How to use biased naval memoirs as evidence

Are naval memoirs inherently biased?

Yes, but normal perspective can be corrected for; accounts that still conflict with documents may be deliberate reimaginings.

Ordinary memory and deliberate manipulation create different problems in a memoir. A historian can adjust for personal perspective because every participant remembers events from a particular position. The narrative must then be compared with official documents and other evidence. If it still conflicts with the recoverable record after that adjustment, the account may be reconstructing events in the author's favour.