Comments on: Diary 7/15-25/1861 – Pvt. Josiah Favill, 71st NYSM

By: Susan Evelyn McDowell Cole

Susan Evelyn McDowell Cole — Tue, 09 Nov 2010 19:08:07 +0000

I have done a lot of writing of editing, and this piece has been edited many times. Memories under these kinds of conditions are subject to error, and Favill may have rewritten this piece several several times as he verified information with other soldiers. It seems as true as you can get in war conditions without video equipment.

Susan Evelyn McDowell Cole

By: Harry Smeltzer

Harry Smeltzer — Fri, 05 Nov 2010 02:15:13 +0000

I noticed that as well. Not sure what to make of it. But this section does not read like a true diary, and there are some other mix-ups in here. If you follow the narrative, the dates don’t match up quite right. Count the nights from departure to the point where he again names a date and you’ll see what I mean. Did Favill beef up his notes after the fact? This was not uncommon, the most notorious example being Mary Chesnut’s so-called diary. On the other hand, the Favill diary has long been accepted as an honest and accurate on-the-spot record. Was there an “experimental” battleflag about? Was there a regimental flag that fit the description?

By: Dick Stanley

Dick Stanley — Fri, 05 Nov 2010 02:06:52 +0000

“….a blue cross on a red ground, with white stars on the bars.”

What do you make of this? I thought the battle flag was not produced until long after Bull Run.