GDG- Lee's Real Plan at Gettysburg

[J. David Petruzzi]

>>I agree J.D. - perhaps the biggest sin in historical writing is to
create a theory and cherry pick the facts (or reinterpret or ignore
them) to make it work. Good historical method is to collect the data
first and, to some degree, allow it to suggest an interpretation. My
favorite African history book is by Walter Rodney who was a strict
Marxist historian. He tried to write a textbook of African history
using the stages of history, class struggle, and so forth. Never mind
the facts do not remotely fit classic Marxist theory (and Marx never
considered non European history anyway), he scrunched and pushed
until he thought they did. It is a wonderful example of how NOT to
write history.
Best,
Laurie>>


I think we all have to watch carefully and try to catch ourselves when
falling into the trap of "working the evidence" toward a pre-determined
conclusion or theory.  If you don't, it's a recipe for disaster.  The
alternate theories about Farnsworth's Charge are clear evidence of that.
And it's why, in Chuck's case, he makes the contention about Arnold and
Cushing being overrun and captured.  You have a pre-determined theory, and
you're bound to make the evidence fit it - hence the "if Arnold and Cushing
didn't state that they weren't overrun, then they must have been.  And they
didn't admit it because everyone was too embarassed to do so."

Oy.

As Jim Cameron posted earlier, for anyone familiar with artillery veteran
reminiscences, you would know that the saving of even one single cannon, or
the recapture thereof, regardless of the circumstances of its loss, would
have been fodder for gloating by the artillerymen for decades after the war.
GAR meetings and recollection articles and books are full of them.

Again, one ends up going to incredible and indefensible lengths and claims
in order to make the evidence (or lack therof) fit the pre-determined
theory.  One becomes so blind to good historical method, impartiality, and
basic common sense that one would swear the sky is neon pink if it fits your
theory.

As I said, you have to follow where the evidence leads, not the other way
around.  You have to catch yourself before falling into the trap.  Some have
apparently not learned to do so.

J.D.