GDG- BMI

[gary.mcginnis at dot.gov]

" There is no evidence that Meade/Butterfield followed up with a
question to the BMI about the size of the rest of the ANV, specifically
Longstreet and Hill's corps and Stuart's Calvary division.  Regarding
the latter, prisoners would have been taken during the clashes at
Hanover and Hunterstown and also at Rummel Farm.  However, if the Union
commanders wanted to know the actual size of Lee's army, all they had to
do was ask and they would have had figures that undoubtedly would have
been within five percent of the actual figure (and more likely even more
accurate given the size of the sample available)."

 

Tom,

 

I have seen figures presented showing that the Army of Northern Virginia
had anywhere from 79,000 to over 100,000 troops. How do you figure that
the BMI could have come up with a figure that was plus or minus five
percent accurate?

 

Gary McGinnis

Sykesville, MD