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The history contained within this hook traces rapidly the early progress of these United States, and marking those national events which led up to the crisis of 1860, describes the remarkable epoch of that Confederate War which will be studied hereafter with growing interest. Lee and Johnston, Grant and Sherman have furnished descriptions of great military movements as directed by chieftains, but this Work, while succinctly noting these movements, has put a living interest into them by glowing details of individual heroism and suffering. The Constitutional View of the late War between the States came long since from the pen of the great statesman, Alexander II. Stephens, designed to embrace a consideration of the causes, character, conduct, and results of the War in relation to the nature and character of the joint government of these States; and it is the merit of this work that it outlines these ponderous questions with lucid statements, which are as granite in the graceful structure of the whole story, which it tells. The general field has been entered by many, and will he explored by more, who will essay to inform the present and the future generations concerning that most romantic era of our country's history; but none will probably excel the author, who has intelligently, fairly and ardently portrayed the great struggle in the following chapters.
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