Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-05-13


Mexican, Indian. and Civil Wars. by den-
erai Dabncy Herndon Marry. ex-United
States Minister to Colombia" Is book
which ID going to have many readers. II
IN not a recital Of the movement OF mr.
mics. not dull discussion OF cam
paigns, but Is a series of "reminiscences
such AZ one would delight to hear from
good taiker In his hours Of leisure.
General Maury IL n son OF Captain John
Minor Maury. who was an officer In the
United States navy. The General was
born in Fredericksburg. May q. ls22: was
graduated at the University OF virginia
in Is4i, and at the United States Military
Academy In 1886. and Immediately Joined
our army Of the Rio Grande as lieutenant
in the Mounted Rifles. He was wounded
at Cerro Gordo. and for distinguished
services in Mexico was presented with
sword by the citizens Of Fredericksburg
and the Legislature OF Virginia. Later
he was a professor at West Point su-
perintendent Of the cava!ry-scnooi VI
practice at Carlisle, Pa, and ASSISTANT
adjutant-general In the Department OF
New Mexico. Joining the Confederate
army, he became chief OK stan vi
General Van Dorm in the Trans-Missis-
sirpi Department, was promoted 10 pif
gadier-general, led division at Corii'h'
and was there made a major-general' anu
later was made commandant OF the po
partment OF the Gulf. and greatly dishh-
guished himself by his defence or Mo-
bile. In 1886 he was made United States
Minister to the States Of Colombia.
Such in brief has been General Maury
history. That he is keen observer anu
n candid commentator this book SHOWS
He was at West Point with SLOVENIAN
Jackson, whom he describes as man
Of many eccentrIcities. some illustrations
OF which he gives. lie criticises JACK
sons harshness towards A. p. HILL WIN
der. and Garrett In way whlch VIII
make many OF Jackson's admirers VINCE
But. nevertheless. he speaks OF Jackson
nc ",he greatest Christian soldier of his
time"
The General also gives "reminiscences
of Lee Joe Johnston, Grant, DICK Taylor
President Davis, Mcclellan. Commodore
Marry. Shakespeare Caldwell, the Ashcy
brothers, Jeb Stuart. Forrest, fftz-Jonn
Porter, and many other officers and CIVIL
lians OF distinction.
The beginning OF the trouble between
President Davis and General Joe John
ston IL set forth in this book. 1t arose
from the Presidents naming Lee ahead
of Johnston as one Of the five fuli gen
erals OF the Confederate army, whereas
Genera, Johnston contended that he
ranked Lee in the old army and accord
ing to the understanding had when the
southern officers resigned he was en-
titled to rank Lee In the Confederate
army.
General Maury enjoyed the friendship
of General Joe Johnston in Mexico. and
their intimacy continued until General
Joe Johnstons death. They met when
ever possible. and cOrresponded Wheh
they were apart. Under date OF Septem-
her l. 1864. Johnston wrote Maury from
Macon. Ga, quite full account Of the
Georgia campaigns and n defence OF his
policy. Maury quotes Johnston as saying
after the war that Lee and Jackson were
great generals. but that Forrest was the
greatest soldier the war produced.
The closing chapters are devoted to
General Maury's business experiences
since the war and his life In Colombia
whilst representing this government
there as minister plenlpotentlary. 1t
is distinctly book of "reminiscences.
Indeed the author has trusted almost too
much 10 his recollection. a., Is shown by
a number Of errors in details. caused by
tricks of memory. The book is from the
presses of Charles Scribner's Sons, New
York, and we have copies Of it through
j. w. Randolph & Co. and West, John
ston q Co.. OF Richmond. 1t makes 2S)
large octave pages. is handsomely
bound. and is sold at $50 per copy. The
fronuspiece is portrait Of General
Maury from a Confederate photograph.