As I pointed out in my research paper, the romantic image of a blue lantern will die hard. Emotions often trump hard facts, and the myth has been so often repeated that those who cherish it will only reluctantly accept the obvious alternative. As for the professionals at the Warren Lasch Center who recovered and are conserving the artifacts, my conversations with them lead me to believe that they find the myth of the blue lantern as specious as I. They are not the ones responsible for displaying the replica blue lantern in the gift shop area. My job is done here: I have presented the evidence, and it is up to others to consider it and come to their own conclusions. My bet is that the next time an "authoritative" published work hits the marketplace, the author will not claim that a blue lantern was used to signal during the Housatonic - Hunley engagement. Future researchers and authors will have had the opportunity to review my findings, and I find it difficult to believe that they will cling to an unsubstantiated legend when there is ample historical evidence to the contrary.

Regards,

Chris Rucker