The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-06-20
Among the Books
and Magazines

pThe History OF the Confederate wnr"
BY George Cary FggIcston Sturgs
% Walton Co., of New York, publishers.
1900 net.
1t has seemed to Mr.. Eggleston that
the tine has come when 1t Ia desirable
TO do what he believes he has done, to
tell the story OF the Confederate War,
1wthout passion or prejudice, without
fear or favor, and with no flinchlng
from the truth, whithersoever IL may
lead"
The reader Is informed that Mr. Egg
EIeston twas himself soldier In the
Confederate Army from the beginning
TO the end OF the war: that he has lived
In New York for forty years since the
war ended, and during that time his
literary and personal association with
strong men on the other side has been
close and intimate, giving him oppor-
tunity to correct his own carly con.
victions by learning how things look
from other points of view, and abso-
lutely to divest himself of all prejl-
dices that might stand in the. way vt
his impartiaity as a historian
Elsewhere It is asserted that Mr..
Eggleston has tried to furnish in
these volumes a complete, succinct, Inn
partial and entertaining history OF the
WdIs 7ltS CduSeS ana CONUuCt. JUSt
how thoroughly ne has succeeded re-
mains for the carefuls thoughtful read-
Ing public. to whom the authors work
Is presented. to decide.
The first half of the first volume OF
Mr.. Egglestons work is devoted. not
to an account of the war itself. but to
the preceding constitutional and polit-
teal history of the United States, out of
which the war grew. Real. historic
war interest develops in the Eecond half
with the account of the<surrender of
Fort Sumter, S. Co. and the military
operations which followed.
There is no uncertain note In what
Mr.. EggIeston has to say about the
failure OF the Confederate leaders to
follow ZIP their victory at the battle OF
Manassas. for he writes on page 239
Of Volume I. as follows: THE historian
of the Confederate War Is bound to
regard the failure OF the Confederates
TO pursue their broken. fleeing and ut
terly disintegratcd enemy into Wash.
ington during the night and next morn
ing after the battle as one of the most
stupendous plumbers recorded anywhere
in history" Again. on page Gas. no
continues. 1.-THE war In Virginia went 10
sleep after the battle OF Manassas. The
only excuse that history can find for
the phenomenal failure to compel re-
suits either In July or later is the fact
that Beauregard and Johnston We're
merely two ex-captains. who had had
no experience in the command of armies
or in the conduct OF great campaigns"
Mr.. Eggleston considers that on the
Confederate side the one masterful mil
1tary mind was that of Robert e. Lee.
He says that Grant and Lee were des-
tined 20 fight the war out to conclu-
a IN Of wa r
neither was permitted to show in ac-
lt!on what stuff he was made Of Their
experience was repeated in that of their
great lieutenants. William r. Sherman
--Se.as tnasT,McDowell; Stonewall Jack
son, Ewel and T.ongstreet subordinate
to Beauregard and Johnston.
Afterward, in commenting upon the
situation before Shiloh, in the autumn
OF 1861. Mr.. Eggleston speaks of Grant.
who had captured Forts Henry and
Donelson. and desired TO move upon
Nashville, being restrained by the
paralysis of Hallech's official hand from
pushing the war to q possibly prompt,
certain and Immediate conclusion Was
there ever he continues. anything so
absurd as this outside of comic opera
this and the extr-ao rdinary incapacity
in the Confederate army and govern
ment? That was of like kind and quail
fly
In regard to Farragut's naval victory
at New Orleans, MIR Eggleston states
that "Farragut might have carried on
further operations OF a similar charac-
ter against other Confederate ports blu,
for his being sent by the civilians in
control of the United States Navy De.
partment to waste time in running the
batteries at vicksburg and Port Hud-
SON
The order of Secretary OF War Judah
P. Benjamin. which led TO General Lor-
ing falling back from Romney 10 Win
chester in 1862. and to General Stone
wall Jackson rendering his resignation
prompts this drastic criticism OF Ben.
jamin on the part of Mr. Eggleston
BENJAMIN was SO far ignorant or neg
lgsnt of those forms and courtesies Of
military life uopn which success 81