Akron daily Democrat. [volume] (Akron, Ohio) 1892-1902, 1901-12-23

muse VI l lit Ntl'i-
an" of Nashville Tennessee, II copy
of o book, the name of which is Two
Wars" This really is the military
autobiography of Samuel G. French
formerly captain in the United States
army, and later Major General in
the army of the Confederacy.
We took up this book without much
interest, expecting to find 1t but an
other going over of the Civil war from
the Southern point of view, but we
laid Ii down with real regret. 1t is
valuable contribution to the history of
time, in regard to which fact Is al
ready strangely blended with myth,
and back Of which the present genera
tion looks through the deceitful haze
of tradition.
Gen. French was native of New
Jersey, ana entered West Point and
the army from that State. So that
he had not the usual excuse of going
with his State, for fighting against
the flag under whose folds he had
been educated and had contended in
Mexico.
IT is too late a day to now discuss
with him the theory on which he un-
dertakes to justify secession. No one
will be satisfied that what he calls
the nomination and election of a
sectional candidate for President is
sufficient justification.
But, turning to the book itself we
find 1t replete with matter which tends
10 clear up portions of the great con-
hict really obscure even to the best
Informed.
The authors account of his boy
hood life on the New Jersey farm is
charming. His picture of the rude
abundance of that time brings water
to the mouth and visions to the minds
eye We cannot forbear quoting n
single paragraphs: II have given
these minute details of the manner in
which the people lived in New Jersey
and adjoining States in the olden
times, when the richest were poor
and the poorest had abundance to
show you how well they lived, how
comfortably clad, and how content
they were in the days when trusts,
combines and protective tariffs were
unknown, and no great corporations
existed. Today Qs90 these great
combines have destroyed individual
competition, and impoverished more
than half the entire population of the
country and reduced It to rigidity of
hours and the slavery Of wages They
control legislation, corrupt the courts,
subsidize the press, maintain advo.
Gates In the pulpits, and this will es-
TRANCE the poor from the rich more
widely than the peasant from the
prince; and, continued, may implant
an unkindly feeling, which, if not
placated, may have TO be settled by a
resort to arms"
The old General "has 1t OUT with
Longstreet concerning the operations
OF their army around Suffolk In the
spring Of 1862, and Is censorious of the
conduct Of the latter In not rejoning
Lee in time TO have made the battle
OF Charlottesville decisive shortly
afterwards French was ordered to the
army gathering In the interior of
Mississippi for the relief of yicksburg
aud he came there against the protest
OF Joe Johnston. because, as the latter
claimed, 30 many officers of Northern
birth had been assigned to his depart
ment, and the troops were suspicious
of such.
After opposing Sherman In his Mcrl-
dian expedition, the author took part
in the great Atlant6 campaign, of
which he gives "A graphic description,
especially of the lighting In the neigh
borhood of kenesaw mountain,
He devotcs considerable space to an
account Of the affair ut Allatoona. In
which he punctures the long believed
story of Corses defense of that point
ana makes the song of Hold the
Fort. for | Am Coming" look like the
tadltonary thirty cents.
A careful and apparently candid
analysis of Hoods Nashville cam.
paign, including the terrible and unnec.
essary battle OF Franklin, results TO
Inc discredit of the General who led
that ill-starred expedition.
General French's description of his
at one time superior officer Bishop.
and Lieutenant General, Polk, of his
habits of campaigning and manners
OF life In the field, about his obiecting
70 rising IN the morning before the
sun, OF his having milch cows driven