Re: Paper Idea
(no name) ((no email))
Tue, 5 Apr 1994 14:13:16 ECT
I'm not a professional historian, but it strikes me that the Civil War
is different, from an historian's point of view, because of the
existence of the Official Records (OR). Also, the general literacy
level of the common soldier was higher than in most previous conflicts,
so there were more personal accounts, even by rank-and-file, than would
usually be the case.
What amazes me, as an amateur student of the period, is how much primary
material _continues_ to appear and be published. In recent years we
have seen the publication of the original form of Porter Alexander's
memoirs, Baldy Smith's memoirs, Comstock's diary (he was ADC to Grant),
and numerous accounts by lower ranks.
Jim Epperson