[
-001]
Preface.
in acceding to a request to write the following pages, the writer had to regret that a brother officer had not undertaken the task, in the belief that the result would have more fully met the expectations of the public.
With the view of presenting the facts as clearly as possible, the writer has not spared himself in the examination of whatever was within his reach, and trusts he may thus escape the just criticism of the intelligent reader, the more, too, as these sheets have received in advance of publication the criticism of several of the more prominent actors in the scenes.
The writer is indebted to an able friend for the criticism that these pages are largely made up of quotations, which is certainly the fact.
This method has been adopted to give occurrences from every point of view obtainable where the quotation is apposite and not designed to be deceptive or meretricious.
They sometimes differ considerably and honestly; each, however, is intended to present the occurrence from a given point of view.
To these have been added such comment, narration, or connection as seemed pertinent and likely to afford the reader as clear an insight of the occurrence as may be possible.
The writer would have gladly substituted a written detail and referred to his authorities
