A Virginia Yankee in the Civil War. The Diaries of David Hunter Strother (review)

98CIVIL WA R HISTORY In the Philippine campaign, From Shiloh to San Juan carries Wheeler to such an exposed position that even his motives seem to become transparent. He disobeys General Arthur McArthur's orders and, while most of the army is fighting, Wheeler is engaged in activities more likely to attract headlines back home than to win the war. Perhaps the recital of these incidents would not have bothered the little general so much, but the reader can almost imagine Wheeler tugging at the bit "hoUering Whoa!" when From Shiloh to San Juan pictures him as giving aid and comfort to the Republican Party in matters pertaining to the Cuban War. Although this entry may not prove to be a sweepstakes winner in the Centennial Literary Race, those doing the judging wiU do weU to acquaint themselves with the fact that it showed up for the festivities. Robert Womack Middle Tennessee State CoUege A Virginia Yankee in the Civil War. The Diaries of David Hunter Strother. Edited by Cecil D. Eby, Jr. (Chapel Hill: The University of North Carolina Press. 1961. Pp. xx, 294. $6.75.) professor eby of Washington and lee university is to be commended foi making available to the public the diaries (February 27, 1862—August 9, 1864) of David Hunter Strother. In the flood of Civil War books coming off the nation's presses, too many volumes unfortunately are of little value either to the buff or to the serious student of the period. Such, however, is not the case here. A Virginia Yankee in the Civil War is definitely one of the best personal narratives of the war and should find a place on every Civil War bookshelf. Strother was born (1816) at Martinsburg in what is now West Virginia. He attended the Old Stone Schoolhouse in his hometown and Jefferson College , Cannonsburg, Pennsylvania. Afterwards he studied art both in this country and in Europe. Upon his return from abroad, Strother became a fairly weU established illustrator of books; in December, 1853, he contributed an article to Harper's New Monthly Magazine. This was the first of a series of sketches which, with numerous pen drawings, were to appear from time to time in Harper's under his pen name "Porte Crayon." Strother's writings took him North and South and, according to the editor, developed in him "a strong awareness of the necessity for Union. As the breach widened in the 1850's, he clearly saw that the South must either give in or go under." When the Southern states did not "give in," Strother joined the Federal army as a civilian topographer. He was later commissioned and rose to the rank of brigadier general. Strother was on Nathaniel Banks's staff during the 1862 VaUey Campaign and fought with General Pope at Cedar Mountain and Second Manassas. When McCleUan replaced Pope as commander in the East, Strother joined "Little Mac's" staff, participating in the battles of South Mountain and Antie- Book Reviews99 tarn. After McCleUan's fall from grace, Strother joined Banks's Louisiana expedition . Returning North in the spring of 1863, this "Virginia Yankee" missed the Gettysburg Campaign, but the next year found him with Siegel and Hunter in the Valley of Virginia. When Philip Sheridan replaced Hunter in the summer of 1864, Strother resigned from the army and went to Baltimore . Here he remained until Appomattox. To this reviewer, the author's description of the Battle of New Market (May 15, 1864) was of special interest. Viewing the engagement from the Northern side, Strother made no mention of the gallant charge of the Virginia Military Institute cadet corps at New Market. He wrote: The Rebel infantry continued to move in advance; in spite of our furious artillery fire their lines were steady and clean. . . . When within three hundred yards they began to yeU as usual, and the musketry from both lines opened with great fury. Our men began to break immediately, running to the rear by ones, twos, and finally by streams." Later in his diary, however, Strother had much to say about V.M.I. As General Hunter's chief of staff, he witnessed the burning of the...