The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-01-13

GENERAL LEE: HIS CAMPAIGNS L
VIRGINIA. ls6l-1s65. BY Walter II
Taylor. Norfolk. Va. Published b
tho Eeesbaun Book and News.
Colonel Taylor has dedicated his book
which is OF exceptional value on accoun
not only OF his ability rs n writer, blu
OF the position he occupied during TIL
War between tho States. as adjutant-gen
eral of tho Army OF Northern Virginia
C. 8. A---.o "the noble women of TIT
South. whose sublime devotion to higl
Ideals, whose patient endurance of untolt
privntion and suffering, whose self-sacri
fcing spirit and whose courageous ai,e
patriotic support OF the men. made ths
achievements possible"
The book begins with brief review oil
the events leading UP to the war. and an
nilusion to the efforts made ey Virginia
for peace. IT passes on the subsequent
preparations OF the state FOR war, this
resignation of Robert e Lee-shen COL
onel-from the United States Army. and
his appointment as coIuruander % tse
Virginia troops
HIS confederat. service Is followed TO
West Virginia. thencs TO the Department
OF South Carolina, Georgia snd Fio-tda-
Royal Sound. s. c.. and the great
Charleston fire OF 1851. are described.
Lees subsequent return 70 Virginia and
his being made military adviser TO Pres
ident Davis. Is preliminary to an &C.
count OF his succeeding General John
aton and his achievements during the
seven days battles around Richmond.
His advance after Jackson's defeat OF
Pope; General Stuart's raid In Popes
rear: tho tactics of General Jackson at
Manassas, and the final defeat OF Pope
come next
Then Lees invasion of the State of
Maryland and his lost order conveying
the intelligence of his plans to Mcclellan,
the capture OF Harper's Ferry, the bat-
tie OF Sharpsburg. Lees withdrawal into
Virginia, and tho battle OF Fredericks-
burg IN which General Burnside is de-
feated. Afterward. the death Of Major
Pelham and vivid picturing of the
great battle OF Charlottesville. the de-
feat OF General Hooker, and the death
of General Jackson.
Then the story of Lees second inva-
sion OF the North, and of the battles at
Gettysburg; the return Of the Confed-
crate army to Virginia. the battle Of the
of Spotsylvania Courthouse
Stuart, the Siege OF Petersburg, the at
Forks. the death Of General A. P. Hill,
the evacuation OF Petersburg and Rich
mond. Lees retreat. the surrender at
and the paroling OF the
Army of Northern Virginia
Such is the bare outline of Colonel
Taylor's book. 1t is impossible to over
the interest OF the personal
with which the book is
Observation-Disclosures which are its life
and color.
Colonel Taylor writes thus OF his first
meeting with General Lee: II was 1T
breakfast at the Spotswood Hotel. when
he entered the room. and was at once
and greatly impressed by his
He was then at the zenith
of his physical beauty. Admirably pro-
portioned. of graceful and dignifled car
rage. with strikingly handsome features,
bright and penetrating eyes, his IRON
gray hair closely cut, his face clearly
shaved except a mustache, he appeared
every inch soldier. and man born to
command"
A series OF admirable maps. showing
the backgrounds around Richmond and
those which were the scenes of other
important conflicts during the course OF
the war between the States add great
deal to clearer comprehension OF the
book descriptions. On pages 12-14, Col
onel Taylor gives in full the substance
of General Lees order Of march at tho
time OF his first invasion Of Maryland,
and dwells at length on the misfortune
accustomed by copy Of this order, fall
Ing into the hands of General Mcclellan.
! u
at the headquarters of General D. II.
Hill. to whom the copy wns addressed:
what fatality was there for General
Lee!" says Major Taylor What an
advantage to the FEDERAL commander, to
be instantly made aware of the division
Of his adversary's army. the wide sepa-
ration OF his columns, and to have the
details of his plan laid bare! There
Is no parallel to It in history. A VIC
tory for the South at that time meant
the recognitton 10y foreign powers OF
the independence. OF tho Confederate
States. Victory that seemed assured for
General Leo rembled in the balance, and.
by this fortuitpus incident, eluded his
grasp"
Probably readers Of Colonel Taylor's
book will understand from what ne tells
them better than ever before. why the
battle of Sharpshurg has gone down In
the annals of history as drawn fight,
Instead OF being decidedly a triumph for
the South.
OF the "gallant Pelham" Colonel Tay-
lor quotes General Stuart when he writes
regarding the boy soldier that Though
young in years, mere STRIPPING In ap-
peArance. remarkable for his genuine
rnodesty of department, he yet disclosed
on the battlefield the conduct OF vet
eran. and displayed in his handsome
person the most imperturbable GOODNESS
In Danger" Though OF slender physique,
he was gifted with nerves Of steel. the