If only...

this archivist had found Eliza Gurney's letter that was supposedly in Lincoln's pocket at the time of his death. Wishful thinking on my part (related to my grad school project), but either way, it's encouraging that such a pivotal primary document related to the Civil War was discovered at all. The letter's contents highlight this period after Gettysburg as a turning point in the war, which Lincoln recognized and tried to convey to his generals. And yet, although less than 20 miles away, Lee and the rebels slipped through the union army's fingers, and 2 more years of bloodshed followed. As one of the articles suggested, at least this proves that history is still 'dynamic.'

Some think that since we already knew of the information in this document through other sources, that the discovery of this document is secondary. I can see how historians might think otherwise. Sometimes, it's nice to have documentary/visual proof even if it's of what you already knew.