Literary Notices.
We are indebted to the accomplished author for a copy of this beautiful 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 critic 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.
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 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.
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."
