Strict Standards: Only variables should be assigned by reference in /home/netscrib/public_html/civilwarcavalry/wp-content/plugins/exclude-pages/exclude_pages.php on line 92
Strict Standards: Only variables should be assigned by reference in /home/netscrib/public_html/civilwarcavalry/wp-content/plugins/exclude-pages/exclude_pages.php on line 92
Strict Standards: Only variables should be assigned by reference in /home/netscrib/public_html/civilwarcavalry/wp-content/plugins/exclude-pages/exclude_pages.php on line 92
Strict Standards: Only variables should be assigned by reference in /home/netscrib/public_html/civilwarcavalry/wp-content/plugins/exclude-pages/exclude_pages.php on line 92
Strict Standards: Only variables should be assigned by reference in /home/netscrib/public_html/civilwarcavalry/wp-content/plugins/exclude-pages/exclude_pages.php on line 92
Strict Standards: Only variables should be assigned by reference in /home/netscrib/public_html/civilwarcavalry/wp-content/plugins/exclude-pages/exclude_pages.php on line 92
Strict Standards: Only variables should be assigned by reference in /home/netscrib/public_html/civilwarcavalry/wp-content/plugins/exclude-pages/exclude_pages.php on line 92
Strict Standards: Only variables should be assigned by reference in /home/netscrib/public_html/civilwarcavalry/wp-content/plugins/exclude-pages/exclude_pages.php on line 92
Strict Standards: Only variables should be assigned by reference in /home/netscrib/public_html/civilwarcavalry/wp-content/plugins/exclude-pages/exclude_pages.php on line 92
RSS Feed
Time for a major rant.
To avoid embarrassing the person, I will not identify him, and I will not identify the blog where it took place, but I just got done drafting a lengthy critique of an essay on the coming of age of the Union cavalry. There was so much that was factually incorrect about what he wrote that I could not resist the temptation to point out how much was wrong. I was not gentle about it, either.
I have devoted most of my adult life to the study of Union cavalry operations in the Civil War. I have published fourteen books and a couple of dozen articles on the subject. I’ve written more than a million words on the subject. Along the way, I have examined more than a thousand–probably closer to two thousand–separate sources on the subject. At this point, I think I know a little bit about the subject. And I’ve had a book published that addresses the coming of age of the Army of the Potomac’s Cavalry Corps.
One lesson I learned very early in my writing career is that it’s very embarrassing to put stuff out there that is factually incorrect, because you’re going to get ripped for it. Since the very beginning, I have had others review my work to make sure it’s factually correct and to make sure I haven’t made any stupid gaffes. I’ve had lots of things pointed out to me as wrong, and I’ve made lots of revisions/corrections because of it.
The author of this piece obviously did nothing of the sort. I would never discourage anyone from researching or writing, but there are few things that irritate me more than people simply propagating and perpetuating things that are just plain wrong because they haven’t bothered to have someone else check their work or do their own primary source research. This particular individual clearly did neither, and it shows.
Boy, does that irritate me….either get it right, or please, don’t do it at all.
Scridb filterComments
Comments are closed.
Sponsors
Notice: Undefined index: id in /home/netscrib/public_html/civilwarcavalry/wp-content/themes/wittenberg/footer.php on line 8
Notice: Undefined index: id in /home/netscrib/public_html/civilwarcavalry/wp-content/themes/wittenberg/footer.php on line 8
Notice: Undefined index: std in /home/netscrib/public_html/civilwarcavalry/wp-content/themes/wittenberg/footer.php on line 8
Notice: Undefined index: id in /home/netscrib/public_html/civilwarcavalry/wp-content/themes/wittenberg/footer.php on line 8
Notice: Undefined index: id in /home/netscrib/public_html/civilwarcavalry/wp-content/themes/wittenberg/footer.php on line 8
Notice: Undefined index: std in /home/netscrib/public_html/civilwarcavalry/wp-content/themes/wittenberg/footer.php on line 8
Notice: Undefined index: id in /home/netscrib/public_html/civilwarcavalry/wp-content/themes/wittenberg/footer.php on line 8
Notice: Undefined index: id in /home/netscrib/public_html/civilwarcavalry/wp-content/themes/wittenberg/footer.php on line 8
Notice: Undefined index: std in /home/netscrib/public_html/civilwarcavalry/wp-content/themes/wittenberg/footer.php on line 8
