babes in the wood, are made
the bearers of our iniquities. Cotton and Tobacco are the white and
black representatives of the vegetable races. Perhaps some fanciful
theorist may show from this fact, that not only all the human races, but
those of the lower kingdoms, are involved in this struggle, and, as in
the greater warfare of Earth and Time, so in this, its condensed type,
the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in common with its head and
master.

The anti-tobacco doctrine of the opening chapter gives place to a clear
statement of the gathering and organizing of the great army; which is
followed by descriptions of the Battles of Bull Run, Fort Henry, Fort
Donelson, Shiloh, the Siege of Island No. 10, and the capture of
Memphis. The narratives are illustrated with diagrams which set the
movements of the contending forces clearly before the eye. No
description of the first great battle of the war is superior to that
here given. It is a photographic view of the field and the combatants.
We see where the Rebels posted their divisions, how our forces were
stationed, how we attempted to outflank them, how they left their
original positions to protect the assailed outpost, how the battle raged
and was decided around that point, and how a single mistake caused our
first repulse, and, for lack of subsequent generalship, produced the
shameful and disastrous rout. Russell's description is far less clear
and concise. "Carleton" confirms McDowell's military scholarship, but
not his generalship. It is one thing to set squadrons in the field, it
is another to be equal to all the emergencies of the strife. He traces
our defeat to a single mistake, not alone nor chiefly to the arrival of
reinforcements. He puts it thus. Two regiments, the Second and Eighth
South Carolina, get in the rear of Griffin's and Rickett's batteries.
Griffin sees them, and turns his guns upon them. Major Barry declares
they are his supporters. Griffin says they are Rebels. The Major
persists in his opinion, and the Captain yields. The guns are turned
back, the South-Carolinians leap upon the batteries, and the panic
begins.

The book is especially valuable as it describes from personal
observation the first battles of General Grant. It has no better
war-pictures than the taking of Fort Donelson and the Battle of Shiloh
or Pittsburg Landing. These were the beginnings of Grant's reputation.
In them are seen the elements of his character, writ larger in th