As much as I enjoy catching up with my good friends in the history field, listening to their lectures, and following them across battlefields, nothing beats the opportunity to talk with the hundreds of attendees during the annual conference at Gettysburg College’s Civil War Institute
I am among those “never understand” folk but not due to the white supremacy angle of it. Plenty of that on the Union side too. And this nation did support slavery as an institution for 75 plus years after our Revolution.
I am more struck by the clearly prevailing mindset that secession was acceptable because they felt we were just a confederation of states, not a wholly committed,united nation. Even ignoring slavery completely (which is huge), I will never get past the “he fought for his state” or “they fought for their freedom” which is worse.
Wasn't it Grant who is supposed to have said something like, they fought so well for such a terrible cause, in reference to Lee's troops? Soldiers in the ranks, on both sides, endured what we see as unimaginable hardships, both on and off the battlefield, fighting for the survival of their country. The United States soldiers and what they were fighting for I think I understand. The Confederate soldiers and what they were fighting for I doubt that I ever will. You friend sounds interesting.
I am among those “never understand” folk but not due to the white supremacy angle of it. Plenty of that on the Union side too. And this nation did support slavery as an institution for 75 plus years after our Revolution.
I am more struck by the clearly prevailing mindset that secession was acceptable because they felt we were just a confederation of states, not a wholly committed,united nation. Even ignoring slavery completely (which is huge), I will never get past the “he fought for his state” or “they fought for their freedom” which is worse.
Wasn't it Grant who is supposed to have said something like, they fought so well for such a terrible cause, in reference to Lee's troops? Soldiers in the ranks, on both sides, endured what we see as unimaginable hardships, both on and off the battlefield, fighting for the survival of their country. The United States soldiers and what they were fighting for I think I understand. The Confederate soldiers and what they were fighting for I doubt that I ever will. You friend sounds interesting.