New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-01-23
NEW PUBLICATIONS

pEN AND pOWDER. BY Franc D. wilkie limo,
DIP. 3s3. Boston: Tclnor & Co.
Mr.. Wjllde was a war correspondent during tne
Rebellion, and he has gathered in this vaiumc q
number OF random anecdotes and incidents con-
Ineoted with his experience in. THAI capacity'
good many Of the stories are calculated to aus
jIlus;orize such readers-if any such there be-
who retain ola fashioned ideas about the pomp
and circumstance Of glorious war;" ana especially
80 inculoats sentiments Of disesteem for some OF
she gentlemen who wore shoulder-straps during
she war. There can b. no doubt that the tune-
saons of war correspondent are OF KIND 10
samifarszo him with the scamiest side OF the
military hfe He sees the inside OF so many DUN
aers. he learns so much OF the artillce, snoter-
fupe and mutual admiration which mctamor-
phose war incidents for the delusion of the cred
,pJous public. that he must be remarkably wen
balanced not 80 proceed cynic thenceioftn. ne
Is mo respecter OF persons especially of generals
and brigndiers for it is his business 10 ma 1nen
out He observes oil the eruptions of greed and
,.Ifirterest which attend the suspension of civil
Jaws He marks the deformties of character
(which are invariably exposed at such times; and IL
,be does not become dcmorali2sd himself, he GER
,,anlv becomes suspicious of his fellowcreatilres,
and prope TO anticipate the worst from them.
Mr. Wilkes war recollecnons include, however
some spirjted instances Of devotion and capacity
THE concluding sketch of the battle of Alatoona IS
very animated and stirling Rather curously, the
author retains in many OF his remarks about Cen
.eraI Grant the carping tone which was doubtless
On the air at the front while the unlueky Vlcks-
burg Canal experiment was in progress, but which
at fsify distance seems out OF place. Ihere arc
several stories in the book good enough to quote
but for their length and we must coniine our
selyes to single citation, the occurrence beng
singulariy tragic and impressive The scene was
on the Yazoo. The narrator was on stern
wheel steamer which was requested to take IN
tow haf-boat containing large family OF
negroes: There were at least twenty colored
persons in it, of all ages, ana both sexes In the
stern sat venerable African, who at once attfacted
nv attention He had heavy beard and very
thick hair which. with his dense eyebrows, were
as white as wool. There was something noble ana
impressive in his face and position, and interest
in him was increased as / saw that he was sight-
less. . The other persons in the boat were
nroba,ly his descendants There was white
headed woman who was his daughter. then 2 stall
wart man and woman who must have been his
Grandchildren, and then host Of children Of all
ages from twenty down to a little piclSaninny lying
ON its back that sucked its thumb, kicked up It's
heels. and gazed with its black, bead-like eyes
into vacancy They were all chattering, laughing,
screaming in the exuberance OF their delight.
line was dropped from the deck of the
steamboat TO the fat and made fast. The next
moment the wheel began TO revolve. 1t threw
hack waves which enveloped the flat-boat and
then, as the speed increased, the fat bow II the
satter was drawn under, and the entire boat
with all its human freight, it's infancy its years,
its hopes disappeared 0ndcr the greenish waters
of the Yazoo As far as could see the locality,
watched for some sign Of the engulfed uifortu-
mates; but not even rag. or fragment Of any
kind. came TO tie surface Well may the author
add Nothing that 1 saw during the war
shocked me as die this occurrence but the
monstrous fact remains to be added that when
she catastrophe occurred the boat was not stopped
FOR moment. nor any effort made TO rescue the
sictims. Ii is a horrible story.