War between the States

Having lived in both Jackson, Mississippi (burned three times by Sherman) and Chambersburg, Pennsylvania (the only northern town burned by Southern troops), I may have a very peculiar view towards the late unpleasantness between the states.

I believe that it was begun to preserve states rights and conversely perserve the union, but won to set men free.

And I do not believe that it could be won until it was clearly won for that purpose.

As a Mississippian or Georgian there is no doubt that I would have I would have served in my local regiment in defense of my home.

As an Ohioan or Pennsylvanian, I would have enlisted to preserve my country.

Both sides were right. But the "righter" side won. The amazing thing is that after the hostilities were over, and after the unfortunate imposition of punitive reconstruction after the murder of Lincoln, we were able to be one country at all.

Remember why Jefferson Davis was never put on trial after the war. He would have won his case.

Remember also that Lee took the oath of Allegiance, and really began the healing.

Remember also that Joe Johnston caught the cold that eventually killed him because he refused to cover his head as served as a pallbearer at William Tecumseh Sherman's funeral.

Remember that one of this nation's most hallowed sites, Arlington National Cemetary, came into being because the Union's comissary general Meigs greatest possible insult to Lee was to bury Yankee dead in his wife's garden.

I have visited many Civil War battle sites and I am always awed by the persistence with which American fought and slew American. I marvel at the regimental histories of the Twentied Maine and the First Minnesota and all of those barefooted, lean and hungry men who charged cemetary ridge and would have followed Lee anywhere.

"that this nation of the people, by the people and for the people, shall not perish from the earth."

Sorry for the maudlin sentimentality.

[ August 27, 2002, 02:00 PM: Message edited by: MikeJ ]

 

I posted this on the other thread current on the Civil War. I have to disagree with you. Slavery was not the only issue, but it was HIGHLY significant and was a major part of what the Southern states wanted states' rights to uphold.

http://bessel.org/slavecw.htm reprints the Declarations of Causes of SC, MS, GA, TX. Also a number of official secession declarations.
THEY stated it was greatly about slavery.

Karen (who descends from 3 Union soldiers)

 

OK--I'm from South Ga, and we still have gentlemen down here. Most people still say Ma'am, and the South is great. But, as much as I love being Southern, I love being an American more. So, if I HAD to choose a side, I would have probably snuck away and joined the Union. I love this country and would not have liked to have seen it torn apart.
I'll probably get ripped to shreds for admitting that...
From the resident Southern Belle,
Grace

 

No, Grace, I'm not gonna rip you to shreds. I feel sorry for you! You've swallowed the Yankee lie...hook line and sinker! What makes you think that you wouldn't be an American if the South had won? Remember, the South was the Confederate States of America!

"If ye love wealth better than liberty, the tranquility of servitude better than the animating contest of freedom, go home from us in peace. We ask not your counsels or your arms. Crouch down and lick the hands which feed you. May your chains set lightly upon you, and may posterity forget that ye were our countrymen."~ Samuel Adams

 

Oh well, since I'm a girl, I would have just rolled bandages or something...couldn't really work in the hospital, don't have the stomach for it.

 

I find it a little interesting that (to my knowledge at least) no one has suggested that the Civil War and the resultant end to slavery may have been God's will.

Perhaps He wanted slavery to end sooner than it would have otherwise.

Perhaps He wanted the USA to remain one body.

I don't know, but it seems that it could be a possibility. I've heard people speculate on God's will in much more trivial matters.

 

Lincoln, BTW, although he passionately detested slavery, agreed that saving America was more important than ending slavery.

 

Grace, I agree...I wouldn't have been 'out there' fighting either. I don't believe combat is a place for women. BUT....he,he,he....Woe to the Yankee that step foot in my cottonfield! I've yet to miss a target! The Farmer has taught me well!

