New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-09-05
TWO AMERICAN SOLDIERS.
Major General John Sedg7cick and
Colonel Richard LdfherS.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH dsn-leo9 or COLI
Mel. RICHARD LATIERS. compiled as He e
Grand Army Of the Republic r. svo, pp- -o'-
That Major General John sedgwick was one
OF the ablest and bravest Of the commanders
who fought for the North during the civil War
is fact well established IL history. but hitherto
published biographical notices have failed 20
reveal the innate simplicity and purity OF has
nature now shown in a collection Of his letters
Beyond the Interpolation OF his military record
OF tho testimonial presented TO him by the Of
ncers OF the Second Division Of the Second
Army CORPS and Of the Grafton delivered 10y
George william Curtis AT the dedication OF the
seaeuick statue Al West Point. no attempt has
been made to give these volumes biographlcaI
flavor: vet the letters themselves. covering ms
,,-ne-iarces IN Mexico. on the Western plains
and on the battlehel6s OF the civil War, tell the
storv OF John Sedgwicks life in way upon
which Il would he difficult TO improve True
there are many lacune IN the Correspondence
hut the general was a painstaIing letter writer
and enough OF his epistles have been preserved
20 give us a graphic account OF the most inter
eSting moments OF his life.
Undoubtedly the Mexican War letters VIII be
sound 10 possess more OF human Interest thah
,boss dealing with the events OF the closing
Years Of his lie but this is the natural result
% the fact that the Mexican narratives were
written at an age when the enthusiastic sol
der was more alive to impressions and less en-
'xaged IN military affairs. while the others were
pvt on paper during the busiest period OF ms
re when he was no longer one commanded, oul
one in command. The reader need not be sur
r,rised therefore. 10 find the letters OF lhls
,.-soa LARGELY confined TO an account Of the gen
..-.,.s o,erations in the field although there is
many a more intimately personal note IN his
,r,rton, on the course Of events and the con-
,5,c+ OF the war There is also strangely pa
ghetto tone 10 some Of these later letters. the
exnression Of the longing and planning Tor d
peaceful domestic life after the bitter campaign
had reached its end the life which the sharp
shooters bullet at Spottsylvania was TO oeny
him Throughout these. as well as throuehoU'
~. earlier letters. however we catch the strong,
fimpIe manly note that, with all his sIeiill'eSs
and severity in matters Of discipline enoeareo
him 10 his soldiers
In q nreface Mr.. Henry D Sedgwick expresses
n regret that the personal records Of the gem
erals life are scantv and after an examination
OF these volumes we share his regret We coula
wish that il had been possible To INCLUDE I'D the
collection at least a few Of General SedS"lch
experiences during the first decade after ms de-
,,arture from West Point, for before he jour
.7eved TO Mexico he had seen service IN The
Florida war against the Seminole Indians ana
he
troubles 81 1888 Judging from the faculty for
observation and description disclosed In the
Mexican War letters. we should have had some
Interesting side uchts upon the history Of the
earlier period.
The letters begin with one from st. Joseph's.
Tex dated July p 1896, in which the general
acguaints his sister with his safe arrival ana
tells Of his setting forth 10 Matamoras For
some time thereafter he was stationed with his
company at Reynosa. where he chafed at mac
lion and was frequently homesick. y Ions" he
writes in a jocund way, ito be luXuriatng on ice
cream and mint juleps in Broadway" The de-
lay afforded him much time for letter writing,
and we are given many clear cut pictures Of
Mexican villages customs and manners, to-
gether with some rather outspoken comments on
the men who went 10 the volunteers
These seem 10 have incurred SedgWicks dis
pleasure because Of their lack Of discipline.
Ignorance Of the precautions necessary IN the
changed climate, and tendency TO help them
selves 10 whatever they might desire lie points
10 the health Of the regulars as proof that If
the volunteers only knew how 10 take care Of
themselves they would not be dying like sheep.
IN this connection IL is interesting TO note that
h confirms the report that hundreds Of volun-
teers died Of nostalgia, or Eomesickness. That
h himself had little liking for Mexico, despite
SITS physical attractions, is evinced by his terse
description Of il as God forsaken country
Al length the time came when has desire TO
smell powder was TO be satiated. His company
formed part OF the expedition that sailed to the
capture OF Vera cruz. and subsequently find
him in the brilliant march 10 the City Of Mexico.
whore Santa Anna made his last desperate
stand. The account Of the siege Of Vera Cruz
Is brief. but graphic. all his battle mar
ratives. lie took part in some of the most des-
notably the storming Of the Cerro Gordo. and
the battles of Churubusco, Molino del Rey and
Chaputepec. II is worth remark that while
many biographical notices insist that tedgwick.
who then "a neutenaut received brey,t
Tor bravery at Contreras. the letters expressly
state that OF an the battles fought between
Vera cruz and the City OF Mexico. Conueras
was the only in ach he cid not participate.
The Young officer had several narrow escapes.
especially In the hattie of Moline de- Re-. and
bore himself so wei What he was frequently
mentioned ~ official dispatches OF this he
tells as. modestly. YET with conmendable pride.
But he is more interested In depicting his en-
Nironment and from time to time we
treated to capital bits OF description dealing
with the City OF Mexico. the castle OF Chapal,e-
pee and its marvellous cypress forest and the
ever famous Popocatapet, an ascent Of which
eliminated in the empacement % the Stars
and Stripes the summit q the volcano.
Military men win probably be more interested
IN the passages dealing with the leaders In the
war particularly with General Scott and the
trouble that resulted ia the court Of inquiry.
The impetuous lieutenant appears al first as
an ardent adrnirer Of Scott but we later md
the hero worship less pronounced. General
Scott" he writes IN a letter from Chapultepec
April ?. 1873 has mind as gigantic as his
b,s,- ls ba aTienafpe his yyaff0est admirers nv