In a message dated 4/8/2004 12:37:55 AM Eastern Standard Time,
[log in to unmask] writes:
The Civil War is one of the very best documented wars ever. Look in the huge
number of official record volumes in the VA library. Ever skirmish and every
battle is documented.
Now I would have to quibble with this a little bit.  There are several
skirmishes which are known but not well documented, some just briefly mentioned in
some official report, others the only indication is from "old timers" in the
neighborhood in which the action took place.

This is particularly true in areas where communication between the field and
Washington/Richmond was difficult; of guerilla actions, and of events where
neither side was particularly honorable.  This is more of a problem in western
Virginia and what is now West Virginia and Kentucky than in eastern Virginia;
and particularly true of actions in trans-Mississippi areas.

In West Virginia, in the postwar era, ex-Confederates were apt to be sued for
"irregular" actions, and as a result many of these are very obscure, lacking
mention in official reports at the time, and are not mentioned in memoirs
either.

Now for the major battles, Gettysburg, Antietam, Wilderness, Fredericksburg,
et.al., they have been studied to death.

Additionally there are a host of interesting characters in the war for whom
no good source of biographical information is available.  A prime example of
this was Brigadier General John Buchanan Floyd.  Floyd, son of a Governor, was
well educated (University of South Carolina); went to Arkansas, failed as a
planter, came back to Virginia, entered the practice of law and politics.  Became
Governor of Virginia; then Secretary of War, and then flag officer in the
Confederate service.  Whether one has a high or low opinion of the fellow, he is
interesting, and worth a biography.  Every bit as complex a man, and worth of
a biography every bit as much as his rival in political and on the
battlefield, Henry A. Wise, who has a good biography, BTW.

Hope it helps.

Jeff Weaver

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