Ewell Killed at Gettysburg?

[10th Michigan Infantry]

Well, obviously not. But that didn't stop The Free South (a South Carolina based Unionist newspaper) from stating on "excellent authority" that the "rebel general" died from the "wounds" he received during the Battle of Gettysburg.

A link to the article if anyone wants it:

The free South. [volume] (Beaufort, S.C.) 1863-1864, July 11, 1863, Image 1

The free South. [volume] (Beaufort, S.C.) 1863-1864, July 11, 1863, Image 1, brought to you by University of South Carolina; Columbia, SC, and the National Digital Newspaper Program.

chroniclingamerica.loc.gov

 

[Nathan Stuart]

This subject reminds me of what the ancient Greek tragics playwright, Aeschylus, supposedly said,

…'In war, truth is the first casualty.'…

In relation to the exact wording in the newspaper extract displayed. One is put on instant alert (and suspicion) when the main news reported in the passage is preceded by a broad and emphatic reassurance (without specific referencing) that reads, …"It is stated on excellent authority that ….."….

 

[Library Lady]

The Battle in Public: Newspaper Reports from Gettysburg | Commentary | Civil War Monitor

www.civilwarmonitor.com

I love how the Richmond editor disses the telegraph. If he was around today, he'd probably be saying the same thing about the Internet.

How the Associated Press Got Its Start 175 Years Ago

A newsworthy birthday for a venerable source of trusted reporting

www.smithsonianmag.com

So, chaotic, like any breaking news story, and not that different from today. Papers chose stories that fit their agenda and readers chose papers accordingly; again, not that different from today. The Associated Press (AP) had been in existence since the Mexican War and made their stories available to any newspaper. A business model that still works for them today. And, yes, "fake news" has been around long before 2016.

 

[Tennessee Union Gal]

In the words of Mark Twain, "The reports of my death have been greatly exaggerated."

 

[thomas aagaard]

And, yes, "fake news" has been around long before 2016.

In this case it looks more like a mistake and not a deliberate attempt to lie to the reader.

 

[ErnieMac]

Ewell wasn't the only prominent Confederate reported killed at Gettysburg. Snippets from the 6 July 1863 edition of the Philadelphia Inquirer.

 

[infomanpa]

People don't realize that back then, fake news was much more of problem than today.

 

[JerseyBart]

Makes you wonder how many families got the wrong news and were eventually overjoyed to have gotten the wrong news or horrified.

 

[7thWisconsin]

Well, Ewell did get hit in the leg at Gettysburg...

 

[10th Michigan Infantry]

Well, Ewell did get hit in the leg at Gettysburg...

Considering it was a prosthetic, I'm not sure it counts.

 

[Stryker65]

I know this isn't the What If...? category but what if Ewell did die at Gettysburg?
-Stryker

 

[10th Michigan Infantry]

I know this isn't the What If...? category but what if Ewell did die at Gettysburg?
-Stryker

Might be worth having a thread on that topic alone.

 

[7thWisconsin]

I know this isn't the What If...? category but what if Ewell did die at Gettysburg?
-Stryker

Either Early or Rodes gets a promotion to corps command on the field of battle. Each was an aggressive commander, so I theorize that the fight for Culps Hill is completely different in character than what unfolded.

 

[rpkennedy]

Either Early or Rodes gets a promotion to corps command on the field of battle. Each was an aggressive commander, so I theorize that the fight for Culps Hill is completely different in character than what unfolded.

It would be Early for sure. He had the seniority and Rodes' experience as a division commander (July 1) was very mixed (Chancellorsville - good; Gettysburg July 1 - not so good). Not to mention that Rodes was ill during the battle.

Ryan

 

[Stryker65]

Might be worth having a thread on that topic alone.

I created a thread on the subject, as you suggested.

 

[Tom Elmore]

Lots of soldiers believed a rumor Longstreet had been captured:

Capture of General Longstreet at Gettysburg - July 2 or July 3? | Gettysburg

[Preface: Normally I rely more heavily on eyewitness accounts than post-war analysis, but this case is clearly an exception. Of course we know Longstreet was not captured during the battle, but evidently at the time it was widely believed within the Union army, as well as by the local...

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