"Going back to the original written accounts and documents usually better helps sort it out."

This is true. BUT, The problem is that those Original accounts are closely guarded treasures, as they ought to be, and only the very elite researcher ever get to see them. Not everybody has a National Archives at their ready access, or the credentials to see them.

I have been involved in the correction of War Between the States histories in my area written by a nationally known and highly esteemed National Military Parks Historians. When this particular historian wrote his books and articles in the 1960's. He relied only upon the reports in the O.R.'s and used local historians for the details of terrain and roads. The problem was that the local historian failed to realize that the roads which this battle was supposed to be fought on ((according to his article) did not exist when the battle was fought in 1863.

That error placed the actual battle a mile away from its actual location. This difference in locations in my opinion completely changes the strategy of the attacking forces during that battle. That error has been repeated in every "historical" article that has been written even to an article published in "North & South Magazine" in March of 2011.

But because this Historian is so well known and esteemed nationally within the historical community it is impossible to correct the facts. The writter of the Article written in March of 2011 is personnally aware that his article is in error. I have presented him myself with the factual evidence. But has not made any corrections since he basically just rewrote the original essay of the National Parks Historian. Also his creditability is at stake. And who am I to write an article disputing either of those acclaimed authors?