GDG- New Visitor Center - OR's

[John Baniszewski]

It is true that the OR's are filled with many reports that were written well after important events occurred, and in which the authors had the opportunity to "spin" their roles.  But the OR's are also jam-packed with documents written in real time.

I find the most fascinating way to use the OR's is to read them chronologically, to glean from them what the key individuals thought to be the truth in real time, unvarnished by the knowledge of what ultimately happened.  

For example, you can read a document written by a senior general in which he specifically states his estimate as to the size of his own force, his knowledge of the strength and availability of his own force, and in which he describes his decision as to what to do tomorrow.  In assessing the performance of the leaders at Gettysburg, I always like to consider "what did they know (or erroneously believe), when did they know it (or not know it), and what did they do about it".

I am a Marylander.  l live just outside of Baltimore.  Until I read the OR's, I did not know that the federal government sent warships into Baltimore harbor on June 30, with their guns pointed at the town.  And in addition, THEY ORDERED THE BARS CLOSED!!!!  Talk about repression!

John Baniszewski

John Baniszewski


John Baniszewski