'WARE SHERMAN
This delightful little book (University of California Press : Cambridge Uni- versity Press, 7s.)-, consists of a journal kept by one Joseph LeConte, a Professor
of Chemistry of Columbia University, during the winter of 1864-1865.] LeConte was a scientist of considerable eminence, and acted as a consultant to the Con- federate Governme,nt in connexion with the supply of nitre. But in December, 1864, he left Columbia in order to attempt to rescue his family from their plantation in Georgia, which was threat- ened by Sherman's ravaging army. He landed right in the midst of the Yankee invaders, and it was only after repeated failures, narrow escapes, and great hardships and fatiguei that he and his party got away. They had hardly returned to Columbia before that, too, was attacked by Sherman, and the Professor was once again put to flight. During most of February he was in hiding in the open country, while Columbia was seized and burned. But he bore all his dangers and sufferings with the greatest humour and courage. His journal shows him as an extremely intelligent and tolerant observer. It shows, too, how to a Southern gentleman of culture and wide views, loved by his slaves and helped by them against their self-appointed liberators, the Yankees appeared as simple barbarians, invading and destroying his country with no more justice than the armies of Corn- wallis or Howe a century before. The present edition is prefaced by a charming reminiscence by the Professor's daughter, but it shows some lack of imagination that it should have been published without a map.
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