Howard Pyle, a chronicle by Charles D. Abbott, with an introduction by N. C. Wyeth and many illustrations from Howard Pyle's works.

HOWARD PYLE: A CHRONICLE
treatment. It depicts the charge of the Minnesota regiments at the closing of General Thomas' great battle (The
Battle of Nashville). This charge occurred at the close
of a rainy day in winter, following a thaw of frigid weather.
The regiment charged across a very mucfdy cornfield, in
which the water had gathered in puddles, so that the racing
men are caked with mud. The Confederates had built an
entrenchment behind a stone wall (represented as running
diagonally across the picture) and the moment chosen for
the composition is the instant when the charging crowd of
men is pouring like a wave over the wall. In the distance
of the picture is a height known as Shy's Hill, on which
a battery had been planted, and upon which the smoke is
booming out from the firing guns. The canopy of smoke
is just lifting from the battle, showing the last desperate
stand of the few Confederates in the trench, whilst behind
these few a hurry of men is seen retreating through the
vapors of gunpowder smoke.
"Besides these two pictures, I have now already in hand
another mural painting, (6 by 18) representing The Landing of Carteret, and intended for the Board of Freeholders'
Room in the New Essex County Court House. This picture
is still different from the others, discussed above. It represents a hot July day, over which a rain storm has just passed.
The scene is laid at the edge of a brimming marsh land
'(such as I conceive the shores of Newark Bay to have been
at that time). In the center of the picture is gathered quite
a group of figures (the captain of the vessel, the secretary
of the newly appointed Governor, the crown officer, reading
Carteret's credentials). The central figure of Carteret is
clad entirely in red, and catches the eye as the most promi..
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