Bryce --

What were the numbers for Gary's Brigade prior to the engagement? If I'm not mistaken, the account you cited was written to refute claims by Custer and/or his officers. At first reading, I can't think of a reason not to accept it. Can you?

The trend of Federal officers to stretch the truth out of all proportion, especially towards the end of the war, obliges us to discount many of their claims. For instance, Federal reports from Wilson's Raid claim captures in battle that were actually company flags taken from trunks during the looting of Southern homes. Note the last paragraph from Bob Bradley's description of this flag --

http://www.archives.state.al.us/referenc/flags/086.html

Gen. Corse's account of his defense of Allatoona GA includes several fibs, not the least of which was his claim of being wounded. "I am short an ear and a cheekbone, but still able to whip all hell yet!," he wired Sherman. When the two men met shortly afterwards, Sherman noted that Corse had a bandage on his cheek but appeared to have both ears still firmly attached to his head. Sherman lifted the bandage to find a slight scrape and smiled. "Corse, " he exclaimed, "they damned near missed you!"