Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-02-19


pated doubtless. but he did not know It
Tor certain when he took his stand at
Waterloo, and thus ran the greatest FISK
of being beaten before Butcher came up
had it been fine weather and the ground
hard. The battle itself is delayed, every
hours delay increasing Welllngton's adj
vantage. When the cannous at last are
heard tho bewildered Grouchy. knowing
that danger is impending and realizing
that he might avert it, yet with full
liberty of action, failed TO march direct
to the Emperor's aid. At the battle it.
self the cavalry charge and are badly
cut Napoleon himself Is called OIL to
look after the Prussians, whom Grouchy
has allowed to unite matters are lett
in News hands at time when Napoleon
is most needed to direct them the guard
is allowed to charge without sufficient
preparation they are shattered to
pieces the Prussians intervene at the
nick OF time, and all is soon over.
The result of the battle, even "a 1t
was, was directly due 10 the interven-
ton of the Prussians Gould Napoleon
have utilized his whole force during the
whole afternoon and have given his per-
sonal supervision. there is no reason
able question as to the result, says our
author; the Duke would have been
beaten and all over by 6 o'clock. rms
question is not asked to crafty the
Imagination or for purposes OF specula-
ton, but simply that We may form n
Judgment on the adequacy of Napoleon 3
means to the end which he had IN view I;
for if military history cannot assist us
in forming correct opinions on tho ade-
duacv of certain available means to the
attainment of certain proposed objects
it is of no use whatever" page 327.
But that there were serious faults both
in Napoleon's ARRANGEMENTS and also on
News part is no less clearly seen. Ney,
in fact, contributed apparently little.
except his example Of desperate courage.
to the success Of the day. But courage,
though indispensable, does not take the
place of judgment and presence OF
mind" page 33S). The Intervention of
the Prussians was clearly due to the
Emperors not taking sufficient precau-
tons and to Grouchy's stupidity. IL was
Napoeon's own mistake to trust so much
to Grouchy's judgment. but had Grouchy
acted up to the demands Of the respon-
sibility he would have ayerted the ruin
which the uuhindered union Of allies
brought upon Napoleon and his army.
On the whole. we should say that the
writer's sympathies rest with Napoleon.
The present volume. therefore. gives
n most interesting account OF mating
and checkmating, and each detail IS
commented upon fully, clearly, and its
importance and general bearing shown.
All students of the science of warfare IN
any Of its forms. from the contests OF
college students in their athletic games
to the SCARED veterans OF grimmest bat
ties, will find these pages unusually fas-
cinating. Though the narrator enters
into so many details, yet it must be adj
mitted that the dramatic intensity OF the
narration is preserved throughout and
in no way diminished snd though the
history is so familiar, yet the feeling
given is akin to that in reading one OF
Shakspeare's tragic plays-we cannot
witness the drama Of Waterloo unfold
ing itself, step by stem, and motive after
motive, without that breathless strain OF
interest "a to what in the supreme mo-
ment of fate the star OF destiny will de-
cree to the struggling nations.
Tie Poems Of William Watson. New
York MACMILLAN & Co. 297 pages.
Price, Sl.25. For sale by Wrsr,
JOHNSTON & Co.
This is q new edition of the works OF
a poet who had been prominently men
toned in connection with the laureate
ship. Its appearance is opportune, IN
so far as it affords evidence that even II
Watson had not lost his mind he would
not be worthy to wear the mantle OF
Tennyson. Watson is an example Of a
good literary critics having been spoiled
in making poor poet. He is a lover OF
poetry, and whenhe writes OF the efforts
Of other singers he shows discriminating
appreciation of their ability and warm
sympathy with their conceptions. But
in no instance does he bring from his
own Tyre notes that will live. He nei-
Their excites nor lulls. EgOtism is the
regnant Characteristic of nearly all Of
his compositions. Yet ne lacks the sub
iectiveness of genuine emotional fervor,
and his fancy seldom wings its flight
into o domain of genuine warmth and
sunshine. The suggestion of his most
ambitious efforts is that Of a cold intel
lect hampered unconsciously 10y its own
criticism, and consequently made timid
as to its own fitness for the labor 1t has
undertaken.
Var Talks of Confederate Veterans.
Compiled and Edited by GEORGE $.
BERNARD. Petersburg, Va. FEM &
OWEN
This volume embraces o series OF adj
dresses delivered before A. 2. Hill Camp
Of Confederate Veterans, of Petersburg,
Va. The subjects of the addresses and
their authors are Early Days OF tho
War" Rev. j. NJ. Pitcher f; Maryland
Campaign OF 1862" George S. Bernard !:
Charlottesville" Ex-Governor Will
liam h. Cameron "An Escape from
Point Lookout" Simon Seward 1.-THE
Battle OF tho Wilderness" John Il.
Turner "The Defence OF Petersburg. "
tOlOuei lStCucI II. ACHcI @Ao Dal-
tie of the Crater" George s. Bernard ;
"a Daring Expedition" Freeman W.
Jones "Last Days of Lee and His
Paladins," DR.. John Herbert Claiborne /;
"Last Days of Johnstons Army" Hon.
James VI. Mullen. A most valuable and
interesting feature of some OF these adj
dresses is that they contain the state
ments and extracts from the diaries of
numerous eyewitness TO the events
treated. Mr.. Bernard has thus gotten
together and put in enduring form a
wealth of material for the future histo-
rian of the late civil war. The volume
is illustrated with portraitures, views of
the crater, and maps Of the battle-felds
around Petersburg.