observation, that I have tried to undertake, and it is that which is the aim of this book."

M. Ostrogorski's field of observation is England and the United States. And so volume one is devoted to political parties in England, while volume two considers American phenomena. In his preface Mr. Bryce mildly protests against the gloom with which the author depicts the "Caucus" in England. It remains for American students to enter a similar protest against the unquestionable pessimism which fills the second volume. But it must be said that, notwithstanding his gloomy picture, M. Ostrogorski has given us a singularly careful and intelligent account of our political methods.

This work on Democracy and Political Parties is one that should be found in every library which aims to collect political literature. For students of political parties it is the most valuable book which has yet appeared. It has throughout a tone of moral earnestness which adds not a little to its merits.

BENJ. F. SHAMBAUGH

THE STATE UNIVERSITY OF IOWA

IOWA CITY

Campaigns and Battles of the Twelfth Regiment Iowa Veteran Volunteer Infantry, from Organization, September, 1861, to Musterout, January 20, 1866. By Major DAVID W. REED. Evanston, III.

The author of this life of a regiment, covering more than four years of active service in the Civil War, is fortunate in having been, from beginning to end, part of that life. He is further fortunate in having been, for several years past, Secretary of the Shiloh National Military Park Commission, which has put him in close touch with prominent military men on both sides and has given him free access to official records.

The author's style is strictly narrative but with sufficient "incident" to fix attention and enliven the story. Official documents are used sparingly but sufficiently. Fifty pages are given to the battle

of Shiloh, for the purpose of correcting history and doing justice to men and regiments, suffering for more than forty years the injustice of misrepresentation and falsehood. There is extant but one other as full and complete account of that important battle as is given in this history, and that account, just published by the Government, is by the same author under the title, The Battle of Shiloh and the Organizations Engaged. Major Reed is the best living authority on that battle.

Another important battle fully described is that of Nashville, in which the Twelfth took an active part, though it went into the fight without a single commissioned company officer in command. Every company was commanded by the ranking sergeant.

The author tells us that the Twelfth threw away its knapsacks within a month after going into the field, and that it was ever after in "light marching order;" that it was never called upon to do garrison duty or provost-guard duty; that it never had a dress coat on its back or white gloves on its hands-its "best" coat was the regulation "fatigue blouse." As a specimen of active service, it is stated that the regiment, in two and one-half months, in 1864, covered by steamboat 722 miles, by rail 50 miles, and in marching 950 miles. On election day of that year (Nov. 8, 1864) the regiment waded Osage river, in Missouri, waist-deep in ice-cold water, then halted upon the bank to vote for President of the United States. There were cast 210 votes-Lincoln, 190; McClellan, 20.

The regiment has to its credit seventeen pitched battles and twelve skirmishes, and it was never repulsed. The story of its life is plainly but simply and admirably told, though the work is marred by poor proof-reading. There are two elaborate maps of the field of Shiloh and several illustrations.

The edition is limited to 500 copies, is not copyrighted, is privately printed, and is sold at the actual cost of printing ($2.00).

JOSEPH W. RICH

IOWA CITY, Iowa

NOTES AND COMMENT

In September (1903) the Twenty-fourth Biennial Report of the State Historical Society of Iowa was submitted to the Governor of the State. This report contains: (1) an historical sketch of the Society; (2) a statement relative to the organization of the Society; (3) the names of the officers and members; (4) a financial statement; (5) an account of publications; (6) a statement relative to the library; and (7) recommendations for additional support. The whole report will be printed by the State, and in due time may be found in the series of legislative documents for 1904.

Mr. Harold M. Bowman, writer of the article contained in this number of THE IOWA JOURNAL OF HISTORY AND POLITICS on Problems in the Administration of Iowa is the author of a monograph entitled The Administration of Iowa, A Study in Centralization. The problems cursorily reviewed in the article, and others, are examined in detail in the monograph, where full references to sources are given. A number of practical suggestions for alteration in administrative organization and practice are also incorporated. The Macmillan Company, New York, announce that the monograph will be published in October, as Number 1 of Volume XVIII of the Columbia Studies in History, Economics, and Public Law. Copies are to be obtained from the Macmillan Company, or from Professor E. R. A. Seligman, Columbia University, New York.

