The sun., 1890-07-20
SOME NEW BOOKS
An Inside view OF the Southern Conred-
eracy.

authors point oil view diners maternity from
that Of other "reminiscences emanatinG from
Confederate sources. Most OF the Inter re-
count tho observations and opinions OF COM
manders in tho field; this book on the other
hand, recalls tho Impressions made on the
home-keeping population by the varying for
tunes OF the contest The effect produced Is tho
more vivid. because tho author makes no per-
functory effort to disguise tho fervor OF his
sympathies with the rebel cause, or to temper
the severity with which certain mistakes or
failures on the part OF the Confederate Gov
arnment or Its military agents were at the time
denounced by the Confederate people. 1t may
bo that some OF this criticism, In the light OF
Rmpler information. now seems uhdeserreu.
but II II was once current in Richmond ana
other centres OF Confederate opinion, 1t Is an
interesting fact OF history. and as such ought
to be recorded.
1t Is instructive. for example. to read the
chapter In which the author describes the state
OF feeling in Richmond on Feb. 90. 1862, when
the Permanent Government" under President
Davis was inauguratsd. 1t was, he says. "a
season OF gloom pierced by no ray OF light;
with the enemy elated by victory Forts Henry
and Donelson had Just been takenl pressing
upon the contracting frontiers: with discon-
tent and division gnawing at tho heart OF the
cause" All tho members OF the Confederate
lhDlnet with the eNCepllOH Ol ueOTRe W. hul-
dolph. Secretary OF War, were unpopular but
there was disposition In Richmond to make
Benjamin tho scapegoat Of the Administration.
His promotion to the State Department was
accepted by the Secretary's enemies as at once
q repfoot to them and a blow aimed at the
popular foreign policy. They boldly averrod
that though the foreign affairs OF the Govern.
ment might not call for very decided measures.
Mr. Benjamin would not scruple-now that he
more than over had tho ear OF his chlof-to 90
beyond his own into every branch OF the Gov
ernment and to insert his own peculiar and
subtle sophisms into every recess OF tho Cabl-
not" Mr.. De Leon adds, however. that Benia-
min bore the universal attack with tho most
admirable good nature and sang froid.' To
all appearance. equally secure In his own views
and Indifferent to public opinion. he passed
from reverse to reverse with perfectly bland
manner and unwearing courtesy and his rosy
smiling visage impressed all who approached
him with vague belief that he had Just heard
good news. which would Immediately be pro-
mulgated for public delectation.
The auth or has good deal to say about the
substitute buyers, of whom there were a
plenty. when the Confederacy first resorted to
conscrption. II seems that when. later. the
Confederate Government called out the able
bodied men without recognizing any claims to
exemption the substitute buyers raised a loud
wall OF anguish. Some Of them rallied at the
perfdy OF the Government in breaking con-
tract. and even employed counsel to prove
that. In effect. they were already in the field.
One spe1ulator even sought the War Depart
ment and logically demonstrated that, having
sent substitute. who WAS virtually himself,
and that substitute having been killed. he him
self was in the eye OF the law, II dead man.
from whom no service could be claimed. But
to such cogent arguments the department
turned deaf ear. and the substitute buyers
had to follow their substitutes into the army.
Mr.. De Leon thinks that had the conscription
been enforced as vigorously at the beginning
as at the end 1t might have saved the Confed-
eracy Undor its final operation every man in
the South was q soldier. but he became SO only
when his country was in the throes OF death.
In the authors opinion Gen. Magruder has
not received sufficient credit for delaying
McClellans advance UP the Peninsula long
considerable force and to remedy the grlevous
deficiencies OF Richmond's defences. Had
Mcclellan known that his opponent could dis
pose OF only 1900 effective men, the former
might easily have swept this handful before |
him and have marched. unresisted. into the |
rebel capital There is" Mr.. De Leon thinks.
" no question but that had Magruder permitted |
the tactican in his front to ascertain his weak
ness. tho seven days fight would never have
been won. for Richmond would have been lost" !
The author does justice to the steadness and
order of McClellan's retreat 10 the James River
alter the reverses which followed Jackson's at |
tack upon his flank The Federas." We are
told, were peither demoralized nor panic
stricken. as has sometimes been believed. The
soldiers OF the North were we'll held together. |
mover refusing to turn and face the resistless |
foo that hurled itself against them: care
less alike OF cannon and steel. wearness AMI /
death. There can be-" be adds. "li;tIe doubt ,
now OF tho consummate tact OF McC!e!lans !
retreat 1t is the bright page in tho !
annals OF Northern strategy. Beaten each
day and driven from his wel-chosen strong |
holds-clcarly chosen with Il view to such nece5- !
sities-he still held his army thoroughly in his |
grasp and carried it OF in such order as no
Federal force had vet preserved IN the face OF
Mr.. De Leon, nevertheless. is one of
those who believe that. up to the last bloody
day at Malvern Hill. the city lay open to the !
Federal General had he known the truth. Be- |
tween him and the coveted prize was mere |
handful OF men who could have offered but |
slight resistance to his overwhelming numbers:
the main army Of delence was further away |
from The rebel capital than many points in his |
line OF retreat and mad he fully understood the !
position. bold stroke might have turned the |
scale, spite Of all tho successes of the Southern
arms. More than once in the Seven Da IL
rapid march by the flank would have placed |
Mcclellan In possession Of Richmond ana Sc
cured him In its strong defences from which |
tho wearied troops Of Lee could scarcely have
elected him."
Mr.. de Leon has no such words OF praise for
Grants Wilderness campaign. On this sub
ject he remarks: Both sides can now look |
calmly and critically at this campaign. seem
Ingly without q fixed plan and really SO hid !
eously costly In blood. When Grant crossed !
the Rapidan he could have had no other inten-
tion than TO sweep Les from his front. and
Dther by crushing victory or n forced retrea.
drive him toward Richmond. Failing sisaeliy
In The Wilderness. he abandoned the original
plan and took up the Fredericksburg line
Here again the disastrous days OF Spo,tsylva-
MIA foiled him completely. and he struck for
the Rappahannock aud Port Royal line. Lees
emphatic repulse OF his advance on tho North
Anna again sent Grant across tho Pamuukoy.
and into the very tracks OF Mcclellan two years
before. There was however ono vast difIer-
Once; Mcclellan had reached this base with