Literary notices.
O'Hara and his Elegies. By George W. Ranck, Lexington, Kentucky. We are indebted to the accomplished author for a copy of this beautful little volume, which is in every sense a literary gem. The biographical sketch of O'Hara, tracing his life from his birth in Danville, Kentucky, through his career as politician, editor, soldier, in Mexico and in the Confederate service (where he served with great distinction as Colonel of the Twelfth Alabama regiment, and on the staff of General Albert Sidney Johnston and General John C. Breckinridge), and his career after the war until his death in 1867, is admirably done, and shows the author a master of this style of writing. And no competent critie can read the two exquisite poems given as specimens--The bivouac of the dead and The old Pioneer--without pronouncing them gems of the first water, and concurring with Mr. Ranck in the very high estimate he places upon the genius of the author. We are also indebted to Mr. Ranck for a splendid photograph of Colonel O'Hara, which we will place in our gallery of Confederate soldiers, and doubly prize as the counterpart of a gallant soldier and gifted child of genius and song.
Jackson's Valley campaign. By Colonel William Allan, late Chief of Ordnance, Second corps A. N. V. With full maps by Captain Jed. Hotchkiss. Philadelphia: J. B. Lippincott & Co. We have just received, through the courtesy of the author, a copy of this every-way model book. After one has read the many so-called “histories” or biographies bearing on the late war, in which the writers rush into print without either the material or the industry to be reasonably accurate in their statement of facts, it is really refreshing to read this superb book. Colonel Allan has used the utmost diligence in verifying his statements, has studied the official reports and other documents on both sides, and has produced a book which will stand as the authority on that brilliant campaign which made “Stonewall” Jackson and his “foot cavalry” famous for all time. Colonel Allan's style is clear, forcible and interesting, and one rises from the perusal of his narrative with the full conviction that he has been reading not romance, but history. Soldiers who fought on the other side will be struck with the absence of all partizanry, the freedom of the book from any harsh epithets, and the calm, historic spirit in which it is written. The maps, prepared by Major Jed. Hotchkiss, of Jackson's staff--one of the very best topographical engineers which the war produced — are very valuable, and we do not hesitate to say that no one, North or South, who wishes to know the truth concerning this campaign, can afford to be without this invaluable history. We need scarcely add that the volume, in type, paper, binding, etc., is gotten up in the beautiful style for which Lippincott & Co. are famous.
Brown University in the Civil War. By Henry Sweetser Burrage. We are indebted to the accomplished author for a copy of this well written and beautifully gotten up book, and place it upon our shelves as an important chapter of the “war between the States.” [336] It gives an introduction on The University in relation to the rebellion; a chapter of “Biographies of Students who Died in the Service or from Disease Contracted in the Service” ; an account of The Memorial Tablet in manning Hall, and a Roll of students, Graduates and non-graduates, who served in the army and Navy of the United States during the rebellion. There were in the service in all capacities during the war two hundred and sixty-six of the old students, and of these twenty-one were killed or died from wounds or disease contracted in the service. We have said that the book is admirably gotten up (albeit there are, of course, sentiments which we utterly repudiate, and phrases which we would fain hope our friend Major Burrage would modify if he had written in 1880 instead of 1868), and we would rejoice to see such a volume for every college and university in the land. We were very much struck by one statement, as illustrating the odds against which the South fought: Brown University not only continued its regular sessions but, had in attendance more than its average of students during the whole war. This was probably true of other Northern colleges; while nearly every college at the South was closed, and its professors and students enlisted en masse in the armies of the Confederacy.
The University Memorial. By Reverend John Lipscomb Johnson, B. A. It is a singular coincidence that at the very time we received the volume concerning Brown University, we also received from our old college friend, the author, this splendid tribute to the alumni of the University of Virginia, who fell in the Confederate service. Alas! instead of twenty-one, this death-roll contains the names and brief biographies of one hundred and ninety-eight alumni of our noble University, who marched forth cheerfully to defend what they believed the cause of constitutional freedom, and laid their lives a willing sacrifice on the altar of “the land they loved.” And even this long-roll, because of imperfect records, is not complete, and it is believed that at least two hundred and seventy-five of our alumni fell in the great struggle. Unfortunately there has been made out no roll of old students of the University who served in the Confederate army, but it is confidently believed that fully three-fourths of those who were of military age volunteered the first year of the war. We regret that we have now only space to add that Mr. Johnson has done his work with skilful hand and tender touch, and has produced a book that deserves a place in every library. Copies may be procured of the author, Professor John L. Johnson, University of Mississippi, Oxford, Mississippi.
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