Closing
remarks from Maurice D’Aoust:
I couldn’t
help but notice that Mr. Sears has failed to respond to the evidence presented
in my last rebuttal surrounding the phantom “idnight” in McClellan’s September
11th message to Halleck. I
must, therefore conclude that he concedes no “idnight” exists either on the
microfilm copy or on Mr. Thorp’s digital rendering of the message. I was also gratified to see Mr. Thorp's
comment in this regard. Mr. Thorp has
conducted some extensive research surrounding McClellan’s September 13, 1862
telegram to Lincoln and I would encourage him to share his findings at this
time.
Throughout
our debate, Mr. Sears has stated his case in support of the 12M version of
McClellan’s September 13, 1862 telegram and I have stated mine in favor of the
12 Midnight document. I will not
re-hash things in these, my closing remarks. Any who wish to know Mr. Sears’s or my views have now simply to go back
and read our various exchanges on this site.
As for McClellan’s sent copy, I’m certain that, if ever found, the
document will be time-marked 12 Midnight.
The evidence is simply too overwhelming for it to have not been so
marked. I would suggest to Mr. Sears that a jury of our peers has already begun
delivering its verdict and I am referring to Dr. Tom Clemens’s and Mr. Scott
Hartwig's respective works in which both of these prominent historians support
the 12 Midnight scenario. In closing,
I’d like to thank Mr. Sears for the opportunity of publicly debating this very
controversial matter. I would also like
to express my sincere gratitude to Dimitri Rotov for hosting the debate on
Civil War Bookshelf.
-- Maurice
D’Aoust
