Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 08.djvu/190

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, March 2, 1880.

Rev. Dr., Secretary Southern Historical Society:

My Dear Sir—General G. H. Gordon, of Massachusetts, has published several valuable papers on the war. His last book (noticed in your last number) is, however, by far the most elaborate and useful. Indeed, it is the most extensive and carefully prepared account of Pope's campaign (after Cedar Run) that I have met with. It is vivid, and, with some exceptions, which may be credited to the natural bias of an earnest and active participant in the struggle, it is fair and truthful. The faults of style, which are many, and the diffuseness with which the jealousies and spites of Halleck, Pope, Fitz John Porter, McClellan and others are told over and over again, may be pardoned to a gallant soldier, more at home on a hard fought field than in the cabinet. Nor is his own temper always serene. General Banks probably considers him a good hater, if no worse. But General Gordon's clear and vigorous description, his manly independence, his oftentimes generous appreciation of his foemen, are qualities that far outweigh his imperfections.

I write not to review his book. There are passages in the history of Pope's campaign very unfair and that I hope will receive the prompt attention of our old chief General Early, whose trenchant pen can best set forth the right. But General Gordon has been careless and inaccurate (not in comparison with other writers, but with other parts of his work) in the statement of numbers, and I would do what I can to correct these, and to call out from others the information yet wanting to a complete settlement of the questions involved.

And let me say at the outset, that General Gordon is entirely free from the gross exaggerations and absurd statements about Federal and Confederate numbers that characterize so many Northern (and I may add not a few Southern) writers. He has merely not always taken care to be accurate, and has naturally erred in favor of his own side.

Pope's campaign began with the battle of Cedar Run, and though General Gordon treats of that in a previous book, I send you such facts as to the strength of the forces there engaged as I am able to find.