The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-10-22

sent his original cipher book 10 De nled In
the Wal Department, It is q curious relic
of the war time.
TIL more familiar one becomes with these
kilograms and letters, sent in red.hot haste
from the scene of action, sometimes penned
within cannon range OF the contending
armies, the better he understands why MIR.
DANA felt genuine personal pride as he
looked back over this four years epoch in
his long, busy, and useful life. He was
undoubtedly justified in this pride. He
had taken part In great events. He had
been the daily associate and accepted coun-
sellor of some Of the greatest men In the
worlds history, the confidant OF their pur-
poses, and the possessor OF the inner Sc
crets of n powerful Government. For the
whole period of his service as Assistant
Secretary of War he enjoyed the unreserved
confidence of all, not only his superiors in
Washington, but the brave but sometimes
Jealous, caballing, domineering military
officers in the field.
He was the confidential friend of EDWIN
M. STANTON, and On intimate terms with
the President. The records leave no room
for doubt that Mr.. LINCOLN held a warm
regard for Mr.. DANA. Mr.. N
learned his great value at the very outset
this astutc lawyer and statesman relied
implicitly upon Mr.. DANA's almost infalli.
BILE Judgment to keep himself straight In
dealing with many affairs Of the very great
est concern. Aside from this mere ma
chine side of the question, he bore for Mr..
DANA a deep respect and affection, as l
gather from the records.
On the other hand, the readers Of THE U
know in what high regard Mr.. DANA held
these two great Union figures of the war.
He seems to have had no modification Of
the positive conviction that the rebellion
would never have been suppressed but for
the wise direction of all the nations polit.
ical, material, and military forces by these
two civilian leaders. He loved and rever-
enced both, and, liberal as he generally was
in his treatment of historical subjects, and
willing rs he was to have his writers and
correspondents go to the bottom of every
inquiry raised in the discussion Of the
war, he hardly tolerated criticisms of
either LINCOLN or STANTON. He could not
bear to have either of these two men criti-
cised even in the mildest form. No doubt
he thought and knew they had not been
right in all things, but, having achieved the
greatest "Olh III liz hlSlOlS VI ~ hdUlou,
he appeared to have n conscientious feeling
that they were, somehow, above the reach of
criticism. This feeling he manifested in
various forms, in letters, lectures, edito.
rails, and in social intercourse. In this re.
gard he undoubtedly expressed the feeling
of all patriotic people.
1t is impossible to estimate Mr.. DANA's
influence upon the results of the war. That
it was direct and potent is known by all
who knew the facts. His genius for stat,
ing briefly and forcibly his convictions and
conclusions was so great, his thorough
knowlo lge of the matter in hand so mani.
testify clear, his judgment in MIN cases out
of ten so palpably correct, his personal re-
lations with the military authorities at
Washington so intimate, and so perfect the
confidence reposcd in his rectitude of pur
pose and intense patriotism and his own
freedom from prejudice and self-interest in
dealing with all matters affecting the pub
lie interests, that he was at the seat Of
authority a most powerful advocate and
councillor.
Happily for his country, the right mar
had been chosen for this peculiar duty
Mr.. DANA's judgment and instincts, all his
mental tendencies, were in the right dircc
ton. In its discharge he was entirely gov
erned by the paramount desire for the sue
cess of the Union cause. and let no per
sonal prediction stand in the way Of it!
promotion. No matter how we'll he per
sonally liked a general officer, If he founc
5 him incompetent he had no hesitation il
pointing out to Secretary STANTON thu
mans defects. If another, personally oh
: noxious to him, was yet an efficient leader
: Mr.. DANA freely commended him, ant
often suggested his promotion. He wa
generally, though, of course, not always
L correct in his estimate Of officers. Hi
1 recommendations and suggestions wer
almost always wise and judicious.
These things are written because they mr.
0 important facts to know in connection wit
the history of the war. The importan
v part Mr.. DANA played in the war for tn
C suppression of the rebellion is not fully ur
d~crstood by everybody. Some of his int
mate friends, even, are unaware of it, 70
Mr.. DANA himself said very little abou
the matter. 1t is only recently that thes
records have been placed within the rcac
of the public; besides, because Of their pt
culiar character and volume, they NATURAL
attract very few general readers. But tn
C experts who have been porting over ther
for years, compiling them into a chronolog
cal story, know full well the value of Nj
DANA's services, and the singular con
v plcteness of their record. 1t will be yer
< valuable to all future historians, both b
d reason of thisc completeness in covering ceI
tain events and the perspicacity that cha
actcrizcs all his utterances, whether b
telegram or letter. The Dana correspond
lie ence is not voluminous, yet, owing to h
Ie compass of language, each despatch, Ion
1t or short, has n strong pictorial effect on tn
e. mind, so full and graphic are all his d.
lie %scriptions, whether Of men or events.
N Mr.. DANA went to the armies armed wit
r. an unusual commission. is one of ii
A. few documents which does not appear
1T the War Records, but fortunately it has bee
lr preserved. Under his first instructions |
Of proceeded West, and for a time w,