Reply of the Philadelphia Brigade Association to the Foolish and Absurd Narrative of Lieutenant Frank A. Haskell

In a quiet Philadelphia meeting hall in September 1909, the surviving officers of the famed brigade that fought at Gettysburg gathered to confront a controversial account that had been circulating for decades. Their concern sparked by Lieutenant Frank Haskell’s widely‑reprinted narrative, the veterans felt compelled to set the record straight, fearing that the brigade’s brave actions were being misrepresented to future generations.

The resulting document reads like a meticulous, first‑hand audit. It outlines the brigade’s own recollections, lists the committee members appointed to investigate, and presents a detailed critique of Haskell’s claims, drawing on service records and personal testimonies. Listeners will hear the earnest voice of a generation defending its legacy, offering a rare glimpse into how Civil‑War veterans themselves grappled with memory, honor, and the politics of history.