The Indianapolis journal., 1899-11-27
RECENT PUBLICATIONS.
James Ford Rhodes's History of the
United states.


James Ford Rhodes's History of the
United states.
The fourth volume of the History Of the
United States from the Compromise of
1850" by James Ford Rhodes. is at hand.
the earlier volumes having been published
some time ago. The work was Mr..
Rhodes's first introduction 10 the reading
public as a historian, and il has shown that
he knows how to collate and handle his
torical materials and that he possesses
clear narrative style and an unusual faculty
for character drawing. AS indicated by the
title, the work is not a complete history OF
the United States. 1t covers only the period
from 1850 TO the inauguration of Grover
Cleveland as President in 1855. but this
embraces the slavery struggle, the civil
war, the reconstruction period and other
important passages in recent national
history. This volume begins with MeClel-
lans peninsular campaign in the spring OF
1852, and ends with the reelection of Lin
coin in 1864. leaving about twenty years of
the designated period to be covered by fu-
Sure volumes. In this, as in the preceding
volumes. good deal of space is given TO
describing the actors in the events narrated.
and in doing this the author sometimes
makes his personal opinions pretty promi-
nent, but he has good precedent for this in
lssome other historians. notably Macaulay.
In the third volume McClellan's traits, as
! they had appeared prior TO what is known
| as the peninsular campaign, were impair
| TALLY exhibited. In the present volume his
| weak, rather than his strong, qualities be-
| come more conspicuous. The author quotes
| freely from McClellans letters to his wife,
which abound with egotism and bitter COM
| plants against the authorities at Washing
ton, whom he held responsible for all his
own shortcomings and failures. OF these
! letters the author SAYS: ITO his worship
J ing wife Mcclellan told of the disadvantages
he was laboriDg under and OF his many
! troubles in tone that at times degenerated
| into childishness; indeed, some OF his letters
sound like the utterances OF youth un-
| grown, rather than of the captain OF a
| great army. Others show him to be prey
| TO Illusions" The main features OF mill
! tary movements described without TN
| necessary detail. their cause and effect and
| net results receiving the greater attention.
| The authors estimate of the responsibility
of Lincoln. Stanton and Mcclellan, respec-
lively, for the failure TO take Richmond in
June. 1862, is a good illustration of his style.
Lincoln was civilian called by the voice
OF the people TO place which. on the oc-
precedented dificuty That he would glad
| ly have thrown all responsibility of the
movement of armies on a man of military
1
of Mcclellan. But Mcclellan was not
equal TO the position of commander-in-chief.
and because of his incompetence the Presi-
dent was forced. little by little, TO invade
his province and assume unwonted duties,
with a result that is not surprising. Lin
coins care to avail himself of all sources
of enlightenment is shown by his night
journey, June %. on a quick special train
to West Point for the purpose of consult
ing General Scott. who was too infirm to
visit Washington. The traditions of the
country were favorable to the occupancy OF
the War Department by a civilian, and
Stanton brought to this office ability. energy
Stanton were those of civilians who were
constrained by force of circumstances to
Clelan's trade was war: and when often
sive operations had to be conducted on a
large scale he showed himself to be incom-
petent in his trade. 1t is no longer neces.
sary to bring proof, indeed it is hardly nee
essary even to state, that Lincoln desired
and ardeny y the sOai of hi
Stanton shared this feeling. The very ma
ture of the case. the combination of pa
the secretary eager for victories. no matter
by what general won His letters, dis
patches and verbal assurances are evidence
either that he did all in his power to aiC
Mcclellan consistent with what he deemed
his duty elsewhere, and that he would have
reJoiced, with no feeling of envy, at tn,
success or the peninsuar campaign, or tha
he was black-hearted and treacherous to {
degree iDconceivable of one trusted by tn,
most honest and magnanimous of mell
Abraham Lincoln McClellans failure wa
due largely to his absurd overestimate O
the enemy, which unnerved him when activ
; operations were needed. Perhaps his tactic
would have been less timid and disjointet
had he been on the field when his battl.,
We're fought but he was persistently alb
, sent
The authors impartiality and fairness ar
conspicuous in his descriptions of Southern
leaders. Among the civil phases of tn
period the relations between Great Britain
and the United States occupy considera bl
| space and are very inteligently treated
Among the original documents and source
| of information consulted by the author wa
the diary of Charles Francis Adams. Unite
| States minister TO England during the wal
the foreign correspondence of Charles Sum
/ ner. the Confederate diplomatic correspond
ence. the imprinted archives of the wa
Derartment, etc In short. this volum
presents comprehensive and graphic vie,
of the events and the leading actors i'm ther
during the two years of the war period fror
S 1862 to 1864. Like each of the precedin
= | volumes. Ii has an excellent index Tn
completed work will be valuable additio
to our historical literature. New York
| Harper q Brothers.