New-York tribune., 1907-12-18
Literary Nes0s and Criticism.

oev 'he dSisster The imoutatons Of neglect to
ianatical reliance upon the God of battles Of not
80 uii.e out reconnossances; OF not intrenching;
nToPeT reserves Of having pichets and skr7
Hooker ete 9l nf n3t sending Information to General
Mas py positive orders riveted TO that position:
Though constantly threatened and made aware of
dense that stonewal jackson was able to mass a
abouts neither patrols reconnoissances. nor scouts
TWO and a half miles off, We ali saw. So the turn
Ing at the Furnace was seen by hundreds of our
was certainly wrong. Yet wherein did We neglect
any The order frog oa,Sz the ce ed
myself Jointly, cautioning to look to my right
flank etc must have been made prior to the visi,
Sicllless corps had already replaced General Slo-
would not have sent away ali Of sicliless corps and
all OF ny general reserve on the very day OF sns
for the Strengthening of his right flank.
ANY other inputation than that of disingenu-
BUSINESS would fare better against man VINO
write so frank and at the same time SO dig
nifed a selfvindication as this Be the cost
V-hat it might, this would speak the truth.
and stick his duty: he judges himself far
unsparingly than any one else, and does
not seek to disguise his blunders Such man.
It is true. may make blunders and-perhaps-
know it; but that is not the point at issue
To General Sherman, a man strangely unlike
himself in temperament. General Howard ex-
hibits the most thoroughgoing loyalty. One OF
the memorable passages IN the Autobiography is
a comparison OF Grant and Sherman as he came
70 know them at Chattanooga. Though some
jealousy might have been expected between the
two generals. from the first their relations were
OF the utmost cordialty and mutual Difference:
Their unusual friendshig-unusual in men who
would naturally be rivals-waS always evident, and
did not grow from likeness. but from unlikenesSs; ness
They appeared rather the complements of eacn @
other-where the one was especially strong the
in command was. everybody then said habitually
retcent Sherman was never SO. Grant medfafed tea
plan was well matured. Sherman quickly, brilliant
ty gane You % ce Gae phrase said He bones all the
time while he is awake; as MUCH on horsenacR a as
man had remarkable Typographical ability; 4
country that he once saw he could not forget: lts
features were as easily seen by MN & as nuieit ~
faces. It made him ever p piayns~ ~ al
and Shernlan's move was instant and well chosen;
Grant appeared more inclined TO systemattze ana
simplify.
After describing the Battle Of Bentonville and
the sending out Of the flag OF truce by johnston
General Howard gives a clear and sympathetic
account of Sherrnan's-perhaps over-considerate
dealings with the Confederate general. which
c.,,sad such a hubbub at Washington and
brought the most bitter reproaches upon MN
from the Northern press. Grant was ordered to
resume hostilities at once. and to proceed 10
S7erman's headquarters and direct opposition
AGAINST the enemy Halleck telegrapned con-
cerring suspension of orders for the advance
r?.ent OF the Sixth Corps: II have telegrapheo
back TO obey no orders from Sherman. NO
wonder that Sherman felt insulted and outraged
Grant arrived. The friendship between the TWO
great commanders was put to the test' anu
proved it's mettle; and under Grants counseI
and appreciation the second agreement was
drawn up and signed. '"I am deeply sorry,
wrote General Howard IN home letter. "for
the abuse Sherman is getting. he meant
right and the reasons for offering generous
terms were not rightly set forth by the press
How easy it is to irnpute wrong motives"
After the close of the war General Howard
remained for seven years prominently before
the public on account of his appointment to the
comrnissionership Of the Freedmens Bureau
The work done by this organization during the
Arst discontented and discouraging years OF re-
construction is fully set forth During General
Howard's tncurnbency as many as seventy
schools Of normal grade-including Howard
University. Of which he was later, for time.
started for the blacks Thirteen
millions Of dollars were expended IN the allevia-
ton and Improvement OF Southern conditions
Great hostility was encountered, In certain
quarters to this work: gross charges were made
against Howards administration, and finally q
special court Of inquiry. including among It's
seven members, Generals Sherman. Mcdowell.
Meigs and Pope, was appointed, at his sol;cita-
tior. by Congress The conclusion Of fits findings
real thus-"that General Oliver o. Howard id
his whole duty. and Cthe COURT believes that he
deserves well OF his country'-surely an impress
sive vip1ication.
The narrative Of his subsequent life. though
containing relatively little Of historic moment,
rounds out most attractively ones picture OF
the man hin1self-strong simple. dignihed. COM
bining in rare fashion sternness and charity; an
exenplar Of a type of piety which is passing to-
day from our American life-inevitably passing
but which has characterized. in the past.
MANY of the tost admirable products Of our
civilization One last citation will perhaps be
hardened as illustrating. In the most engaging
manner the natural simplicity Of this man who
had led armies to victory and faced without
finchlng the denuncations Of political enemies.
1t is from the account Of a visit which he paid.
in company with his son. to missionary home
in Alexandria, Egypt:
II was Christian homo: The notices over the
doors. the few select books INCLUDING the Blbie
that had found their even to Raneses; the
fase pictures qR Tended a aRa o one % Of an
American home. felt this more as we ST down
10 the noonday meal with the family, when Mr.
FrUjng bowed his head and in n few words gave
God thanks for comforts and blessings
a word should be said for the admirable typog-
ranhv and bookmaking which the publishers
have proyided for this autobiography.
messiah" BY oRAToRio SOCIETY,"
The New York oratorio Society will give Han
s,,s .e,fessiab" next week in Carnegie Hall
rbursdav evening and Saturday afternoon Mrs