- Joined
- Feb 13, 2011
- Location
- Howard County, Maryland
I'm not through Chapter One, but I've read the Introduction, which in the second paragraph cherry picks a quotation and completely misrepresents Sir Aurthur Fremantle's journal, Three Months in the Southern States. To wit: "...the universal feeling in the (Confederate) Army was one of profound contempt for an enemy whom they have beaten so constantly..." I am well familiar with Fremantle's work and it is utterly disingenuous to take this quote out of context.
I don't understand what you mean when you say that Freemantle's quote was cherry picked or out of context. It was after the first day at Gettysburg and various staff members were discussing the day's events and what could happen the next day. Here is the whole quote:
At supper this evening, General Longstreet spoke of the enemy's position as being "very formidable." He also said that they would doubtless intrench themselves strongly during the night. The Staff officers spoke of the battle as a certainty, and the universal feeling in the army was one of profound contempt for an enemy whom they have beaten so constantly, and under so many disadvantages.
I'm certain that many southern commanders had this feeling and even Robert E Lee thought his boys were invincible. As Longstreet said about this battle Lee's 'blood was up" and try as he might he could not convince him to fight the battle as Lonstreet proposed.
Fremantle, Arthur James Lyon Three Months in the Southern States, April-June 1863 (Kindle Locations 2587-2588). . Kindle Edition.