Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-05-21
Neu)s and Reuiews
of Recent Books
The Long arm of Lee" Talu-
able addition to Coyedcr-
ate Military Works.
''The Long Arm OF Lee: OF. The History
OF the Artillery of the Army OF
Northern NIrgInin." BY Jennings

Chopper Wise. J. l.. Bell Co, Inc.
! Tho Civil War, the War Between the
| States. the American War. or, as the
! English have sometimes called il, Tho
! War Between North and South -Ameri-
| ca has not been exhausted. either
| rs source of Inspiration of literature,
"Reminiscences. romance. poetry, or as
| n subject of military study. History and
biography have claimed that period
| rs a field of research and study, and
have given many valuable volumes to
the library shelves.
The book which is now before us is
n full and thorough history and study
of ono arm OF the Confederate service
in the noble Army Of Northern Virginia.
Tn" author is not Il veteran participant
In the service and campaigns of which
he writes, but one OF the following
generation, no doubt forerunncr of
those who in the years to come will
review the campaigns and study the
literature of their fathers. He has had
a most capable and valuable contact
with the field artillery of the later
days, and has been an enthusiastic stu
dent or the science of war. especially
OF ordnance and artillery. And he had
a subject con amore when he set him
self to study and write the wonderful
annals of tho Confederate artillery un-
der Lee. Many times 1t has been said
that the artillery was the most distin-
Euished branch of tho Confederate SER
vice. 1t certainly developed a line OF
illuStrious officers, skillful, brilliant in
Initiative. persistent and indomitable
in overcoming difficulties, and heroic on
the field General Lee wrote, no class
Of officers in the army have learned
faster or served better than the artil-
lery." The names are many that grow
in fame as the years 20 by-Pcndlcton,
Alexander. Crutchticld, PcGram, Poague.
Mcintosh, Cutshaw, Thompson Brown
and others-only become more famil-
and Brcathed and Chew and Thompson
are names that will not perish in the
memories of our Southern people
Colonel Wise gives much needed
account Of the beginnings and growth
OF the ordnance department of the army
in Virginia. and Of tho incalculable SER
vice rendered ny Gorgas and St John
and Malle. The difficulties 20 be over
come, the supply of machinery. tho
discovery and assembling OF material.
and the prompt success in making ord
nance and munitions OF all sorts is n
marvellous story, m accomplishing
into which were wrought the charac-
ter, abilities and personal devotion Of a
number of remarkable men.
While artillery, both the light field
artillery at first in batteries attached
hattalionS assigned 10 divisions. and
the horse artillery attached 10 the
cavalry service, Is the great subject OF
these volumes, yet Colonel Wise has
given well-preparcd study Of the
campaign Of the whole army. Its detail
and history OF the operations OF the
Army Of Northern Virginia here given
viii take its place among the standard
works OF the Civil War In Virginia.
Tho great campaigns of Lee IN Han
over. at Chanccllorsviilc, the Second
Manassas, and GettysburE arc mar
rated with remarkable intelligence and
rare Judgment. "The Long Arm OF Lee"
is n most valuable addition to the liter
aturc Of the war Dcriod, and Il study
In tho science of artillery preparation
ana service that Will attract attention
as long as there is military prepared
ness among the nations. Cannot some
one do q like service for the cavalry OF
the Army Of Northern Virginia?
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