New-York tribune., 1905-07-14
1PPOMATTOX.
old Soldiers Still Fighting Their
old Battles.

LAsT HOURS OF sHERIDsN,s CAVALRY: FEy,A
Tremain. Late Brevet Brigadier General, Major
with map and two illustrations. l2mo. PIP. 5SS.
Bonneli Silver & Bowers
Although the Civil War was ended forty years
ago. the fighting is apparently still going on.
The sword may have been beaten into plough
share. but the pen has not been reforged. 1t
IS stin busy I'm keeping alive, If not the greater,
at least the minor issues OF the earlier struggle
and the battle RACES as earnestly between old
comrades in arms as it does between former foe
men.
The first twelve chapters of the present vol
ume written by General Trenain in the
summer Of 1863 while the events recorded were
fresh in his mind They recount the incidents
of the last eleven days fighting, leading up to
Lees surrender at Appomattox. General Tre-
main served as aide-de-camp to General Crook,
who commanded the second division Of Sheri-
CANS splendid cavalry corps. Without in the
least protesting 10 give the complete story of the
campaign, but rather his recollectons Of that
part of it which came under his personal obser-
walton, he nevertheless succeeds IN painting a
spirited and undoubtedly generally accurate
word picture OF the climax Of the Rebellion, in
which the cavalry necessarily occupies very
considerable portion Of the foreground.
The original notes were discovered by General
J. Watts de Peyster, who edited them for pub
lcation in THE Army and Navy Journal" The
editor. while respecting the authors text, ex-
tended IL considerably with notes of his OWE,
occasionally INTERPRETING remarks. criticisms and
objections expressing his protests in favor Of
greater consideration for the infantry. The
thor IN now presenting his work in book form
has added chapter reviewing the events in the
light of the official records and from perspec-
81 of WV h,,fo oII0 fha O-ival
editorial comments TO stand and courteously CIV
'ng space to General de Peyster's own account
OF the campaign. On one point however, they are
ready to agree, and that is the attitude Of Cen
eral Lee up TO the moment OF the captulation
1T is thus stated by General Tremain in his new
chapter:
Had General Lee, as he rode 10 what he styled
he & peket line expecting to meet General % a. Grant
DAY morning collisions. intended TO surrender his
q compact defensive position The evidence points
70 the absence OF any such Intention on his part
eyitable: but until the mornings battle had pro
snd had Teacbsd the Second stage nresasina a
sanguinary cOnfederate defeat, there seemed no
much as possible, and to capitulate with as little
orders FOR Lees cavalry TO esespe DO not seem to
have been countermanded, but were in large part
successfully carried out
General Lee is dead and cannot reply to this
deduction in regard 70 his motives and inten-
tions. Possibly he would find nothing in it to
contradict, and would hold that in so acting ne
was only doing his best duty to the cause for
which he had long and ably contended
Possibly he would resent the suggestion of dis
ingenuousness in his communications with Cen
ersl Grant Since this is a matter that can
never be settled, it win probably continue to be
agitated so long the veterans Of the conflict
live TO fight over their old battles in fraternal
spirit: and no harm or ill-feeling need result
so long as the object sought is the esta blishing
OF historic truth and not the perpetuation of
prejudiced opinion.