“If Haskell’s account was worth reprinting at all (and we thought it well worth doing), the only course open to us, as historians, was to present it just as it was originally issued, and not in the emasculated form adopted by the Dartmouth editor, and the Massachusetts Loyal Legion; changes of such character in a contemporary document are unwarranted, and utterly ruin it as historical material.”
As this seems to be a question of ethics between history makers, it is up to the Dartmouth editor, and the Massachusetts Loyal Legion to satisfy the Wisconsin Commission why the unwarranted emasculation was made of the Haskell “Narrative.”
The Wisconsin History Commission concludes its letter of explanation and excuse to the Philadelphia Brigade Association in these words:
“In reprinting various other rare Wisconsin Civil War material, as we intend to do, it may happen that the original authors thus selected for treatment have criticised certain commands; it certainly would not tend to smooth the path of the Commission if each such command was thereupon to pass condemnatory resolutions. WE shall certainly hope to be spared such treatment.”
In reprinting the Haskell “Narrative” the Wisconsin History Commission invited the criticism it justly deserves, and must expect to receive; and in their reprints in the future, if it permits their authors to criticise other commands—as they intend to do—They cannot escape the condemnatory resolutions they hope to be spared.
The Man of Nazareth said: Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete, withal it shall be measured to you again.
LETTER FROM MAJOR ROBERTS.
The following letter, under date of May 15, 1877, was written by Major Samuel Roberts, of the 72d Regiment, Pa. Vols., to a Comrade and friend:
“Webb’s Brigade was composed of the 69th, 71st, 72d and 106th Pennsylvania Regiments; the 106th Regiment had been sent to the right to reinforce Gen. Howard, leaving the other three Regiments of the Brigade to receive the shock of Pickett’s advance.
“The Brigade was not entrenched, nor driven back and rallied by Webb. The left wing of the 71st Regiment fell back a few yards; the 69th maintained their position, as did the right wing of the 71st. The 72d, which held a position to the left, and a short distance to the rear of the Brigade, moved by the right flank about one hundred yards, and came to a front about sixty yards in front of Armistead’s Confederate Brigade. Armistead fell only a few yards in front of the 72d Regiment.