Opinions on Welles?

[roberts]

I found the diary a frustrating read. Part of the backstory is that Welles and his son spent years editing and re-writing the original manuscript (Welles died in 1878: the Diary was first published in 1911). It seems clear it was edited to reinforce the deification of Lincoln and to downplay Welles' mistakes. So its authenticity is tainted.

While the 1911 version was edited the original diary manuscript is held by the LoC and "The Civil War Diary of Gideon Welles, Lincoln's Secretary of the Navy: The Original Manuscript Edition" was published in 1960 by William E Gienapp and Erica L Gienapp through the University of Illinois Press.

It only runs through 1869 though. Some of his reconstruction entries were not included.