Notice: Undefined index: id in /home/netscrib/public_html/civilwarcavalry/wp-content/themes/wittenberg/footer.php on line 8
Notice: Undefined index: id in /home/netscrib/public_html/civilwarcavalry/wp-content/themes/wittenberg/footer.php on line 8
Notice: Undefined index: std in /home/netscrib/public_html/civilwarcavalry/wp-content/themes/wittenberg/footer.php on line 8
Notice: Undefined index: id in /home/netscrib/public_html/civilwarcavalry/wp-content/themes/wittenberg/footer.php on line 8
Notice: Undefined index: id in /home/netscrib/public_html/civilwarcavalry/wp-content/themes/wittenberg/footer.php on line 8
Notice: Undefined index: std in /home/netscrib/public_html/civilwarcavalry/wp-content/themes/wittenberg/footer.php on line 8
Notice: Undefined index: id in /home/netscrib/public_html/civilwarcavalry/wp-content/themes/wittenberg/footer.php on line 8
Notice: Undefined index: id in /home/netscrib/public_html/civilwarcavalry/wp-content/themes/wittenberg/footer.php on line 8
Notice: Undefined index: std in /home/netscrib/public_html/civilwarcavalry/wp-content/themes/wittenberg/footer.php on line 8
Notice: Undefined index: id in /home/netscrib/public_html/civilwarcavalry/wp-content/themes/wittenberg/footer.php on line 8
Notice: Undefined index: id in /home/netscrib/public_html/civilwarcavalry/wp-content/themes/wittenberg/footer.php on line 8
Notice: Undefined index: std in /home/netscrib/public_html/civilwarcavalry/wp-content/themes/wittenberg/footer.php on line 8
Notice: Undefined index: id in /home/netscrib/public_html/civilwarcavalry/wp-content/themes/wittenberg/footer.php on line 8
Notice: Undefined index: id in /home/netscrib/public_html/civilwarcavalry/wp-content/themes/wittenberg/footer.php on line 8
Notice: Undefined index: std in /home/netscrib/public_html/civilwarcavalry/wp-content/themes/wittenberg/footer.php on line 8
Notice: Undefined index: id in /home/netscrib/public_html/civilwarcavalry/wp-content/themes/wittenberg/footer.php on line 8
Notice: Undefined index: id in /home/netscrib/public_html/civilwarcavalry/wp-content/themes/wittenberg/footer.php on line 8
Notice: Undefined index: std in /home/netscrib/public_html/civilwarcavalry/wp-content/themes/wittenberg/footer.php on line 8
Notice: Undefined index: id in /home/netscrib/public_html/civilwarcavalry/wp-content/themes/wittenberg/footer.php on line 8
Notice: Undefined index: id in /home/netscrib/public_html/civilwarcavalry/wp-content/themes/wittenberg/footer.php on line 8
Notice: Undefined index: std in /home/netscrib/public_html/civilwarcavalry/wp-content/themes/wittenberg/footer.php on line 8
Notice: Undefined index: id in /home/netscrib/public_html/civilwarcavalry/wp-content/themes/wittenberg/footer.php on line 8
Notice: Undefined index: id in /home/netscrib/public_html/civilwarcavalry/wp-content/themes/wittenberg/footer.php on line 8
Notice: Undefined index: std in /home/netscrib/public_html/civilwarcavalry/wp-content/themes/wittenberg/footer.php on line 8
Notice: Undefined index: id in /home/netscrib/public_html/civilwarcavalry/wp-content/themes/wittenberg/footer.php on line 8
Notice: Undefined index: id in /home/netscrib/public_html/civilwarcavalry/wp-content/themes/wittenberg/footer.php on line 8
Notice: Undefined index: std in /home/netscrib/public_html/civilwarcavalry/wp-content/themes/wittenberg/footer.php on line 8
Notice: Undefined index: id in /home/netscrib/public_html/civilwarcavalry/wp-content/themes/wittenberg/footer.php on line 8
Notice: Undefined index: id in /home/netscrib/public_html/civilwarcavalry/wp-content/themes/wittenberg/footer.php on line 8
Notice: Undefined index: std in /home/netscrib/public_html/civilwarcavalry/wp-content/themes/wittenberg/footer.php on line 8
Notice: Undefined index: id in /home/netscrib/public_html/civilwarcavalry/wp-content/themes/wittenberg/footer.php on line 8
Notice: Undefined index: id in /home/netscrib/public_html/civilwarcavalry/wp-content/themes/wittenberg/footer.php on line 8
Notice: Undefined index: std in /home/netscrib/public_html/civilwarcavalry/wp-content/themes/wittenberg/footer.php on line 8
Notice: Undefined index: id in /home/netscrib/public_html/civilwarcavalry/wp-content/themes/wittenberg/footer.php on line 8
Notice: Undefined index: id in /home/netscrib/public_html/civilwarcavalry/wp-content/themes/wittenberg/footer.php on line 8
Notice: Undefined index: std in /home/netscrib/public_html/civilwarcavalry/wp-content/themes/wittenberg/footer.php on line 8
