The Washington weekly post., 1899-06-20

there "a plenty Of interesting detail 70
furnish sufficient excuse for occasional
diversions The famous charge upon the
Mexican stronghold of Chapultspee- al
ready referred 20 by Gen Lonsstrsst IS
told In dramatic style The almost for
gotten story of how Capt Pickett. with
fifty American soldiers, dsfied the whole
British fleet Of FIVE vessels and neaStS
zeo men and held the disputed Island of
san Juan. on our northwestern border. j.
told In detail. with all the correspondents
between the brave young American officer
and the British Admiral whom he sue
cessfuliy blufTe6 Had he been less firm
he might have precipitated a war with
Great Britain, which at that time might
have changed history, for IL was here that
Capt Pickett resigned his commission.
after the trouble was over. and went Soutn
10 Join the confsderacy. In a letter wit
ten at this time he said:
Dearly as I love the Union. and proud
as ! am Of my country and the great
name OF American citizen, ] cannot in
wade nv own nreside. ! cannot raise my
arm against my own kith and kin. All my
ambition and patriotism shall henceforth
live only in the defense of nv beloved
STATE. which has the first claim upon my
8ilfktGHtE 3ElU trUl&IlS NY iIiui--s1tF
return to her. ! hope the South has
thought 70 keep our nag, the Stars and
Stripes. for the star Spangled Banner viii
be- worth more to US In the coming con-
fict than the people Of the South. VINO
only know their own State flag. have any
idea Of"
Here the author INDUCES in a discussion
of the doctrine Of State rights. ana
brings out prominently point which sN-
plains why 20 many West Pointers re-
fight with the Confederacy. After show
ing how nearly every section of the coun-
try had at different times claimed TIE right
Of secession, she shows how the govern
ment itself inoculated this idea For years
the text book at West Point had been
"RawIe on the Constitution" in which
the doctrine of State rights was forcibly
set forth. so that the young warriors an
sOTbed the idea Of secession at the same
time that they were learning the art OF
war. Her historical review OF slavery
also brings out some points in justice 10
the Southern people which are not gener-
ally understood.
The Battle of Geftvsburp.
or course the feature OF the book l. the
description OF the battle of Gettysburg,
where Pickett and his brave Virsinians
made their desperate cnarge Ipon the
impregnable Federal position. and out of
5,0d0 men left $50 dead on the field. Other
battles and campaigns. some Of which
Mrs. Pickett saw herself, are capabiy de-
scribed, but this is the most dramatic
chapter Of the book Again she quotes
the words OF Lincoln. when he stood at
the foot of Cemetery Hill and looked up
ward to where the frOwning cannon had
so short a time before sent its leaaen
death 10 the valley below. and some one
said to him: Think of the men who held
those heights"
Yes" he replied, but think % the men
who stormed these heights" Sne also re-
lates the story of Gen. Pickett thai when
marching through Pennsylvania on the
road to Gettysburg, little girl waved the
Stars and Stripes. The General took off
his cap and bowed to her, and his whole
division followed suit. Being asked aft
erward how he could bring himself to
salute the enemy's nag, he replied: 81
saluted the heroic womannOol in the
heart of that little girl. and the glorious
old banner under which l won mY first
laurels.'
In the concluding chapter, entitled "The
Blue and the Gray" this wOman niStOri-
an, not without sentiment but :ull of
charity for the past, again quotes LIN
coIn-his immortal Gettysburg Ora1on.
and closes her book with a benedicJiOn
upon the brave men. living and dead"
whose sons have since toughI side by side
against a foreign foe. lnder the glorious
emblem Of a reunited and insepdrd5le r5-
ton. The book is printed by the Foote
& Davies Co, at Atlanta. ga.