GDG- The stone wall

[Batrinque at aol.com]

In a message dated 1/7/07 5:09:17 AM Pacific Standard Time, 
chaplain.chuck at gmail.com writes:

> When Scott referenced two batteries inside the stone wall that were
> lost.asthe tide of battle was sweeping toward his brigade, what
> batteries would
> they be if not Cushing and Arnold? 

Any analysis of the situation must go beyond a simple question of "what could 
they be if not Cushing and Arnold?"  We all know that accounts of battle 
actions often/always contain some distortions, mistakes, misstatements, flights of 
imagination, exaggeration, and plain old confusion.  Before accepting any 
account at face value and raising its value to a gold standard, we must also look 
to see what independent sources have to say - or not say.  Danger lies in the 
direction of elevating any one source (or even a few sources)
 to such heights that we ignore all else.


Bruce Trinque
Amston, CT