The American Civil War 1861 to ?
John Wayne once did a television show back in the late 1960's where he characterized the Civil War, standing on a map of the US, he spoke about the years of the conflict and states involved.
He said that the conflagration started in 1861 and ended, " soon, I hope." As he said that, the stage he stood on, separated along the Mason Dixon Line (north and south) and the divide between them belched fire, red and smoke.
And that was in the late 1960s, a hundred years after the Civil War.
Two nights ago, the Documentary Channel ran a one hour show depicting a small town in Virginia's attempt to recreate a Civil War battle fought at the end of that time that was a Union Victory just before the surrender of the Confederate side at Appomattox Courthouse.
It attempted to show the Union and Confederate (re-enactors) shooting it out in the battle of Saylor's Creek on April 6, 1865, the last major battle before the surrender. Here, the South had their last desperate gasp, lost many men, even General Lee's son was captured.
In the documentary, southern Americans from Virginia were dressed in blue Northern uniforms and were interviewed for the film. Their view point?
The Civil War, as a Northerner would say, was 150 years ago, yet, as the Duke put it,...not over yet. As Civil War historian, the late Shelby Foote, a much venerated southerner once commented, " the north could have beaten the south " with one hand tied behind their back."
It is this writer's personal opinion that the North beat the South for the same reason America won the Second World War: not that we had better technology, not that our weapons were better, no, not at all.
We beat them for two very real reasons: our cause was true and just, and we swamped them. We just plain over-whelmed them with men, material and a tide of weapons.
The southerners at Saylor's Creek trying to imitate Northern Soldiers and failing to do so need understand that the Civil War is over.
It is NOT a war of Northern Aggression, it WAS a Civil War, and the North won.and the south assassinated a president by sneaking up behind Mr. Lincoln and shooting him in the back of the head.
And, in so doing, they gave us a hero, a martyr, a legend that will live forever as a symbol for a united America that has been hailed as the most admired President this country has ever been privileged to call their own.
We are one country, and the sooner we accept it, the better.
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He said that the conflagration started in 1861 and ended, " soon, I hope." As he said that, the stage he stood on, separated along the Mason Dixon Line (north and south) and the divide between them belched fire, red and smoke.
And that was in the late 1960s, a hundred years after the Civil War.
Two nights ago, the Documentary Channel ran a one hour show depicting a small town in Virginia's attempt to recreate a Civil War battle fought at the end of that time that was a Union Victory just before the surrender of the Confederate side at Appomattox Courthouse.
It attempted to show the Union and Confederate (re-enactors) shooting it out in the battle of Saylor's Creek on April 6, 1865, the last major battle before the surrender. Here, the South had their last desperate gasp, lost many men, even General Lee's son was captured.
In the documentary, southern Americans from Virginia were dressed in blue Northern uniforms and were interviewed for the film. Their view point?
- Lincoln actually owned slaves, you know?
- So did General Grant
- "Down here" we call it the "War of Northern Aggression."
The Civil War, as a Northerner would say, was 150 years ago, yet, as the Duke put it,...not over yet. As Civil War historian, the late Shelby Foote, a much venerated southerner once commented, " the north could have beaten the south " with one hand tied behind their back."
It is this writer's personal opinion that the North beat the South for the same reason America won the Second World War: not that we had better technology, not that our weapons were better, no, not at all.
We beat them for two very real reasons: our cause was true and just, and we swamped them. We just plain over-whelmed them with men, material and a tide of weapons.
The southerners at Saylor's Creek trying to imitate Northern Soldiers and failing to do so need understand that the Civil War is over.
It is NOT a war of Northern Aggression, it WAS a Civil War, and the North won.and the south assassinated a president by sneaking up behind Mr. Lincoln and shooting him in the back of the head.
And, in so doing, they gave us a hero, a martyr, a legend that will live forever as a symbol for a united America that has been hailed as the most admired President this country has ever been privileged to call their own.
We are one country, and the sooner we accept it, the better.
###
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