Actually, there is a letter that has been in my family for generations that might shed some light on this.
Dear Mrs. Hamblett,
It is with heavy heart that I must convey to you the news of the death of your boy, Archibald "Muttonhead" Hamblett. The facts of the matter are especially distressing, but I fear I must reveal them to you.
We have in the midst of our encampment several civilian newspapermen and photographers. We have been encamped here for a matter of weeks without having occasion to confront the enemy. Some of our more enterprising loafers took it upon themselves to create a flying monster from cowhides, rib bones, jaw bones and such like. The purpose for this was to play a jape on the newspaper folks and achieve some notoriety for themselves. Perhaps you have observed the result for yourself in one of your local papers.
Unfortunately, your son suffered from an attack of conscience, having been raised a good, God-fearing Christian. We believe he was bludgeoned to death, either to prevent him from confessing, or possibly by one of the news people to prevent the story from circulating and making them all look foolish. We fear that his killer will never be found because, frankly, we lack the energy to pursue the matter.
Yours with humble regards,
William Tecumseh Sherman
Former site of Atlanta, GA.
