Year: 1867

From the GiuCiHnhlt enquirer


Among the many contributions to the
historical literature of the late war, which
are the most valuable and interesting, Ee
rank The History Of MOrgGn's CdralTy, by
Basil w. Duke, the able and popular Sc
cond in command of that celebrated corps.
There we're few incidents in the struggle
chat we're more remarkable in their char
aeter, more romantic and marvellous in their
nature, than those associated with the great
Southern raiders of Kentucky. General
Duke has told the story of this extraordi-
nary corps with signal fidelity, accuracy
and modesty, and in well chosen and per-
spicuous language portrayed the many
eventful scenes that tFanspired during the
period of its duration Impartial truth, it
is evident is the great aim of the author,
and he has, therefore, wisely, as we think,
not drawn upon the embelliahments OF
fancy, or given too vivid coloring to that
which, in no respect, needed adventitious
aids to commend il TO a general perusal.
Thepolitical spirit Of the writer, who was
an important actor in the late and never
to-be-iorgotten struggle, is calm and tenn
perate-almost remarkable-when we con-
slider that the heat and fervor of the fight
mas not vel ..


Though written from a Southern point Of
view, it is in every respect a national
work, and contains little that the most
fastidious Northern partisan can object to.
In this the author of the history, who has
himself assisted to make it, has set an ex-
cellent example TO many of the writers who
had no other participation in the contest
than through their prejudices and passions.
We were much interested in the account
which General Duke gives Of the closing
days of the Confederacy, and the incidents
that ensued in Virginia after the surrender
of General Lee and the flight of President
Davis. Gen. Duke was a participant in
those trying and memorable events which
will ever be deeply engrayen upon the tab
lets Of history. There is much in the sor,
row, gloom and humiliation which attend
ed the fight of Mr.. Davis and the ruin of
the Southern Confederacy, in April, 1865,
that reminds us Of the darkness and clouds
behind which the sun Of Napoleon set at
Fontainebleau, in March and April, 1914.


The Southern Confederacy for year or
two had been sinking and succumbing to
the Overwhelming forces arrayed against
it, Just as the French empire had previous
ly been tottering to its fall The Southern
leaders found themselves in the spring of
1865 as Napoleon had likewise, in 1914, at
the head Of an exhausted people and an
army that was so ruined and decimated
that it could no longer make head against
the overpowering strength of its enemies.
What the war with Europe for twenty years
had done for Napoleon had been accom-
plished by the four-year contest the South
had SO bravely waged against the almost
ineXhaustibie resources of the Federal
government. The evacuation of Richmond
was like the surrender of Paris. The ca
pitulation Of Lee, who, with his feeble but
gallant army, had so long stood between
the Confederacy and destruction, was, in
its effects, like the capitulation of Marshal
Marmont in France The leaders who
surrounded Napoleon were struck with
horror at these calamities, Just as the gov
ernment OF President Davis was appalled,
when they saw the yawning chasm that had
opened beneath their feet In the feelings
consequent upon the melancholy reverses
Napoleon attempted to commit suicide, but
President Davis displayed much more
fortitude and strength of will. He was
the last at the council board to yield
up the fallen and ruined cause, and with
distress and anguish unspeakable, turned
his horse toward the banks of the Missis-
sippi, which he was never destined to
reach. The despair, the terror, and the
gloom which settled upon the South at the
close of this calamitous struggle, in which
they had been simply worn out before su-
perior numbers, was greater than in France
in 1914, although the latter had the Cos
sacks, and other northern barbarians at
their very gates. The distress, the horror
and CONSERVATION which ensued at the ap


parent subjugation, have had, as events
prove, too much reason for their inspira-
tien. The events which have been trans
piring at Washington for the last two or
three years prove that the conquerors are
neither WISE just or humane, and have not
the least idea that any profit of their victo-
~ shall go toward securing national peace
and unity in the future. The severity of
the Cossack was tender mercy to France,
compared with the cruel enormities which
are now being inflicted upon the South by
their old partners and associates in past
national glory and prosperity. aa