I appreciate that.

However, the problem with that analysis is that Hampton came up after Chambliss and Witcher, and Green’s men, not being horse artillery, came up even later.

I don’t think that they had arrived yet when these shots were fired.

Eric

Ed

John Foskett

” After reading this post, a friend called to tell me why we’re wrong about Griffin, and after hearing what he said, I’m now leaning toward the Jackson position. My point is that unless I laid this out here, I wouldn’t have had that conversation. ”

So Eric is it Griffin’s or Jackson’s ”

Respectfully,

William Richardson

There isn’t anything wrong with one assuming or speculating. Close is enough I assume. Even McClellan speculated as to why Stuart fired the shots.

“The first law for the historian is that he shall never dare utter an untruth. The second is that he shall suppress nothing that is true. Moreover, there shall be no suspicion of partiality in his writing, or of malice.”

Respectfully,

William Richardson

McClellan did state that in his opinion the shots were either ” . I have been somewhat perplexed to account for Stuart’s conduct in firing these shots; but I suppose that they may have been a prearranged signal by which he was to notify General Lee that he had gained a favorable position; or, finding that none of the enemy were within sight, he may have desired to satisfy himself whether the Federal cavalry was in his immediate vicinity before leaving the strong position he then held; and receiving no immediate reply to this fire, he sent for Hampton and Fitz Lee, to arrange with them for an advance and an attack upon the enemy’s rear. ”

Signal shots were used often during the Civil War, but I agree using “signal shots” here at that time would be borderline ridiculous.

Why would Pennington fabricate this ? Better question….Why would McClellan make no mention of this ? Pennington has also made the statement that McClellan told him ” That his ( Pennington ) first shot hit the muzzle of one of the cannons. ” This too was never made mention of by McClellan…Why ? In my opinion I don’t think either statement was made by McClellan. I have as of yet found no other source for either statement being made.

Respectfully,

William Richardson

John Foskett

The problem with this is you are going on one source..Pennington said that McClellan Said… Do you have a source from McClellan states that he told Pennington this ?

Respectfully,

William Richardson