Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-07-23
Notices of New hooks.

THE WAR FOR THE UNION; OR, THE
DUEL, BETWEEN THE NORTH AND
SOUTH. A Poetical Panorama, His
torical and Descriptive. Prefaced by
the Song OF America and Columbus; or
The story OF the New world. BY Kina-
han CORVALLIS, author Of The Con-
quest Of Mexico and Peru" &c. New
York: Office Of the Wall-Sueet Daily
Investigator. PIP. 3H, &C., &c. Cloth.
AIr. CORVALLIS is u very volumnouS
author. apart from the contents of this
full volume. with its long quasi epics 1t
may be said to consist of three parts
first. a glorlhcation OF Queen Victoria, in
view Of the recognized entente cordiale
between England and the United states,
second, THE Song of Columbus INTENDED
for the grand Worlds Fair at Chicago,
1893, and. third. the great contest between
the North and the South, le5l-C1
We have nothing 10 say against the
tribute to England's Queen. THE Song
of Columbus" has been praised by some
for the accuracy Of its history. or this
song Part VI Is headed. Columbus
Discovery OF the Continent Of America"
He made no such discovery. our author
himself says in a note, page III: me
Continent of America was discovered by
Columbus on the lst Of August. l4ys' az
Terra Firma. 1t had, however, been dis
covered by John Cabot 2ith June, l4yH'
Did Columbus, even at the time or his
decease, know anything or the continent
Of America? Did he not believe that he
had only seen the Continent OF Asia? In
the notices of the press the Atlantic
Monthly expresses our sentiments; when
we have read the book we are ready 10
burst out in the same spirit and sing
90 Kinahan CORVALLIS, not even the
great Corliss (engine) ever got up so
much steam as you on the Columbian
theme
But IL THE Song OF Columbus" were
entitled to credit for the accuracy OF its
history nothing OF that sort can be as
serted in regard to The Duel Between
the North and the South" It's gross mis-
statements have been repeatedly dis
proved and could not be any moro UNI
truthful il the work had been written ex-
pressly for some ADVANTAGEOUS branch or
the Grand Army OF the Republic; nor does
our author wait until he comes 20 THE
War for the Union" before he begins 10
malign the South. In his Song OF Co
lumbus," pages IL and Il, his epic muse
tells America:
MAY peace, unbroken, all thy ways at
tend,
And all thy acts to bloodless conquests
tend.
Though on thee now no mighty army
feeds.
Thy fame is great for wars courageous
deeds
While North and South, in fierce and
dense array.
Plunged into war and squandered lie
away,
Till freedom struck the letters from the
slave,
And laid secession in its CORY grave"
SC.
The conquest OF the South was blood
less was il not? And are We not now
feeding an army which may have 10 be-
come mighty enough before IT accom-
plishes the task OF subduing Aguinalco
which Spain receives so. 10000 for throw
ing upon our hands?
When Mr.. CORVALLIS Ga name not very
fragrant with American liberty comes
10 the great "Duei Between the North
and South" his tone towards the South
is truculent and malignant. He under
rates the battle successes OF the ConIede-
rates, whilst he exaggerates their num-
bers and their losses. lie says that the
Monitor defeated the Merrlmac; he re-
hasheA the cruelties TO northern prisoners