Notice: Undefined index: id in /home/netscrib/public_html/civilwarcavalry/wp-content/themes/wittenberg/footer.php on line 8
Notice: Undefined index: id in /home/netscrib/public_html/civilwarcavalry/wp-content/themes/wittenberg/footer.php on line 8
Notice: Undefined index: std in /home/netscrib/public_html/civilwarcavalry/wp-content/themes/wittenberg/footer.php on line 8
Notice: Undefined index: id in /home/netscrib/public_html/civilwarcavalry/wp-content/themes/wittenberg/footer.php on line 8
Notice: Undefined index: id in /home/netscrib/public_html/civilwarcavalry/wp-content/themes/wittenberg/footer.php on line 8
Notice: Undefined index: std in /home/netscrib/public_html/civilwarcavalry/wp-content/themes/wittenberg/footer.php on line 8
Notice: Undefined index: id in /home/netscrib/public_html/civilwarcavalry/wp-content/themes/wittenberg/footer.php on line 8
Notice: Undefined index: id in /home/netscrib/public_html/civilwarcavalry/wp-content/themes/wittenberg/footer.php on line 8
Notice: Undefined index: std in /home/netscrib/public_html/civilwarcavalry/wp-content/themes/wittenberg/footer.php on line 8
Notice: Undefined index: id in /home/netscrib/public_html/civilwarcavalry/wp-content/themes/wittenberg/footer.php on line 8
Notice: Undefined index: id in /home/netscrib/public_html/civilwarcavalry/wp-content/themes/wittenberg/footer.php on line 8
Notice: Undefined index: std in /home/netscrib/public_html/civilwarcavalry/wp-content/themes/wittenberg/footer.php on line 8
Notice: Undefined index: id in /home/netscrib/public_html/civilwarcavalry/wp-content/themes/wittenberg/footer.php on line 8
Notice: Undefined index: id in /home/netscrib/public_html/civilwarcavalry/wp-content/themes/wittenberg/footer.php on line 8
Notice: Undefined index: std in /home/netscrib/public_html/civilwarcavalry/wp-content/themes/wittenberg/footer.php on line 8
Notice: Undefined index: id in /home/netscrib/public_html/civilwarcavalry/wp-content/themes/wittenberg/footer.php on line 8
Notice: Undefined index: id in /home/netscrib/public_html/civilwarcavalry/wp-content/themes/wittenberg/footer.php on line 8
Notice: Undefined index: std in /home/netscrib/public_html/civilwarcavalry/wp-content/themes/wittenberg/footer.php on line 8
Back to top
Blogs I like 
- Andrew Duppstadt
- Andy Etman
- Blue Gray Daily
- Bob O'Neill
- Bottle Rocket Science
- Brooks Simpson
- Bruce Long
- Charlie Knight
- Civil Warriors
- Corey Meyer
- Craig Swain
- Damien Shiels
- Dave Powell
- David Woodbury
- Dimitri Rotov
- Drew Wagenhoffer
- Emerging Civil War Historians
- Harry Smeltzer
- J. D. Petruzzi
- Jack Dempsey
- Jim Miller
- Jim Rosebrock
- Jim Schmidt
- John Hoptak
- Kevin Levin
- Kraig McNutt
- Lee Hutch
- Mannie Gentile
- Mark Grimsley
- Matt Lively
- Michael Aubrecht
- Michael C. Hardy
- Michael Lynch
- Mike Block
- Mike Noirot
- Mysteries and Conundrums
- Rea Andrew Redd
- Richard J. Bell
- Richard McCormick
- Robert H. Moore, II
- Robert Redd
- Scott Mingus
- Scott Patchan
- Sean Heuvel
- Steve Light
- Susan Wittenberg
- Ted Savas
- TOCWOC
- Tom Clemens
- You Stink! blog
- Civil War Sites
- Central Ohio Civil War Roundtable
- Civil War Trust
- CWDG Online
- Dennis Morris
- J. David Petruzzi
- Ohio Civil War 150
- Ohio in the Civil War
- One Continuous Fight: The Retreat from Gettysburg and the Pursuit of Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia, July 4-14, 1863
- Pennsylvania in the Civil War
- Plenty of Blame to Go Around: Jeb Stuart’s Controversial Ride to Gettysburg
- Randy Drais
- Rush’s Lancers, also known as the Sixth Pennsylvania Cavalry
- The Books of Eric J. Wittenberg
- Wade Sokolosky
- West Virginia in the Civil War
- Woodbury Historical Tours
- Compilation Blogs
- Other Sites
- Our sponsors
- Publishers of Civil War History
- Popular Pages
- Archives
> I will not identify him, and I will not identify the blog where it took place
Eric!!! This seems grossly unfair… to your readers!
8^>
-Dan
Dan,
I’m the author who seems to have displeased the powers that be. I’m a big boy, not worried about embarassment.
I wrote a summation of the coming of age of the Union cavalry on the TOCWOC blog. So you know, I’m an amateur (as you’ll no doubt be able to tell) and make no pretense at being an expert and certainly have no delusions of being a published, paid author.
Eric saw the need to let me know that I don’t know what I’m takling about. I’ve been ‘big-timed’ before, I’ll get over it.
Regards,
Marty
a gallant reply marty.
“I would never discourage anyone from researching or writing”
I think you just did.