Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1886-11-28

In the SteriOptican exhibition and lecture
at Blacks opera house recently. entitled
Around the World with General Grant, "
one Of the pictures represented Grant re-
ceivimg the news of the surrender of Nicks-
burg. According to history the soldier
handing the dispatch announcing the sur
render to Grant was Colonel W. J. White.
OF this city. who was with Grant at Fort
Donelson, NickSburg and in many engage
mentS incident TO those campaigns. Imust
say. however, that if the picture was in
tended for Colonel White it was far from
doing him justice, and represented a man
with flashing black eyes and jet black
mOustache and beard. 1t is probable that
the picture was made from a wood-cut
sketch of the illustrated papers. 1t is
very rare that the illustrations of battle
bear any resemblance to the original scenes
| was telling Colonel White of the scene
representing him handing the dispatches
announcing the surrender of Vicksburg to
General Grant.
Yes" said the Colonel, 1.-THE scene
probably bore little resemblance 10 the
original. The pictures which have seen
purpOrting to represent scenes in the civil
scenes, very snide and not at all like the
original. They are often taken from
hastily executed sketches by the artists of
illustrated papers, without regard To
fidelity as regards locality, or
else. You remember
the picture of Grant at Nicksburg." in the
capitol. Now | was present at the scene.
and can testify that the painting possesses
not the least resemblance TO the original |
There are some exceptions to the rule, how |
ever | remember that directly after the |
fall of NickSburg the historian, Benjamin |
Losing, who was already collecting mate
rial for his history of the civil war on every |
battle held which he could reach. request |
eG the commanding general to detail an |
officer 10 go over the seat of the late war l
with him, around NickSburg. and explain |
the various positions of the troops, head |
quarters, etc. This was readily agreed to. |
and was detailed for the duty. went
over every foot of the field with Mr. Los
sing and explained the positions to him as |
well as | could. He had quite novel way |
VI ouIdililllS pictures Vi lllt various features |
Of the camp. He had a lens which reflect
ed perfect images of the scenery on white |
When he wished TO pre-
serve view of a certain position or head
quarters he would hold up his lens so that |
il reflected an image of il on white paper.
He would then trace the outlines of the i'm
age on the paper. and in few minutes had |
in outline sketch of the accuracy of a pho
ograph. The pictures in LOSsing'S history
IF the civil war are all taken from similar
outline sketches.
The great historian was one of the plain
aSt and most unassuming men ever saw
He worked steadily about eight hours of /
very day and then spent the evening in
getting his notes in order. This gave me
| deep insight into the way history is made
and | never lost the impression | then re-
'eived Of the long and arduous toll neces-
'ary for the preparation Of q history"
Ii seems that the historian LOSING also,
never forgot the pleasant days he spent
lear NickSburg with Colonel White for he
makes a very pleasant reference to Colonel
White in his work on the civil war. and re-
'alls the time they spent at VickSburg to-
yetheT.