Gary Gallagher, the man who needs no introduction in the Civil War field, joined me late last year to talk about the newest book he edited entitled, "Civil War Witnesses and Their Books: New Perspectives on Iconic Works." We discussed the importance of understanding memoirs, their messages, and their intended audiences. Don't get caught up in believing every word you read in a memoir. Too often, things are left out or skewed to suit the needs of the original author.