The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1886-12-30
HISTORY or THE SECOND CORPS.

Walkers history of the Second Corps are at
hand. The author was the Assistant Adju-
tAntGeneral of the organization from Oct.
8, 1862, to Jan. II, 1865, or during nearly its
entire existence, and hence possesses pecu-
liar qualification for the preparation of such
a work. This circumstance lends additional
interest to the volume, although the writer's
conspicuous attainments would insure
favorable reception fon anything from his
pen.
This history is necessarily so broad in its
scope rs to cover much more than the war
life of single army corps. In fact it fills
niche in the perfect archives of the great
struggle that, by and by, will be complete
through the contribution, one after another,
of such books as this Indeed, so large a
chapter of the war is it, that no one inter-
ested in the annals of the conflict, and espe-
cially no member of the Army OF the Poto-
mac, can fail to be deeply absorbed in its
contents.
The work embraces 737 pages of beautiful
letter press, besides plenty Of maps of I'M
usual clearness-in that they omit every
thing except what relates to the text-and
numerous excellent portraits of the great
leaders of the corps. The frontispiece is
full-length picture of the gallant old Sum-
ner, its first commander.
There is a careful topical index at the end
of the book, and five appendices, giving ref
erences respectively to the names of commits
stoned officers killed or mortally wounded in
action, names of Confederate officers occur
ring in the history, Union organizations
mentioned, names of places, rivers, etc,
which figure in the narrative.
The author disclaims desire to discuss
controversial subjects, but the title of no
book from Martin Luther to Tom Paine
occurs to us at this moment that provoked
more sprightly retort than this one will
doubtless elicit at this particular juncture
The author is too manifestly an ardent ad-
mirer of Mcclellan, and makes too many
reflections upon the mischievous meddling"
of the Washington Government not to arouse
sturdy defenders of Lincoln and Stanton.
Then, tOo we shall see below what splen-
did aflront he gives TO those who maintain
that the Third Corps saved Gettysburg by
thrusting themselves into the very face OF
the Confederates at Peach Orchard. Again,
the writer does not hesitate to record his
unqualified disapproval of Sheridan's treat
ment of Warren at Five Forks. Here there
are two or three sets of controyersialists at
least who will doubtless be in the saddle for
a joust upon the appearance of the book, as
they have not heretofore shown lack of pug
nacity upon any such proyocation.
After briefly giving the organization Of
the corps, the author carries us into and
through the brilliant yet dreary operations
on the Peninsula in 1862 He says:
1t does not fall within the scope of this mar.
rative to describe the miserable causes which
led to the failure Of the Peninsular campaign
the successful efforts of the Confederate chiefs
so to play upon the fears of the Administration
ut Washington as 10 prevent the reinforcement
Of McClellan's army b. the powerful corps oil
Mcdowell, numbering $1,000 men: the great
raid of Stonewall Jackson into the Valley, and
his successive defeat of petty armies, under
more petty commanders which the mischieyou:
| al nf he HI 4.
constituted, ostensibly for the defense of the
Capital OF all this the Army of the Potomac
was to bear the consequences unaided
In the course of somewhat detailed &c
count of the operations on the Peninsula
Gen. Walker criticizes Mcclellan at Fai
Oaks for so dispOsing his army as to leav,
the weaker wing on that side of the Chicka
honiny next to the enemy and the stronge
wing safely on the opposite bank. Again
he thinks it would have been better in tn
preliminary struggles in front Of Richmond
had the COMMANDMENT Chief been on tn
field in person instead of trusting the for
tunes of the day to the direction Of inhar
monious corps commanders" Still, through
out all the treatment of this campaign, b
touches the matter so gently that the pail
with which he questions the acts of McClel
Ian is evident. Later in the book he is abb
with less show of reluctance to discuss tn
J tactics Of the great Captain who finally pu
J his heel upon the rebellion at Appomattox
, The reader cannot fail to regret that s
mastery hand let go by the opportunit
to present new delineation of this, to some
unaccountable campaign in all its bearings
7 The hypothesis is not tenable that so skillfu
!. a logician and SO competent militar
scholar recoiled from the task because of il
i apparent difficulty.
!, The Second Bull Run Is not described
f because the corps of whose operations tn
n history treats took no part in the contes
G being ordered to defend the approaches I
8 Washington.
Gen. Walker presents carefully analyt
e cal account of the disjointed affair known t
4 us rs the battle Of Antietam. He shows this
the commander of the Union forces faiIe
through lack of prOmptness to act, want {
concert, and an exaggerated estimate of th