MEMORANDA OF A YEAR.

1863

BY WALT WHITMAN.

WALT WHITMAN'S NEW BOOK.

A BOOK BY WALT WHITMAN.

MEMORANDA OF A YEAR.

Probably no greater year has ever sped to its close
in the world's history than the one now about ter-
minating: At all events the year 1863 is the most
important in the history of America. And this book
with its framework jotted down on the battlefield,
in the shelter tent or by the way side amid the rumble
of passing artillery trains or the march of cavalry.
In the streets of Washington, in the gorgeous halls
of gold where the national representatives meet,
and amid the military hospitals. The ashy face, the
bloody bandage - with death and suffering on all
sides.

An ardent book arresting, most significant, many
things, flashes, story quick characteristics of the
time spirit of facts events we are passing through.
A book indeed full of these vehement tremendous days.
Full of incident full of the blood and vitality of
the American people. A book gestated amid the ocean
life and cosmopolitanism of New York. Nationality &
Freedom & Real Democracy - such is the new volume
the publisher offers to the public confident that it
will prove all that the foregoing claims for it -

Dear Friend something considerably more than hospital sketches a book for the time worthy of the time. The premises or skeleton memoranda of incidents persons, places, sights, mostly of the last year, jotted down either on the spot or in the spirit of seeing or hearing what is narrated. I left New York early last December and have been around in the front or here ever since. Full of interest I surely think somewhat in some respects a combination in handling, of the old French memoirs and my own personality - Things seen through my eyes and what my vision brings a book full enough of mosaic but all fused to one comprehensive thesis - One of the drifts is to push forward the very big and needed truth that our national military system needs entirely shifting and revolutionizing and made to tally with democracy (the people) The officers should almost invariably rise from the ranks - The entire capacity keeness and courage of our army are in the ranks. There is an absolute want of democratic spirit in the present system of officers it is the feudal spirit exclusively what has been done is unavoidable but the time has arrived to discuss the change I have much to say of the hospitals the immense national hospitals, in them too most radical changes of premises are demanded (The air the spirit of a thing is every thing. The details follow and adjust them selves

I have many hospital incidents. They will take with the general reader - I ventilate my general democracy with details very largely and with reference to the future - bring in persons the president, Seward,

Congress, the capitol Washington city, many of the
actors have something to say of the great TRUTH Amer-
ica the west etc etc - Do not hesitate to diffuse my-
self - the book is very rapid - is a book that can
be read by the fire or ten minutes (being full of small
parts, pieces, paragraphs, with their dates, incidents
etc) I should think two or three thousand sell out to
be certainly depended on, here in hospitals, in Wash-
ington, Army Depts and etc. My idea is a book of handy
size and form 16 mo or smallish 12 mo first rate paper
(this last indispensable ordinary binding strongly
stitched - to cost including copyright not more than
35 cents or there about to make to retail for a
dollar it should be got out immediately I think an
edition elegantly bound might be pushed off for books
for presents etc for the holidays, if advertised for
that purpose - it would be very appropriate I think
it a book that would please women I should expect
it to be popular with the trade of course I propose the
affair to you publisherially - as something to invest
in - to make out of (for both of us) I take it it would
be a very handsome speculation only it is to be done
while the thing is warm, namely at once I have been and
am in the midst of these things I feel myself full of
them and I know the people generally now are too - far
more than they know and would readily absorb and under-
stand my memo - wherefore let us make and publish
this book and out with it so as to have it for sale
by middle or twentieth of November

Accouch! Accouchez -