report 'no p"o
for which was In the appendix. ms Is only ouo
of many instances IN which the author uiSaPPoinS'
the reader by adhering rigdy to the OhclSi
of his campaigns soldier recording al ielS"ie MS
Impressions and reminiscence. OF historic sconos
which he has acted a conspicuous part ought 10 pe
his high privilege to tell the story as well as IL
con Ina told. and he ought not to be content VIII
ronroducjnO the official literature OF the "Ar
Department
rba sscond fsult which detracts from the interest
of this volume is It's controversial eharacVer' Nv
officer in the United States service has ever con-
trived to be drawn into more disputes over matters
of comparatively slight importance tnan Uenoid'
Hazen. We must do him the justice TO say 'h"V h'
has been wantonly assaulted on many occasions oS
nersonal enemies and that he has almost lDVaridoN
entered into controversies with his critics III sell
defence and has had the facts on MS slde r"V
while he has been subjected to merciiesS oIl'ii1i
o,d has besn pursued for years by what may be
termed syndicate of false accusers' these n@iIe"
discussions have never involved any military qne'
+fo,q of genuine Importance Consequently wheh
these arc dragged into this volume and his various
dererces ara restated in detail and conhr 1ed by
mass of corroborative evidence. the interest," Oh inc
main narrative is sacrificed General Hazehs
constituencies is pardonable for he has teen most
unwarrantably assaed. There never was the
slightest foundation for tbs false assumptions
based upon his temporary disappearance IN the
magnificent charge made 10y his brigade at Shiio"'
nor for the charges Of incompetence ana lnSuDo'-
dinaton st Stone River Mission Ridge Cmo"a-
manga or any other engagement IN WAcA NC 'o''
mart The facts in these controversies nave never
justified the attacks made upon him. and be could
well have afforded to pass over them IL CON
temptuous silence or at least to have brought his
comments upon them within reasonable LINUS a
good soldier appears 10 better advantage in lighting
his battles than in arguing great length contested
points like that of the priority of his brigade III
reaching the crest Of Mission Ridge ard in reiutng
.,;eneral Sheridan's declaration respecting inc
,apture of certain guns. That General Hazen makes
out strong case in this and u other cohtr'VeiIeI
questions. we do not deny, but bis controversial
tendencies seriously rctard the progress of tAe mar
rative and distract attention from its real merits.
II must be added that this volume is temperate
md lucid contribution to the military history o.
the war. and evinces sound Judgment, sincerity OF
r,rnose paiustal,ng accuracy Of statement, and
loya regard for historic truth Both Of tho defects
which we have been considering may DO attributed
IN one OF the characters tc traits of the mantle
+onacitv with which he adheres TO what he CON
siders the precise facts of tho situation lie prefers
IN repeat his or oral battle reports rather than to
imnart viRor and animation TO the recital 10y
bterarv articles and this is because those records
wore compiled when the impressions OF himself and
his staff wvrs fresh and exact. lie insists upon
collecting the statements of survivors OF battles
concerning which certain details are In dispute,
md upon arguing unimportant and minute ques-
tir5oOuo
constitution he is precise and accurate in statement
and cannot suffer any critic to 60 unanswered But
he Is not unchartabo In his judgments, nor
censorious in his criticisms. This volume is con-
snicuons alike for fairness aud c&ndor, and for the
;ndcious spirit in which the decisions Of his
spperiors in rank and the achievements Of his com
nanions In arms are discussed Take, as an illus
traton these excellent reflections upon the battle
of Shiloh:
The battle of Shiloh will be fruitful theme for
criticism al long as the events OF civil war
Tenain of interest to mankind. There are few
facts connected with il that III form the leading
5on;,s of This criticism The first and chief Will be
that a cooperating army arrived at the point Of
concentration in front of an enterpTlslng enemy
with which it was expected to fight and rema 1ed
there waiting the arrival of the other army for some
DAYS with broad and deep river running parallel
10 tue line The questions will naturally arise, why
that army did not take advantage OF the river as an
obstacle instead of going into camp on the enemy :
side :. why the different divisions Of tins isolated
force were not posted with some relation to mutual
defence: why there were no works erected IN its
front. why there were no roads cut, III of and
parallel to the line, through the thick nndergrowth
for oasy intercommunication and support; and
especially, why the front OF that army was not
thoroughly reconnoltIed.
The question whether our men were surprised
seems scarcely to merit attention. Tie facts
covering this point arc well known and all that
remains is to define the military meaning OF " a
simply means 50 sudden and uneX pectod an appear
auce Of an enemy IS TO compel force to act under
disadvantages such as might have been ayerted by
timely knowledge OF his presence; AS for instance,
10 surrender to retreat ptatelY with loss Of
material or to accept battle without having made
every preparation and to have secured the greatest
chances of success. What would constitute sur
prise to force depends much upon its size and
functions. picket must see the enemy the first
moment he can bo seen, that he fire his piece,
warn the picket or d. whatever his special
Instructions require OF him.
For a detachment, time is necessary to call i'll the
patrols and prepare for such resistance as Il
expected of it, and for an army. tlnc to call IN Its
6-tachments TO adjust its lines prepare its front
for battle send It's trains and suffers to the rear
and an on-combatants and unnecessary property
away from the front. and to Learn fom scouts