Honor the past by doing it justice
The commemorative editorial piece on “Chickamauga: Sept. 18-20, 1863 (Saturday, Sept. 18, ) is egregiously incorrect. The Union forces did not find a gap in Confederate lines and “decisively surge through!” (Why the exclamation point?) It was the Confederate Army. The Confederates did not retreat “to Missionary Ridge and Lookout Mountain,” they advanced there. The Union forces retreated to Chattanooga after their devastating defeat at Chickamauga. Any casual student of Civil War history knows this. Obviously your editorial staff does not.
Typographical errors occur. Misspellings happen. But to simply not check your facts before publishing something as fact is not only a disservice to your readers, it is insulting. The Chattanooga area has a proud heritage of preserving and honoring the past. Please take the time to do it justice. This piece was not a commemoration, it was an embarrassment. You cannot rewrite history. With such an obvious disregard for facts, how can any of your editorial positions be given any credence?
MARSHALL BARNES
Soddy-Daisy
(Editor’s Note: You were right. We were in error.)
Review history books on battle
With reference to your Sept. 18 editorial “Chickamauga: Sept. 18-20, 1863,” the writer might wish to review his history books on the battle.
As I recall from my own reading on the subject, and as the film shown at the Chickamauga battlefield clearly points out, the “gap” mentioned in the editorial was in the Union, not Confederate, lines. This was created by Gen. Rosecrans’ orders to move Wood’s division and opened a quarter mile chasm in the center of the Union line through which Longstreet’s Confederate forces were able to mount a breakthrough.
Likewise, it was the Union forces that led the retreat back to Chattanooga, not the other way around. Gen. Bragg, having failed to aggressively pursue the retreating Federals, eventually settled into the high ground around the city in an ill-conceived and ultimately unsuccessful plan to mount a siege and starve the opposing army into submission.
No one can deny the scope of the tragedy and the terrible losses for both sides of the battle, but if we are to learn any meaningful lessons from our history, it would be best if that history was at least accurate.
DAVID J.
MATHEWSON
Signal Mountain
Don’t expect EPB relief on hacking
Our business has been using Electric Power Board telephone and Internet service since 2005, always paying our bills promptly.
Recently our VoIP telephone system was hacked, and international calls totaling almost $1,000 were made on our account. EPB denies liability and says we must pay for the calls, even though our research found that many other companies credit customers for such fraudulent calls. And although we paid the undisputed portion of our bill promptly, EPB immediately issued a Disconnect Notice for our service unless we paid the balance immediately.
Although we are a small business, we have a professional information technology adviser and strong security systems; but no system is immune to invasion. However, apparently EPB has chosen not to monitor customers’ usage patterns, as credit card companies do, to detect fraud. We are told that EPB could have traced who was accessing our system – but EPB didn’t even make an effort to investigate.
Anyone with a VoIP telephone system needs to be aware that your system could be hacked, and if your service is with EPB, you will not get any help from them. Then you, like us, will be stuck with a huge bill for calls you did not make.
DEBBIE PIERCE
Hixson
Be responsible when researching
I read with dismay your Saturday editorial entitled “Chickamauga: Sept. 18-20, 1863.” I commend you for bringing to remembrance a part of our heritage and local history. However, the editorial so misrepresented the facts that it dishonors the Confederate soldiers who struggled and died there. For their remembrance and Chattanoogans who cherish their Southern heritage, please let me set the facts straight.
On the third day of battle, Union forces did not find a gap in Confederate lines and decisively surge through. Confederate forces did not retreat to Missionary Ridge and Lookout Mountain. It was Confederate Gen. Longstreet’s Corps that surged through a gap in the Federal defenses, routing the Federal Army into full retreat toward Chattanooga. Only the heroic rear guard action of Union Gen. Thomas on Snodgrass Hill saved the Federal Army from destruction. The Federal Army retreated into Chattanooga, and pursuing Confederate forces took up offensive positions on Missionary Ridge and Lookout Mountain, initiating a starving action against the Federal Army. It was not until Gen. Grant replaced Gen. Rosecrans that the Federal Army was able to break out of Chattanooga.
Be responsible and do your research. Careless reporting of historic events is how history gets rewritten.
ROBERT EPPERSON
Ringgold, Ga.
Religious-based schools a blessing
On Saturday, Sept. 25, St. Jude Catholic School will celebrate 50 years of existence. At a conservative 350 students and a $3,000 per year average cost, that amounts to more than $52 million savings to in public schools over that time. Figure the same for Our Lady of Perpetual Help School and Notre Dame High School, and savings to the taxpayer would amount to more than $100 million. Perhaps county and city governments should write expressions of thanks to each of these schools.
Other religious-based schools and home schoolers might want to add their estimates.
BERNARD F. COOMBES
Hixson
Red Bank needs Roberts
I am writing to endorse John Roberts as a commissioner of the city of Red Bank.
John Roberts is a veteran of the United States Navy. He has a natural leadership ability with the knowledge and skills needed to motivate others.
John Roberts also possesses the vision and driving passion to encourage businesses and investors to become part of our community. He is the new blood required to jump start a new era of ideas and dreams for the future of our community.
I ask that you join me in voting for John Roberts on Nov. 2.
MRS. JOE COYNER
Red Bank
Mosque a tribute to conquest?
Much has been in the news lately concerning the New York real estate known as sacred ground zero, yet nothing has been reported concerning the land that Islam calls sacred.
Islam’s prophet wanted all Christians and Jews driven out of his homeland, and even today this “religion of peace” will not allow churches or synagogues to occupy land there.
This is respected be Christians and Jews.
Now, some Muslims in America want to build a mosque close to the “world cemetery” and name it the “Cordoba House.” History records that the name Cordoba means something important to Muslims due to it being the last Christian city in Spain where their Islamic conquerors turned Spain into a Muslim country.
Now some want to turn the New York property into a tribute to their conquest of ground zero. Ironic?
WAYNE SIMS