The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-08-12
Some War Chronicles.


1.-THE Mississippi Valley in the Civil
Var" by John Fiske, is an interesting
and valuable addition to war literature
though some Just criticisms have been
made upon It as incomplete in the light OF
the latest records. The book grew out OF
a course of lectures delivered by the au-
thor at various times, from 1886 onward;
and during the last fifteen years much inn
portant matter in the way of records and
correspondence has come to light which
might perhaps have properly modified some
of Mr.. Flske's conclusions. He scarcely
gives due credit either to Lincoln or &c
Grant for the success OF the Union cause
and does not. apparently. appreciate the
difficulties in the way of either, and tbs
hampering influences at work. All the
same. the book is well worth reading Il
one is interested in the history of the wal
between the States, for the part of that
conflict which took place in the Missis-
sippi Valley has never been adequately
chronicled.
in the first chapter the influences which
kept Missouri in the Union are discussed,
and full credit is given to Frank T. Blair,
Jr., for his large snare in this work. Ere
monts conduct in the first year OF the
war in Missouri is sharply criticised, and
he is referred 10 as the incapable Ere
mons" Accounts Of Fort Donelson and
Shiloh are found in the next chapter, to-
sather with some comments on Grant. VI
the battle of Shiloh the author says:
The American people, unused to warfare upon
a great scale. we're astounded at the news OF this
terrible battle. For the first time IN the history
Of the Western Continent We were called TO W.T.
.,,l elrafT he aTf1fln iona
u Marlborough Napoleon On each SIDE more
than 1000 men were killed or WOUNDED, Mnlle
on the first day the Lnicn army lost some S'VJO
prisoners IL proportion to the total numbers
engaged in the battle, these losses were enor-
nous. Reckor;ng the Coniederates twithout
their caralry) at 5000. Grants army at 41,VJl,
and Buelrs three divisions at 10000, we have a
total OF 90 &C., with c loss Of more than 2o,OJ0;
mere than two ninths, or approaching one
fourth. II saw an open field, says Grant, IN
our possession the second dag over which the
Confederates had made repeated charges the cay
before SO covered with dead that il would have
been possible 10 walk across the clearing, in any
direction stepping dead bodies, without
loot touching the ground. On one paT'
BUSES had grown up TO the height OF eight or
ten feet. There was not one OF these lett stand
ing unpieresd By bullets. The smaller ones were
all cut down. $780,
engaged, the battle 0! Shiloh was peculiarly SIG
nihoant It tested American mettie- II showed
what formidable fighters an industrial people,
hating warfare could suddenly become under the
spur OF necessity. On either side, moreover. II
awakened such a feeling OF respect Tor the otaer
es had until that day remained dormant II also
oisosled some illusions. Il showed the Northern
people that few victories like For. D1n-son
would not suffice 10 overthrow the Coniederaoy,
but that the whole Southern country would have
10 be conquered inch by inch.
Another interesting comment is that on
the work of the navy in the war. Mr..
Fiske says:
But for the navy and its gallant commanders it
would have been impossible to gut down the re-
bellion The work done by the navy was truly
Titanic. There was something romantic IN the
bo.dness with which President Lincoln and Mr.
Seward. at the outbreak OF hostilities, quickly
announced their iptention of bloekading three
thousand miles OF coast, all the way from the
Potomac to the Rio GTande. Europe laughed at
the idea; such thing had never been Done by
the greatest maritime powers, and the United
States rad VERY few varships, most OF Item an
ticraied and all about to become So Yet within
q few months this siup5ndous blockade was nude
effective 1t isolated the Coafederacy fToin al
the rest of the world, and made its overthrow
possible. In those days We had a great and grow
ing merchant marine, before cur abominaJle
tariff and navigation laws killed il. The Ameri-
can flag was seen in nearly all the ports OF the
world, our hardy sailors were TO be found on
every sea, and we had small band Of brave and
intelligent naval officers trained IN school OF
peculiar excellence. With such resources, aided
]
piiances, navy especially adapted to the needs
Of the occasion. and unlike anything ever seen
before, was created as il by magic The famous
old ships OF the line and frigstes, few of which
are still lying in our navy yards, were Of no
more use than the catapults and cross-bows Of
the Middle Ages; and even such steam frigates as
the Roanoke and Minnesota, which only FIVE years
earlier had ranked anorg the finest warships
tfost, were row al once rendered poweTless By
the invention Of armored and g1nbo2ts-
OF its old materials the Government made such
use IS II could while IL called upon inventors
for new designs, and meanwhile bought up every
craft floating in American wsters that could m
any Wis., be promptly adapted TO hshti1g and
pressed into the service. Large steamers OF 2.G)o
tons burden, swift little river and harbor tugs.
Falton ierryboats casefnated in iron and armed
with formidable guns, tall Mississippi steam
toats squat mortar boats, turtle shaped Tams
WITH powerful engines and deadly beaks, went 10
make Up an immense feet OF such Bondesc-'yt
appearance as would have aroused the skepti al
Eonder Of a Nelson, but well fitted. in the hands
Of seEacious and daring men, for the varied aId
difficult work which il had 10 perform. With
puch vessels these, usually aided by detael-
hents from the army, the Government went on
IeizinE the encnys sC7ports and strens NJ its
grip upon his coast line. until BIS the end OF the
var every considerable maritime town in tie
ooniederacy had passed into Northern hands.
1t may be remarked in passing that Mr.
Fiske might just as well have dispensed
with the phrase putting down the re-
bellion.'' which is naturally and rightly
offensive to Southern people and is not
technically accurate.
Mr. Fiske is extremely outspoken in
his criticisms. and little later General
Buffers famous woman order" comes in
for . blast of whitening contempt.
On the whole. this book is not likely
TO be at all popular in the South, not so
much because of any actual partlsanshlp
hown in the chronicle as because OF the
luthor's use Of certain phrases which are
lot pleasant to Southern ears. and his
mtspoken encomiums of the Union cause
When he says. for example, that American
children are to be taught to love their
Dountry rescued at such dreadful cost
rom anarchy and dishonor,' no lover Of the
lost Cause is. as the street urchil wou'dsay
toing to have any use for him. Moreover,
be scarcely gives sufficient space to the
leaders, or the Confederate side. General
Wheeler. for example, is only mentioned
)nce. ard that In a brief sentence ex-
planning a side movement in the Chatta-
looga campaign. The book is liable to
PAUSE considerable discussion in Grand
Army circles. from its drankness of COM
nent and statement. with some Of which
ldherents OF the different generals con-
lerned are likely 10 take issue. But, taken
Is a whole. II is an interesting book, and
} valuable contribution TO the chronicles
81 the war (Boston: Houghton, Mimin
4 Co. $2.)
Bernard Shaw's Latest Work
IAN Unsocisl Socialist" by G. Bernard
Shaw, will not come ae a surprise TO read