New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-05-20
Literary Nesvs and Criticism

tragic death-hs exploits. his grown
in stature and fame during two years y,
arduous fighting being followed step "
step from Harper's Ferry to Chancenoi'
vile.
The book bears on every page the eN'-
dence of n stupendous amount OF pre-
paratory reading and research ra"e'",
from official documents, dispatches anu
orders. histories, biographies ano me-
roirs to stray pages buried In the pun
l,c.tions of historical societies. the au =
thor MAYER omits TO note the double poih'
Of view. the knowledge Of the Leaders ai'
the ignorance of the privates' 'io'
rrumblings. their blind criticisms OF 'ao-
tics and strategy and the quality OF ''ie''
commanders. And always she ceieora'e'
the courage. the endurance OF the men III
srav She makes much also OF u'o
strange fortunes Of this interneoin0
strife. which placed face to race III oi'-
for combat the comrades Of the Mexican
campaign and the parade srou'o az
West Point. A picture Of Jefferson Da'iS
and his Cabinet at Richmond comes na'
urally within the scope OF the hiS'oi i0a
narrative: the fight between the Me'ii
mac and the Monitor Is made part ol
~ through the novelist's employment vi
an imaginary returned eyewitness. lhe
women left behind, their fears anu 90"
ferincs. their spirit and service are ho'
forgotten. nor are the hardships' the pr
,.o,ions OF camp and march, the nerve
r,ctino suspenses Of delayed battle the
s,1er,nss and horrors Of the strlcke"
field. The adventures and feelings OF II
deserter who cannot desert furnhsn
vivid episode, and. Of course the neIo
hos his inevitable exploit OF reconnol-
.-;nr IN federal disguise within the Union
lines. ~.
a. ,,oes tho reader feels that the
author has crowded far too mucn "l'pi"
these many pages. Often she mas ie
course 70 a Carlylean staccato style
lack Robinson" said the brisade IRON rom
oIow.s division Barksdale's Misslssips
pians-drawn UP on the wafer eoSo
Fredericksburg. They we're ,sr hear
Rarksdale's Miss ssippians-play1ul pa sd
h~nteTs from the canebrakes, young .. ana
,owerf,,,iy made and deadly shots. "Oldd
PorLedaie" knew how TO handle them. anu
togetber they we're a handful foi any
enemv whatsoever. Sixteen hundred oorl'
hunters and fighters. they openen NE U
the bridge builders. trying 10 nuiiu ~
bridges three above. one below 'ne i,oTed
Barksdales men were soneM ,.n1 &c Rlne
~ tho houses on the river brink; the Blu
mad the favorable fog with which 10 w.
nnerations II did not wholly help; the Mls
eissinnians had keen eyes: the rlnes Didleu,
biazsS blazed! Burnside's brIdse puliu., : :
we're gallant men: beaten back from LIZ ~.
river they came again and again, uu WI,
an.,r and again the eyes of the swamp
bnnters ran along the cleaning barrels and
a thousand bronzed fingers puhe1 ~ a..
eand triggers Past the middle or me oa >
The fog lifted The town lay denheu ah"
heipless beneath a pallid sky
Miss Johnston closes her narrative not
en- much with Lee at the zenith or MS
srccess IN the field as with the acct
dental death Of Jackson. which was It's
incalculable cost. This is In accordance
with the scope Of her book and her choice
~ ,ts real hero The larger view she
supnIies in the brief closing speech OF her
nctional protagonist. who. standing az
1aclson's bier. reminds the reader mat
.h. invasion of Pennsylvania Is ABOUT 10
ba undertaken by the victorious men IN
gray.
THE Long Roll" falls short OF epic
s,,r,ecance. but II is a remarka BILE piece
Of work none the less.