6 PREFACE. rims the evidence upon these four points of a witness whose competence and impartiality we have certainly no rijxht or reason to impend). lie may have been misinformed; uninformed, the rusponsibilit v which he assumes in publishing his narrative forbids us to suppose he can have been. Putil tiie publication of authentic oflieial documents, the paper here submitted to the reader must be considered to be the fullest and fairest story of the great Campaign of 1862 yet given to the world. As such it should receive the most serious attention. The reputation of any one man or set of men is a slight thing in comparison with the success or failure of the nation in a war of life and death. If the Prince de Joinville's statements can be proved incorrect and his inferences nnsmiml ; if General McClellan be rcaliv responsible by reason of his military incapacity or his political theories for our great disappointments, then it will be much for the nation to forgive him the past and forget him in the future. If the Prince's statements be proved correct and his inferences sound, they must be regarded as a substantial indictment of the Administration in respect to its management of the war ; and the removal of General McClellan from the command of his army in the field must be pronounced a sign of evil omen on which too much stress can hardly be laid. I believe the present translation, although rapidly made, will not be found inaccurate. 1 have ventured to append to it a few notes upon subjects connected with the condition of things at the South, in respect to which I had reason to believe myself more fully and corrcctlv informed than the circumstances of the author permitted him to be. W. II. II. Xkw York, \ov, 15, 18G2. Note. Since the fast edition of tliik translation was issued, I have received au- tliorm from Brigadicr-Geni ral Barry, Cliicf of Artillery of the Armv of the Potomac, to cor reel I he writer s Elul, w no n i in regard to I hl loss of guns on the retreat from Richmond ' p. .i., lusivad of three, the army lost but one siege-gun, tin S-inch howitzer, Ilie carriage of which broke down. No feature of this exlriHdinary retreat reflects high, r credit upon the army than this brilliant achievement of the artillery service and its chief; and ns the most extravagant falsehoods upon this point have obtained credence and cir< illation abroad, 1 take a pin lictilar pleasure in here recording the lent II, conlident that no man out of ii. erica will more heartily rejoice in it than the ■ 'hot whom 1 am thus enabled Io sc right.
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