 

Grace, I agree...I wouldn't have been 'out there' fighting either. I don't believe combat is a place for women. BUT....he,he,he....Woe to the Yankee that step foot in my cottonfield! I've yet to miss a target! The Farmer has taught me well! </font>[/QUOTE]Well, as a yankee who lives in the South, I'm glad I haven't been shot at yet... Go Union, free the slaves, wooohoooo!!! (Ducks)

Seriously though, one of my best friends down here has a confederate flag on his license plate. I think he's nuts, and he knows I think he's nuts, but he has so far tolerated me without using any firearms in my direction. Southern hospitality is not dead (and nether am I... yet).

Eric

 

Here is an excerpt from an 1858 debate in which Lincoln made the following statments. (Sounds like it wasn't slavery that he 'passionately detested'!)

"I will say, then, that I am not, nor ever have been, in favor of bringing about in anyway the social and political equality of the white and black races - that I am not, nor ever have been, in favor of making voters or jurors of negroes, nor of qualifying them to hold office, nor to intermarry with white people; and I will say in addition to this that there is a physical difference between the white and black races...I, as much as any other man, am in favor of having the superior position assigned to the white race."

"Saving America", huh?! You mean Lincoln was interested in keeping his (and the North's) pockets lined! When Lincoln was asked why shouldn't the North let the South go, he replied, "Let the South go? Let the South go! Where then shall we get our revenues!"

"For the love of money is the root of all evil:..." ~ I Timothy 6:10 (KJBible)

"All we ask is to be let alone."- Jefferson Davis

THE SOUTH WAS RIGHT!

 

Lincoln detested slavery. At the same time, he believed that blacks were not equal to whites.

It's not an inconsistent position. He felt that all humans were entitled to the dignity of freedom and the right to the fruits of their own labor. (interestingly, this is the same position taken by Charles Darwin, who was born on the same day as Lincoln)

The southern states that attempted to leave the union did so specifically because they wished to retain the practice of stealing the labor of others for their own use.

 

SheEagle...I've found another one!!! Perhaps I should go to the hardware store afterall...he,he,he! Sounds like it's time to round 'em up and ship `em back!

Eric, why is it nuts that your friend openly diplays his heritage? The South may have lost the war...but we didn't lose the spirit!

I was referring to if I had lived during the War for Southern Independence. Naw...we don't shoot Yankees around here any more...we make `em park around back! How's that for Southern hospitality!

 

I used to work for a large company in Dallas. The Yankees got the reserved parking.

(they didn't plan it that way, but that's how it worked out; the janitors and secretaries were natives, and the exempt employees were mostly Yankees)

 

Hi Eric:

I see you live in North Carolina. The "shoot on sight" law was repealed in the 1950's in our state. Louisiana just hasn't made it into the 21st century yet!



-kman

[ August 29, 2002, 08:23 AM: Message edited by: kman ]

 

Well, my mother was born in Germany so I guess my heritage is German, but you don't see me waving any German flag. I'm an American, so when I wave a flag it's an American one, by golly. The Civil War is a settled issue and has been settled for over 100 years... I just don't understand why people need to cling onto the past with a white knuckle grip. You can't refight the war (unless there are plans underway that I'm not aware of...

Eric

 

Ah, but us Southerners have our Pride...

 

I'm an American too...a Southern American! (American by birth...Southern by the Grace of God!) We fly the Gadsden flag and, also, have a Confederate license plate on our truck. Why do you think the Confederate flag is NOT and AMERICAN flag?! Remember, the Confederate States of AMERICA ! The Confederate flag was flown by AMERICANS!

Quite to the contrary...'Watson' ...the War for Southern Independence ended over 100 years ago...the ISSUE (States Rights) is still ALIVE AND WELL! And as long as Yankee lies are being spread, I'll continue to stand firm on the TRUTH!!

Oh no, that war could never be refought because there are too many Yankees and Yankee puppets in the South, now. But....another American revolution...now that's another story!

 

Then perhaps you would like to go back to England?! Afterall, it is the VERY SAME SPIRIT that our early American forefathers had when they seceded from England! The South was fighting for the SAME CAUSE as the American patriots in the 1700's! Truth will prevail and the SOUTH WAS RIGHT!