The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-01-10

pahannock above their junction. and that
his main army crossed the Rapidann about
eighteen miles from Fredericksburg''
Replying to this in the Dispatch OF
December 18th, Captain John Cussons
said:
This final charge IL a perplexing one.
Hitherto Rhe critic has Indicated his
point OF dissent. but here he leaves US IN
inscrutable darkness. His row OF ex-
clamation marks probably imply sarcasm,
but we have no means or knowing 10
what that sarcasm relates. Hooker's
campaign has never been n subject OF
dispute, and It's leading features are.
matter OF familiar knowledge to both
armies and to the whole country. The
movements described were the move
mrnts made. With the exception OF
Sedgwicks detachment and the second
corps Hooker marched up the left bank
OF the river with his whole army, crossing
above their confluence the Rappahannocl
at Kelleys Ford, and then moving to the
Rapidann, crossed that stream at Ely and
Germania Fords. This brought his army
TO the south bank Of the Rappidann. about
eighteen miles above Fredericksburg, as
stated"
To this Mr.. HowIson rejoins last Sun
day:
THE attempts Of Captain Cussons to
defend or excuse Greg's Geographical
hlunders are much more amusing than
successful. 1t was beyond not only Hook
er's power, but all hmvan power 10 gross
the Rapidann about eighteen miles from
Fredericksburg. The nearest point OF the
Rapidann to Fredericksburs1s the point
90 t., int a X
the borders of Culpeper county, about
forty-two miles from Fredericksburg.
What could have possessed Mr.. Howl
son to make this statement The Rapl-
damn and the Rappahannock unite about
ten miles above Fredericksburg, as every
one knowing anything whatever Of the
country knows. and as any one can see
for himself by applying the scale to any
school atlas. Mr.. Howison lives at
Fredericksburg, and that has been his
home the greater part Of his life. 1t seems
incredible that he can be ignorant Of this
fact. If he is. he is not fit to critlcise
Greg's work. II he knew It and misrep-
resented the fact, what is 10 be thought
Of Mr.. Howison?
There is one passage in Mr.. Howison's
last letter which we cannot pass by. and
we do not see how It can be character
lied otherwise than as malignant. He
says:
And when he comes IN this work 10
contemplate the dying agonies Of the Con
federacy in that deeply pathetic scene lat
Appoinattox. instead of words Of manly
sympathy. percy Greg pours out over
the scene the inhuman cry Of the Roman
populace when the gladiator fell MORALLY
wounded in the arena: Habet! Habet!
lie has it. He has it,
Gregs chapter on Appomattox is full
of tender and loving sympathy for the
misfortunes Of the Army of Northern Nir-
ginia. and it is written in words that
glow with pride In its heroic and immor-
tai performances. Mr.. Howison's solitary
justification for his ungenerous fling is
this: After describing with great clearness
the extremities to which General Lee had
been reduced, and the impossibilify Of
his making further resistance, Greg con-
tinues with these lines:
Habet! the fatal cast is made.
The weH-poised net falls true;
Hampering at once the trenchant BLADE
And the strong arm that drew.
In him who, spent and shared, lies low,
Hates self must own a noble foe.
We do not know who is the author OF the
lines. put they are plainly quoted, and
were not composed for the occasion; but
If they had been, there would be pitiful
vail in Habet. as here used, that could
come from none but a gref-stricken heart.
Mr.. Howison knew this much. at least,
even If he did not know that the Rapi-
damn runs to within ten miles Of his home
and he knew that Greg did not use 1t
to pour over the scene the inhuman cry
of the Roman populace when the gladia-
tor fell MORALLY wounded in the arena
1t is hard for one who knows the deep
sympathy for the people Of the South
which pervades every page Of Mr.. Greg's
work to read such attacks upon 1t as this
and preserve his patience.