Service certainly helps a man in his
researches or work, but it only helps. The best critic may be one who
never served. I think I was the first officer to whom the Secretary of
War permitted free use of the rebel archives for study. I have had good
opportunities. How I have used them, I leave to others to say. It is
easy to capture a meeting of honest-hearted veterans by such lamentable
prestidigitation as was exhibited on Fast Day, and to pass any
resolutions desired, by appealing to their enthusiasm. I prefer to be
judged by the sober after-thought of men who are neither partisans,
nor ready to warp facts or make partial statements to sustain their
theories.
THEODORE A. DODGE.
BOSTON, April 10, 1886.
Transcriber's Appendix: Transcription notes:
The first edition of this book was published in 1881. The author's
appendix was added in the second edition, in 1886, which is the source
for this etext.
The following modifications were applied while transcribing the
printed book to e-text:
chapter 4
- table on p 19, fixed typo ("McGown", should be "McGowan")
chapter 12
- p 71, para 1, fixed typo ("inititate")
chapter 18
- p 111, para 1, fixed typo ("Pleasanton")
chapter 27
- p 180, para 1, fixed "the the"
Limitations imposed by converting to plain ASCII:
- The words "manoeuvre", "manoeuvres" and "manoeuvring" are printed in
the book using the "oe" ligature.
Pages:
329
330
331
332
333
334
335
336
337
338
339
340
341
342
343
344
345
346
347
348
349
350
351
352
353