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Fellow History Buff’s,
There seems to be many comments on the discussion board stating things such as “I have not seen any photographs or read any written accounts of this being done, so there for it must be Farb.” This first rule of critical thinking is not to jump to conclusions but have an open mind and be willing to explore all paths to the truth.
One photograph or lack of photograph should not be used as the only research tool to dismiss or agree with any theory. Photography was still in its infancy during the Civil War. We now know that many of the battlefield photos showing combat deaths were staged. Action photos were near impossible to take given the technology of the times and the equipment. Many personal photos were taken in studios using props with extra guns, knives, etc. No solider ever posed with a kitten on his lap and a flower in his hand. It’s not manly and not how you want to be remembered when you’re talking to your grandchildren about your participation in the war.
When reading letters from soldiers and after action reports we must also use caution when interpreting the comments as factual and then basing our hypothesis on this evidence only. How many soldiers write home trying to reassure their loved ones they are fine and far from harm, when in fact their unit is getting ready to form and march into battle.
After action reports from officers need to also be questioned and should be supported by other independent sources. How many after action reports have you read that an officer admits he totally blundered or froze up? It’s always they fought bravely defending against overwhelming odds and beat back the attack several times before deaths and injuries forced them to retreat. That’s a fancy way of saying that our enemies kicked the crap out of us during this battle. It’s too bad that military communications are often written with a 20/20 hindsight of protecting one’s own status because this leaves room for several different interpretations of events.
How many funerals and eulogies have you heard in your life time? I have never heard anyone at a funeral stand up and say “Ben was a real idiot, who was afraid to speak his mind”. You often hear politically correct terminology as to not offend someone. You then hear things like “Ben was kind and gentle, and he avoided confrontations because he respects his fellow man”. I just caution using only “at-a boy” writings in any form as the only evidence to support your argument or position.
Remember anyone can create a website and place whatever information on the web. Try and stick to what is referred to as scholarly sources of information. These are items that are authentic, in national and state archives, and most important in educational journals which have undergone a peer-review from experts, practitioners, and scholars in a particular discipline. These are all good staring points to your Civil War research and questions.
We have all played the phone game in which we gather in a circle and someone whispers in the other persons ear a short story. That persons then whispers to the person on the other side of them until the message is passed around the entire circle. The last person then tells everyone out load what they heard. The original message is then compared to what the last person just told the group. The original story is lost and additions and deletions are made when we communicate to each other. Just because you hear a camp rumor doesn’t make it fact. Always support your position with a few independent sources then analysis the findings and come to a logical conclusion.
Often in studying history we must bridge a gap of information based on our own experience in knowledge in the matters. This is find as long as you leave the reader with the facts that lead you to make this conclusion.
These tips and comments are only meant to make you stop before jumping to conclusions based on one photo, one personal letter, or one military report. As investigators of history, we can never have enough evidence.
The critical thinking process is a never ending matrix. Good luck with your research and please share your discovers with the group.
There seems to be many comments on the discussion board stating things such as “I have not seen any photographs or read any written accounts of this being done, so there for it must be Farb.” This first rule of critical thinking is not to jump to conclusions but have an open mind and be willing to explore all paths to the truth.
One photograph or lack of photograph should not be used as the only research tool to dismiss or agree with any theory. Photography was still in its infancy during the Civil War. We now know that many of the battlefield photos showing combat deaths were staged. Action photos were near impossible to take given the technology of the times and the equipment. Many personal photos were taken in studios using props with extra guns, knives, etc. No solider ever posed with a kitten on his lap and a flower in his hand. It’s not manly and not how you want to be remembered when you’re talking to your grandchildren about your participation in the war.
When reading letters from soldiers and after action reports we must also use caution when interpreting the comments as factual and then basing our hypothesis on this evidence only. How many soldiers write home trying to reassure their loved ones they are fine and far from harm, when in fact their unit is getting ready to form and march into battle.
After action reports from officers need to also be questioned and should be supported by other independent sources. How many after action reports have you read that an officer admits he totally blundered or froze up? It’s always they fought bravely defending against overwhelming odds and beat back the attack several times before deaths and injuries forced them to retreat. That’s a fancy way of saying that our enemies kicked the crap out of us during this battle. It’s too bad that military communications are often written with a 20/20 hindsight of protecting one’s own status because this leaves room for several different interpretations of events.
How many funerals and eulogies have you heard in your life time? I have never heard anyone at a funeral stand up and say “Ben was a real idiot, who was afraid to speak his mind”. You often hear politically correct terminology as to not offend someone. You then hear things like “Ben was kind and gentle, and he avoided confrontations because he respects his fellow man”. I just caution using only “at-a boy” writings in any form as the only evidence to support your argument or position.
Remember anyone can create a website and place whatever information on the web. Try and stick to what is referred to as scholarly sources of information. These are items that are authentic, in national and state archives, and most important in educational journals which have undergone a peer-review from experts, practitioners, and scholars in a particular discipline. These are all good staring points to your Civil War research and questions.
We have all played the phone game in which we gather in a circle and someone whispers in the other persons ear a short story. That persons then whispers to the person on the other side of them until the message is passed around the entire circle. The last person then tells everyone out load what they heard. The original message is then compared to what the last person just told the group. The original story is lost and additions and deletions are made when we communicate to each other. Just because you hear a camp rumor doesn’t make it fact. Always support your position with a few independent sources then analysis the findings and come to a logical conclusion.
Often in studying history we must bridge a gap of information based on our own experience in knowledge in the matters. This is find as long as you leave the reader with the facts that lead you to make this conclusion.
These tips and comments are only meant to make you stop before jumping to conclusions based on one photo, one personal letter, or one military report. As investigators of history, we can never have enough evidence.
The critical thinking process is a never ending matrix. Good luck with your research and please share your discovers with the group.
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