The fourth volume of The Messages and Proclamations of the Governors of Iowa, which has just been issued by the State Historical Society of Iowa, contains the messages and proclamations of Governor Cyrus Clay Carpenter (1872-1876), Governor Samuel Jordan Kirkwood (third term, 1876-1877), and Governor Joshua Giddings Newbold (1877-1878). This volume contains about four hundred pages.

The fifth volume of The Messages and Proclamations of the Governors of Iowa, which is now in press, will cover the administrations of John Henry Gear and Buren R. Sherman. The volume will appear in December, 1903.

A very commendable undertaking is the Semi-Centennial Anniversary of the Founding of Grinnell (Iowa), which is to be celebrated on May 18, 1904. Appropriate exercises have been arranged for that day. The whole matter is in the hands of a general committee, which has held several meetings and adopted general plans. Among other things, the committee has named persons to prepare papers on the different phases of the local history of the town of Grinnell. These papers are to be permanently preserved as historical records in the Stewart library. It is hoped that other towns and cities will follow the example of Grinnell.

Dr. Duren J. H. Ward has recently investigated a number of Iowa mounds. Some of the results of his work will probably be published in the January, 1904, number of the Iowa JOURNAL OF HISTORY AND POLITICS.

In an editorial in the March-April, 1903, American Antiquarian an attempt is made "to so describe the relics which have been discovered in the various portions of the Mississippi Valley, that the reader may discover the unity and diversity which has prevailed among the prehistoric populations, and gain a picture of the condition of each particular district in prehistoric times."

The program for 1903-1904 of the Pilgrim Chapter (Iowa City, Iowa) of the Daughters of the American Revolution contains a lecture on Early Iowa.

Chapter "E" of the P. E. O. (Iowa City, Iowa) has arranged a program of Studies in the History of Iowa. The titles of the papers as announced on the printed program for 1903-1904 are as follows: (1) Life Among the Pioneers; (2) The Claim Laws; (3) The Territorial

Governors; (4) The Constitutions of 1844-46, and Admission into the Union; (5) The Capitals of Iowa; (6) James Wilson Grimes, the Opponent of Slavery; (7) Samuel Jordan Kirkwood, the War Governor; (8) Iowa Indians; (9) Black Hawk and Keokuk; (10) the Spirit Lake Massacre; (11) The Indian Reservation at Tama; (12) Old John Brown in Iowa; (13) The Iowa Band; (14) The Mormons in Iowa; (15) The Colonies of Iowa; (16) Iowa's Contribution to Literature; (17) Iowa's Contribution to Art; (18) Iowa of To-day. At the opening meeting on September 25, Dr. B. F. Shambaugh gave an address on The Opening of Iowa.

The legislature of the State of Missouri appropriated $5,000 for the use of the State Historical Society of Missouri for the current biennial period.

The Proceedings of the New Hampshire Historical Society, from June 1899 to June 1902, being Pt. I of Vol. IV of the series, has recently been published and distributed by the Society. The chief contributions in this part are: (1) The Capture of Fort William and Mary, by Prof. Charles L. Parsons; (2) The Life and Character of Bishop Carlton Chase, by the Rt. Rev. W. W. Niles; (3) Nathan Lord, by Professor John K. Lord; (4) The Scotch-Irish and Irish Presbyterian Settlers of New Hampshire, by Hon. Gordon Woodbury.

It is gratifying to learn that the Abigail Adams Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution has decided to devote the year to marking the site of the old Ft. Des Moines.

The

"The old pioneer days are gone, with their roughness and their hardship, their incredible toil and their wild half-savage romance. But the need for the pioneer virtues remains the same as ever. peculiar frontier conditions have vanished; but the manliness and stalwart hardihood of the frontiersmen can be given even freer scope under the conditions surrounding the complex industrialism of the present day."-Pres. Roosevelt in St. Louis address, April 30, 1903.