Who do you pull for?

marka · Posted: Fri May 02, 2008 5:07 am Post subject:

Good day to everyone,

I hope you won’t mind me chipping in as someone new to this site and who is also British. The only reason I mention my nationality is that the debate has seemed to be very polarised in a way that an outsider like myself finds difficult to understand.

I am fascinated by the civil war and have read quite a lot, but much of the debate here has got me thinking. A serious question; is there a strongly held belief in the USA (and I mean north and south) that there has been a rewriting of history by the victors? My view, shaped by my reading is that the southern states seceded because they didn’t want to be imposed upon and dictated to by the north. But wasn’t, at the heart of that ‘dictatorship’ the wish to not extend slave states westwards and the belief that the north was trying to undermine the southern way of life which was built upon slave labour? I mean this as a genuine question, because that is all I have ever read. (And if I am ignorant I apologise and would like to know more) I would be grateful for any alternative reads that anyone can recommend than the standard, Foote, Catton and McPherson etc.

I find the civil war fascinating. We have had a few ourselves but ours have never split the country geographically as did yours. As with our own civil wars, I am fascinated by the motivation that drives a man to fight his erstwhile brother. Again, I am probably being ignorant and again, I hope I don’t cause insult, but would it be true to say, that the average soldier knew little about the politics behind the conflict. In our biggest civil war, most men fought for king or parliament because they were told to, not because they knew or cared about the reasons. I ask again respectfully, might it not have been the case that most men fought in yours, not so much for ideals of emancipation or the southern way of life, as for their family, their neighbourhood and their state. In effect, if my state believes it is right and I am a member of that state, then I will fight alongside. This is not to say that men abdicated any moral obligation, but rather in days without mass communication and televised debate, the relative positions were always tenuous.

Finally, as a Brit may I say, with respect to those of you who ‘back’ the confederacy that I am glad that the north won. I am glad, because I think that otherwise the outcome would not have been southern hegemony; that was not only never the south’s aim, but also contrary to their reason for fighting. So what would have emerged would be two (maybe more) countries where one had existed. Counterfactual history is all very well and the ‘what ifs’ can run and run, but in these days when I am afraid that the US gets a fair amount of bashing overseas, I would like to record that I for one value the US contribution to modern world history and value the friendship of our two countries. I would like to think that the soldiers and commanders who once took up arms against each other, can look at the UNITED States now and be proud of what it has become and what it has fulfilled. No, it isn’t perfect – none of us are; but the contribution of the UNITED states has been immense

Mark

64civilwarfanatic · Posted: Sat May 24, 2008 1:28 pm Post subject:

I would have definitely fought for the Union! The Union must be preserved!

bmac6446 · Corporal Joined: 10 Apr 2008 Posts: 8 Location: Georgia

I live next door to the Chickamauga battle field. So, I fully understand why some southerners get excited about this topic.
Only speculation can tell what life on this continent would be like had the south been left to secede.
Would we be parts of European countries now? Would the Nazi's and Japan have won the Second World War?
One thing we know from history, other states had their eyes on secession as well. Among these even New York state. The western states were entertaining the thought.
As a final thought, had the south won it's secession right this country and probably the world would not be as it is today.

bmac6446 · Corporal Joined: 10 Apr 2008 Posts: 8 Location: Georgia

I live next door to the Chickamauga battle field. So, I fully understand why some southerners get excited about this topic.
Only speculation can tell what life on this continent would be like had the south been left to secede.
Would we be parts of European countries now? Would the Nazi's and Japan have won the Second World War?
One thing we know from history, other states had their eyes on secession as well. Among these even New York state. The western states were entertaining the thought.
As a final thought, had the south won it's secession right this country and probably the world would not be as it is today.

Jereydude · Corporal Joined: 08 Jun 2008 Posts: 1

the south should have won and i like the south better and got gipped out of slavery in the west

jake · Corporal Joined: 08 Jun 2008 Posts: 8 Location: virginia

i would have to go with the north for the sole purpose of preservation of the union........could you imagine a separated united states living in today's world

a house divided against itself can not stand

FortDouglas · Posted: Sun Sep 28, 2008 5:09 pm Post subject:

What I find interesting is the fact that the US Civil War is the most talked about and has preserved battlefields, plus re-enactments. I don't recall any other war , US or World Wide that has that distinction.

It's like there is a need to replay itself, from a higher level for understanding. Something has not been resolved in the hearts and minds of humanity. Here's one to blow your minds..... Exhume all the Confederate soldiers who died at Camp Douglas, Chicago, ILL and give them a proper Ceremonial burial in their beloved Southern Soil !!! Who's up to meeting that challenge ??? That would be a fine tribute and a better way to honor them, don't you think ? I

It could perhaps be said, that they are restless where they are ... far from home , unloved and forgotten .Who's got the courage to stand up and do what's right ? BRING THEM HOME !!!