The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-04-28

but in telling what Johnny Reb did
and suffered. 1t tells how and where
fore.-what he was. what he felt. what
he thought-why he fought"
IT does tell all of these things in
an earnest, charming, and perfectly
natural way Indeed, one of the fea-
lures of the book is its easy. natural,
and at the same time picturesque and
| vivid style. The use of the term "remi-
/ nlscent' In the circular above quoted,
may lead some to imagine that the
author has only gathered here jum-
Die or anecdotes, for the entertainment
| OF those who love to read war
lstories."' But such is by no means the
case On the contrary, the work was
cast In a larger mould" and dis
| cusses principles, men, measures, and
movements with ability discrimination,
and in an unusually interesting man.
ner OF course, as seen from the au-
thor's point OF view. The book does con-
tam very many most interesting and
some thrilling stores and adventures as
| witnessed or experienced by the au-
thor, and all of these are given with
such fidelity and are so hfe-like, that
as you read, the actors seem to stand
out before you on the page. Some of
these rec1tals are ludicrouS, some
thrilling, and some are painfully pa
thetic. But all of them, as they were
intended by the author are illustra-
tive of his text, and are interesting
and instructive to a degree.
Both Wilkinson and Mccarthy de-
serve special mention for the faithful
and vivid manner in which they have
portrayed, in their books soldier life;
the former, that in the Army of the
Potomac, and the latter, that in the
Army of Northern Virginia. In the
opinion of the writer, the forthcoming
orb ~ 1T -
features of both the works of the above
named authors, and it presents. along
| With these many things, which neither
the experiences nor opportunities of
those authors would enable them to
compass and present. OF course, we
say this in no spirit of criticism or in
tended detraction of either of the
above named authors, or of their ad-
mirable and most charming books.
AS. before intimated then, it seems to
me, that Maj. Stiles has caught and set
forth in his book not only the real
soul of the conflict" between the
North and the South, but the spirit that
animated and inspired many of the
principal actors in that conflict both of
high and lowly rank, and at the same
time has illustrated the conduct of
these actors by recitals of unusual in
terest, nearly all of which are new to
the writer. s
Another interesting feature of the
book Is the discussion by the author of
some of the legislation of the Confeder-
ate Congress. Whilst we do not per-
haps attribute quite as much import
ance to this legislation as Maj. Stiles
seems to do, yet we do agree with him
in the opinion that it was most per-
nicious and far-reaching in it's baleful
effects on the armies in the field.
Confederate soldiers, and Confeder-
ate sympathizers have found three
genuine sources Of consolation in con-
templating their failure to establish
their Independence. The first of these
is the firm conviction las strong to-
day as ever that their cause was just.
The second is. that they were led in
that cause by men, who were the
peers of any the world ever saw and
the third is, the knowledge, made more
manifest daily that, as in the history
of most other wars, the poetry, the SEN
timent and the sympathy of the world
at large land in many cases. even of
our quondam eneInfes) are with the
vanquished; and that our Southern
people, old and young, are, with rare
exceptions, as true Confederate in
their feelings to-day as we were from
81 to '65.s fdeff aF
Such books as 'sFour Years Under
Marse Robert" will not only strength
en- the convictions ST any who may be
,wavering as to the first, and heighten
7the admiration of-iAlY for our glorious
leaders; but 1t Will touch some new
and hidden chords of love. sympathy,
respect, and admiration, for all the
men and women, who supported the
Confederate cause, with their Lives,
their blood and their fortunes
To the devoted and faithful author
who has accomplished this task for us,
we owe a debt Of genuine and lasting
gratitude; one we can best repay both
to him, and to ourselves, by reading
his book when it comes from the press.
| Respectfully submitted,
George l.. Christian.