The National tribune., 1886-02-04
RECENT LITERATURE.
The Magazines.

The Magazine Of american Hisforz in its cur
rent february number, discusses many topics
OF fresh and living interest Not least among
these will be found the elegantly
and timely article of Frederic G.. Mather on
The City of Albany: Two Hundred Years m
Progress" Mr.. a. W. ClasOn adds another ar
ticle to his scholarly analysis of the Consti.
tuition, entitled The Charleston Convention
OF 17SS." Maj. William howard Mills. u. S. A..
gives spirited account of the REORGANIZATION
OF The Army of the Potomac Under Hooker
Maj. Mills has taken much pains 70 verify all
his statements, and his work will be Of perrua-
nent valEe. President LincOln's letter, which
he gives in full in this article, is priceless
treasure.
Badly" Smith pays Col Mills. as a his
torlan deserved compliment in that he takes
exception to no single statement made in the
article From Burnside 20 Hooker" more
than to say: &" do not think Burnside eyer in
tended to cross without artillery and a bride.
tor l have not the slightest recollection of anv
Sucn intention, nor have l OF any inSubordina-
ton among the Generals On that account. Ar
any rate, no such exhibition took place in the
lett grand division" Gen. Smith refers to this
statement: Another morning dawned upon
another day of rain and storm, and things gen
orally went from bad to worse The more
hopeless the undertaking the more tenacious
Burnside, and he early determined to leave his
artlIIery-eyen his ponto0ns-hOpeIessly stuck
IN the mud, cross in the face of Lees army with
such pontoons as be had at the river and make
bold attack upon the arrogant, insulting
enemy. Gen. Hooker stoutly protested against
so reckless venture, and other Generals were
virtually lnsubOrdinate." The writer knows
the latter statement to have been literally true.
ana no doubt Col. Mills had good authority for
the former
In his February (second) monograph. Col.
Mills tells OF the Generalization existing in the
y
" from Burnside to Hooker" He SAYS: "The
army was disheartened. The mortality
was great. ben died of diseases caused
by homesickne5s. Not an hour of the
Gay passed III any of the camps, but that
the notes of the funeral dirge were heard. az
escorts OF comrades followed the heroes of death
TO their temporary resting places. Desertions
We're at the rate OF 200 a day
Parents wives, brothers, sisters, and sweet
nearts were so anxious to relieve relatives and
loved ones from a service that had become irk-
some, and in the success Of which they had
Io5s faith, that espresso cars were loaded with
packages of citizens clothing put I'D in every
possible way to deceive as to contents, to aid in
assertions. Even the mails were used for that
purpose. The decentralization was not alone the
result OF defeat, but OF a lack of confidence be.
tween officers and men.
1t was found that :, 1885 commissioned off,
GERS and o., lSS non commissioned officers and
many IN hospitals, on leave, furlough or de-
taehed duty-the majority, no doubt, desert
ers"
Speaking of whisky in the army, he saws:
!here were occasions, during Hooker's ad-
mlnistration, when it required much tact for
either oihcer or man to obtain il.
Brandy peaches became a popular Injury
and when they gave out, the essence of Jamaica
ginger, peppermint, and even gargling oil were
sold, until 1T became necessary to prohibit suit
IeFs from Keeping anything Of the kind in
stock.
The Army of the Potomac was not Ioosed
from the leading-strings in which it was held
Dy the Importance OF covering Washington
and Harper's Ferry until Gen Grant came
East with rank that enabled him to out general
Halleck) the General-in- Chief Even he found
1t difficult to convince the authorities at Wash
lngton that wherever the enemy could be met
and defeated then Washington was most prac-
teally defended
Col Mills,s monographs Should be read in
full TO be appreciated. The magazine can be
had of all newsdealers at so cents number, or
we will send it with THE NATIONAL TRIBUNE
for one year for So.
Munyon's Illustrated World is steadily rising in
public favor as a journal of high literary and
artistic merit. Every issue is the equal in all
respects of the best of the old illustrated week
lies. it is published at Philadelphia. Price 10
cents q number.
The Home Journal of New York. published
Oy Morris Phillips & Co, at No. 3 Park Place,
IS the recognized society journal of America.
1t contains each week noteworthy and enter
tanning story, and is replete with the topics of
the day: Music, The Stage, Green Room Talk
Art and Artists, Books and Authors Personal
Items, Recent Weddings, Matrimonial Engage
nents, Society News, Entertainments, Recep-
ions, Announcements, Clubs and Societies
WASHINGTON ptp or Ac Cd
ng medium, especially of city hotels and Sum-
ner resorts, it is great success. To be in So
'Iety and not a subscriber to the Home Journal
S one of the things no one would think of for
me moment. Terms, s. year. Five cents
:opy.
The Southern Bir0uac continues to improve in
character and appearance, and its February
lumber comes to hand as replete with good
hIngs IN its field as any OF the monthiies. In
addition TO its lighter articles it contains papers
N Robert Lee" by Paul FL. Hayne; Lid
lell's Record of the Civil War; " Bragg'5 In
IasiOn of Kentucky" by c. C. Gilbert, and - The
Third Day at Gettysburg" by Vim. II. Swallow.
The engravings are fairly well done including
portrait of Gen. Liddell and another of Gen
Lee from an early photograph.
Hoods Household Calendar. published by
}. /. Hood & Co.. of Lowell, Mass is a very
handsome piece of work and will make pretty
rnament tor any home.
We have received from \. w. Aver & Son, of
their handsome Calendar for 1886.
t will be sent prepaid to any address on receipt
# 20 cts.
'McClellan's Last Service to the Republic"
5 the title of a little volume by the well-known
uriSt George TicknOr Curtis The work is a
pirited defense of the first commander of the
Army of the Potomac. and gives complete
history of his services from the time he was in
at HarrisOn's Landing to the battle
# Antietam. The book is neatly printed, con-
aims q map, and closes with an affeetionate
ribute to Gen. McClelans memory
In intimacy of % years enables the author
o speak knowingly of the character of the de-
eased General. The price of this little book
5 only 80 cents. 1t is published by d. Apple
on & Co., OF New York, and is sent by them,
ostpad. on receipt of the price
Watkins Advertising Gazette comes to hand
n the shape of a convenient pamphlet contain
ng revised lists OF the representative newspapers
nd magazines of the United States and Canada.
t is published at Prospect, o., and will be
aluable help to advertisers generally.
The knickerbocker Subscription Agency, No.
81 Nassau street, New York, has issued
eat, comprehensive aud reliable list of the
I I'll,