Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 39.djvu/116

 Southern Historical Society Papers.

REVIEW OF GENERAL LONGSTREETS BOOK, "FROM MANASSAS TO APPOMATTOX."

By Colonel G. F. R. HENDERSON, of the British Army.

The reminiscences of soldiers who have seen much active service are always fascinating reading. Even if the writer played but minor part in some famous campaign, the realistic touches of a personal narrative give a life and spirit to the picture of events which is necessarily absent from more elaborate compositions. Especially fascinating are the recorded experi- ences of those who held high command. On this side of the yVtlantic they are rare. If we except Lord Dundonald and Lord Roberts, our own great men of action have consistently ignored the curiosity of future generations. In America it has been different. With the exception of Lee, almost every single sol- dier of fame who survived the Civil War has written his own story of his campaigns, and General Longstreet's book is the latest addition to a most valuable series. It is not the least interesting. It embraces many of the more important battles. It commences with the first Confederate victory, and concludes with the surrender at Appomattox, nearly four years later. It is concerned with both the eastern and western theatres of war ; and the author probably saw as much fighting as any soldier in either army. He was a conspicuous figure throughout the war. He had the highest reputation for tenacious courage. His men were devoted to him. For three years he commanded the First Army Corps, the right wing of the famous Armv of Northern Virginia, and during part of that time he was prac- tically General Lee's second in command. WHiile Stonewall Jackson lived he was not the first to be consulted, but his rela- tions with his chief were always intimate. When, on June i, 1862, General Lee assumed command in the field, he invited