Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-05-02
ALLEGED INACCURACIES
GEN. BOYNToN's CRITICISM OF A
SCHOOL TEXT BOOK.
Citations Made of Paragraphs Re-
garded as Erroneous-PrOceed
of Board of Education.

1T last nights meeting of the board of
education Gen. Boynton continued his crit
icisms of the text books used in the public
schools. His particular subject last night
was Ridpath's History of the United States
used in the sixth grade. He called atten-
ton to alleged inaccuracies in that history
with respect to events of the war of the
rebellion, and recommended it's discontinue
ance as a text book until certain correc-
lions are made Gen. Boynton described
some of the so-called inaccuracies in Rid
paths work as follows:
Page 312-"At the beginning Of the year
the capture of Forts Henry and Donelson,
on the Tennessee and Cumberland, was
planned by Gen. Halleck-" The taking of
these forts was planned by Gen. Grant.
urged on Halleck by Grant and Commodore
FoOte. and at first emphatically opposed by
Gen. Halleck.
Page 312-After DOnelson. THE defenses
were manned by 1O.GG0 confederates under
Gen. Buckner." Gen. Buckner surrendered
over 1900. Besides these Were the killed
and the forces that escaped with Floyd and
Forrest, at least 5000.
Page observation-disclosures January 2,
1SG2). Bragg withdrew his shattered col
umnS and filed off toward Chattanooga"
Bragg withdrew to Tollahoma and Shelby
vile and did not move for Chattanooga
until the last day of June, or six months
later.
Williamsburg Battle.
Page 31S-After Yorktown. Mcclellan
reached the Chickahominy without serious
resistance" The Intervening battle of
Williamsburg was probably counted suffi-
GENTLY serious by those who took part in
it. The Union loss was 1899 and the con-
federate casualties 1.251
Page 319-Antietam ended Sin a drawn
battle 1t ended in defeating Lees inva-
sion of Maryland, and forcing him to
tire into Virginia.
Page SPIN single paragraph of seven
teen lines, relating to the campaign for
Chattanooga. there are six serious errors,
among others, errors of six weeks in the
dates of movements. and this to losses
at thickamauga: The Union loss amount
ed to nearly 1900, and that of the con-
federates was even greater" The Union
loss was 16,1T0. and that of the confeder-
ates less than 1900.
Page 322-On this same page begins a
paragraph of ten lines, which are deemed
sufficient TO cover the operations of Bragg's
army before Chattanooga; the movement
of Hookers two crops from the Army of
the Potomac; Grants arrival and assum-
ing command; the reopening of the Tennes-
see river; the arrival of Sherman with two
corps of the Army of the Tennessee. and
the battles of Wauhatchie. Lookout Noun
tain and Missionary Ridge. In this con-
densed paragraph. Sherman's forces of two
corps -four divisions is given as one di-
VISION, and Hooker is represented as storm
instead of three.
Page 32+-Jackson at charlottesville, He
burst upon the right wing and sVeDt
everything to destruction" 1t was all bad
enough, but there was something left Of
the Army OF the Potomac after that.
At Gettysburg.
Page 325-"On the eve Of battle the COM
mand of the Union army was transferred to
Gen. George G. Meade, who took I'D a posi-
ton on he hills around yrt,o
Union army, advancing beyond Gettysburg,
was driven back through 1t to the hills in
rear of it.
Same page-''The battle reached it's eli
max on the Sd, when a confederate column.
three miles long, headed by the Virginians,
under Gen. Pickett made final charge on
the Union center" The confederate col
uUn of assault had a front of 600 yards
less than one mile-at the start, and 600
yards at it's farthest advance.
Same page-"The entire confederate loss
was nearly 10000 The official reports by
the medical director of Lees army, and
the reports of each regiment and battery
engaged, place the loss at between 10000
and 1000.
Page 329-"Meanwhile, Gen. Thomas, with
the army of the Cumberland, had been de-
tached from Sherman's army and sent
n1rthward to confront Hood" Only one
small corps-the 4th-of the army Of the
Cumberland was given to Gen. Thomas
The great bulk of that army marched with
Sherman to the sea.
Such are some Of the more serious errors
on only seventeen pages of the thirty de-
voted to the civil war. There are others
on these and the remaining pages of the
thirty, but they are of a minor character
1t Is respectfully submitted that the teach
ing of "Ridpath'S History OF the United
States be suspended until it's publishers
correct it's errors.
Publishers Communication.
communication was received from
Houghton, Miffiin & Co., publishers Of
Fishes history, promising to correct GER
tain alleged misstatements in that work in
accordance with the wishes of the board.
A resolution was passed expressing regret
at the death of Miss Laura F. Barney for
many years teacher In the colored High
School. The committee on teachers and
janitors recommended that an increased ap-
preparation be asked for kindergarten work
Parents Of children who will attend the
new TakOma school petitioned the board
TO appoint Miss henrietta Schlerf principal
of the school.
The report was made by the committee on
ways and means on the proposition of Mr..
Franklin Smith for the purchase of the
Hall of the Ancients for the benefit Of the
public schools. The committee reported
that while it did not see its way clear to
recommend such purchase 1t believed the
acquisition of the property, to be exhibited
IN connection with the Smithsonian Insti-
tuition, would be a desirable investment.
and would so recommend to Congress. In
regard to the offer made by Mr.. Smith that
pupils in the public schools be allowed to
visit the halls at reduced rates Of admis-
sion the committee recommended that the
principals of eighth grade and high schools
be permitted to avail themselves Of the
offer outside of school hours on such terms
as they might individually make with the
management.
Visit the unique Bears Head in the base
ment OF the Raleigh. A refined place for