Dear Ole and List Members;
Though a wee bit astray from the Civil War--when you really look at any story, even when in your own home and four family members witness an event in an instant--stories are similar but, not exact. When time goes by, influences by other parties/witnesses creep into the story--sometimes embellishing occurs. I personally worry when someone told me the exact to the tiny details in their story/witness accounts. It is amazing how people can see differently the same thing. This holds true in investigating crimes/accidents; as well as personal events unfolding--especially when death is a breath away.
What disadvantages we (in general) have; is that we weren't there at that moment and time, in those moments between life and death; nor have we the ability to read all of their minds at that moment. Oh, how minds change from the first impression from the final summary of our logic to our personal judgment.
My personal struggle--is to not think as a modern person but more of a listener via Civil War veterans, through their books, letters, historical accounts. It is so easy to second-guess people, read between the lines and come to what we (in general) want to see/hear/understand. Over analysing is the bane of those generations that follow. What I dearly appreciate are the letters from the participants of the Civil War themselves. In addition, knowing there were women in the theater of battle; such as Lorinda Anna Blair-reciever of the Kearny Cross at the Battle of Gettysburg and buried at Arlington National Cemetery and Marie Tepe, who not only was wounded in the ankle at the Battle of Fredericksburg and served in multiple battles to include Gettysburg; women have a different perspective. Each person-male, female, young and or old--each sees things differently and just as valid.
There is a old poem:
For want of a horseshoe nail
For want of a nail, the shoe was lost.
For want of a shoe, the horse was lost.
For want of a horse, the rider was lost.
For want of a rider, the battle was lost.
For want of a battle, the kingdom was lost.
And all for want of a horseshoe nail.
--George Herbert
It could easily be, in my opinion changed as to read:
For want of a soldier, the company was lost.
For the want of a company, the regiment was lost.
For the want of a regiment, the battle was lost.
For the want of a battle, the Civil War was lost.
All for the want of a soldier.
Just some thoughts.
Sincerely,
M. E. Wolf