Major General Andrew Atkinson Humphreys, United States Volunteers, at Fredericksbury, Va; December 13th, 1862, and Farmville, Va., April 7th, 1865 (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1896. Excerpt: ... jfrebericksburg, IDtrgtnia, DECEMBER 13TH, 1862. "PRINCIPIA, NON HOMINES." DURING the last days of the year 1883, the writer was called to Washington City by the death of General Humphreys. Whilst there he received a communication from General Francis A. Walker, Historian of the 2d Corps, Army of the Potomac, requesting a copy of General Humphreys' Official Report of the part taken in it by the division which he commanded at the battle of Fredericksburg, Virginia. The report was furnished, and afterwards a copy of the work upon which General Walker had been engaged was received. The writer naturally turned to that part devoted to the battle of Fredericksburg, and found therein certain adverse reflections or comments upon Humphreys' Division in that bloody engagement. One of these comments or aspersions is found on page 186 of the history and reads: "It is very likely true that among the thousands a few may have called out to Allabach's and Tyler's men that it was useless to go forward, but their own situation on that field swept by fire, is proof enough that such men were very few, if, indeed, the story is not the tale of some colonel or captain to excuse the breaking of his own command.' It would have been far better when writing of past events to have left out all controversies and consigned them to oblivion. But since General Walker has seen fit to notice them he must assume all responsibility for their correctness, and must stand or fall by them. His history probably has been widely read, for he occupies a high position in the world of letters, and wields no small influence in the realms of thought. A story like the above after adoption and circulation by a gentleman of credit is hard to disprove, but, the writer observes, such flings as the above lea...