Video helps make history vivid

To the editor:

Many thanks to Callie Clark, Fred Lynch and Sam Blackwell for the excellent Missourian story pointing out the generosity of Southeast Missouri State University in providing every school and library in the county with a free copy of my documentary about the Civil War in Cape Girardeau. I hope exposure to the video makes history vivid for local students and spurs their interest in finding out more about the fascinating stories of our past.

One mistake inadvertently crept into the article when it asserted that 330 soldiers were killed in the Battle of Cape Girardeau in April 1863. Actually, the official records reported that the Confederates suffered 30 killed, 60 wounded and 120 missing, while the Union reported 23 dead, 44 wounded and a small number missing.

I am reminded of Mark Twain's famous quote that "the difference between the almost right word and the right word is a really large matter -- 'tis the difference between the lightening bug and the lightening." The figure would have been accurate had the words "wounded or missing" been included.

Thanks again for a wonderful article.

MORLEY SWINGLE, Prosecuting Attorney, Cape Girardeau