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Folks may remember a few months ago a photo was posted of a group of black infantrymen labelled "1st Native Guards," offered as evidence of blacks serving the Confederacy as soldiers. It was from a website "37th Texas Cavalry"
Well, the photo turned out to be a fake. It was a photograph of black men serving as Union soldiers, that was later made into a recruiting poster. The original photograph was made in Pennsyvania(I seem to remember.)
Everyone makes mistakes. Mark Twain once said "Ignorance is not knowing things, it's knowing things that aren't so."
But I visited the 37th Texas Cavalry site today, following a link from Civil War Memory, and they are
still defending their fake as genuine. The argument doesn't address the original photograph at all, and unsurprisingly doesn't offer a link.
I've been wrong enough to sympathize with anyone who makes a mistake. But, I don't have much sympathy with liars. Makes me wonder what else is wrong with that site.
"...I visited the 37th Texas Cavalry site today, following a link from Civil War Memory, and they are still defending their fake as genuine. The argument doesn't address the original photograph at all, and unsurprisingly doesn't offer a link...."
The "Native Guard" photo didn't originate with the 37th Texas website. The photo has been around a lot longer than that site.
They give the source as rebelstore.com which dropped the photo from their site.
Quote:
Originally Posted by mm
"...they are still defending their fake as genuine..."
Are they?...
Did you contact them or did they post an additional note on the webpage still claiming the photo as genuine?...or is it they just haven't removed the page?
__________________ POWER & MONEY
"Your New-York bankers and merchants are shrewd people, but I never gave them credit for so much sagacity as when they took the Government Loan. It was not merely patriotism, it was a high stroke of policy. It has saved the Government, and what they will regard as equally important, saved them from a great financial disaster."
Did you contact them or did they post an additional note on the web page still claiming the photo as genuine?...or is it they just haven't removed the page?
Even if they just haven't taken it down, that act alone perpetuates the lie. People who are too naive or too stubborn to do their own research will be misled, which is most likely exactly what the 37th TX is hoping.
Quote:
Originally Posted by matthew mckeon
Makes me wonder what else is wrong with that site.
In my opinion; just about everything.
__________________ "In mortal combat, a man may and will become so infuriated by the din and dangers of a bloody fight that his heart will turn to stone and his every de sire [be] for blood."
John Hadley, 7th Indiana after the battle at Port Republic
There is no excuse for perpetuating a myth after it has been conclusively proven to be a fabrication. The site will continue fabricating and fools will continue to be taken in.
ole
__________________ I never knew a man who wished to be himself a slave. Consider if you know any good thing that no man desires for himself. A. Lincoln
You need to contact Mr. Kelley to find out the reason why the page is still there.
__________________ POWER & MONEY
"Your New-York bankers and merchants are shrewd people, but I never gave them credit for so much sagacity as when they took the Government Loan. It was not merely patriotism, it was a high stroke of policy. It has saved the Government, and what they will regard as equally important, saved them from a great financial disaster."
Another site on the 39th Texas defends the picture after studying the debunking. It insists that the photo is genuinely Native guards and that it was commandeered by the northern recruitment poster.
ole
__________________ I never knew a man who wished to be himself a slave. Consider if you know any good thing that no man desires for himself. A. Lincoln
Another site on the 39th Texas defends the picture after studying the debunking. It insists that the photo is genuinely Native guards and that it was commandeered by the northern recruitment poster.
ole
It's the same page that was there prior to January 2005. There's been no update or addition since.
__________________ POWER & MONEY
"Your New-York bankers and merchants are shrewd people, but I never gave them credit for so much sagacity as when they took the Government Loan. It was not merely patriotism, it was a high stroke of policy. It has saved the Government, and what they will regard as equally important, saved them from a great financial disaster."
Since it's been almost 3 years since it was updated, I don't think the page sees that many visits. When was this brought up to them? Perhaps they will get around to updateing it when they get a chance.
After 3 years, I don't think they plan on changing it. A lie told often enough gathers traction.
__________________ Few take the trouble to understand or to view the American scene with perspective. And we Americans love to find ourselves guilty of something. However, it is never I who am guilty, but those other Americans, the past or present government or the other political party. Americans almost never find other countries guilty. It is always ourselves or our fancied influence in other countries. Louis L'amour
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