The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1893-12-02
The ELLIS HISTORY.
Report Of the G. /. R. Committee Of
Hugh Wilson Post.
Many Errors Dlsc0vered-A Plain Ef
fort to Aggrandixe Confederate Ma.
neuvers and Bravery, and Belittle the
Union Forces and Purposes.

neuvers and Bravery, and Belittle the
Union Forces and Purposes.
To the Officers and Comrades Of the
Hugh Wilson Post No. 81, G. A. r.:
Your committee to whom was re-
ferred the duty of investigating the
"Comp,ete History of the United
States, by Edward s. Ellis, A. NJ, beg
leave to submit the following report:
We have investigated that part of
the history which treats of the War of
the Rebellion, compared with other
histories of the same subject and from
our personal knowledge of battles,
dates, incidents and persons, submit
that the Ellis history is not correct;
that it is not complete history as
claimed; that it is prejudicial to Amer
lean patriotism, and should not be
taught in the public schools of our coun-
try In support of the above, we here
with present some of the errors which
appear and request pupils and readers
to compare the Ellis history with
Johnston's, Barnes or any other relia-
BILE history Of the United States.
Ellis fails to state the purpose of
Grants movement in the rear of Co.
lumbus, KY, p. 178. 1t being feint to
detract the enemy's attention from
Fort Henry and Fort Donelson.
Shall it be taught our children as an
"outrage" that Mason and Slidell were
captured and returned to the United
States, they being enemies in war? See
page l78.
This history treats the states in re-
bellion as "government"-"The gov
of the Confederate States of America,
etc." Did the United States ever rec
ognize them as such? If not is it
proper for q United States public
school text book to so denominate
! them?
| On pages 40 and III Ellis is careful
to present the cause of the south state
rights, etc., but fails to present the
Union cause, and because the rebels
believed in estate Rights" is presented
as reasonable apology for secession.
No mention being made of the diff
culties under which Lincoln made hi
way to Washington prior to his in
auguration, the pupil is left to infel
that all was quiet and peaceful at thu
time. Page III.
Ellis says: president Lincoln made
a call for $1,000 men and in three day.
100000 responded" Barnes history
says: "Three hundred thousand an
ewered the calE"
On page l79 Ellis says: "There wa
no appreciate (Union) sentiment left
except in east Tennessee" This state
ment is plainly erroneous, becaus'
Missouri, Kentucky and West Wiz
ginia furnished thousands of troop
for the Union.
); On page 1871, speaking of Fort Henri,
this remarkable statement is made
"Bombardment was opened, the for
quickly surrendered, the garrison ct
capped" Were there no captures made
, No guns? No Importance to the fa
of Fort Henry?
What is the design of the author i
giving the electoral vote of rebellion
states, place and date of .Jefferso
!, Davis Inauguration and emphasizin
) the incident by stating it to be o
, Washington's birthday? Page 1872.
Much of page 1874 is erroneOu
Grant was not surprised, but for tim
: overwhelmed. not knowing where tn
enemy would strike Pittsburg landing
. Nothing was said of Grant massing h
artillery and breaking the lines of tt
| enemy before the arrival of Gener
Y Buel. The enemy was repulsed, an
. not withdrawn as stated by Ellis.
: the following paragraph he admits IL
;. cOnfederates were beaten and retreate
: but modiAes the affair with the exa
gerated statement that they had ca
tured three thousand prisoners, thir
flags and an enormous amount
q stores. The captures of the Unit
(, army are not given.
The evacuation of Columbus, X
| \ n 81