"A Request for Perspective"

“Only in Washington can a budget that spends more than it did the year before, with a larger deficit, be portrayed as ‘cutting.’”
-- Senator Rand Paul.
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"Today, April 12th, is the day. You know which day. American Civil War 1. RevWar 2. War of Secession. Whatever you want to call it. The day the south abandoned the "No More Fort Sumters" policy...

It wasn't civil though, no matter how you look at it.

I would like to once again ask for your help and input. This goes out primarily to those who live in the former CSA, but I would likewise value opinions and input from those north of the Mason Dixon, as well.

I was raised north of the Mason-Dixon, in Illinois, the "Land of Lincoln". I spent my childhood and young adulthood under the understanding that you "nasty, racist, evil southerners" fought in the "Civil War" for slavery. You know, the standard victor's propaganda and all... I studied the War, was a Yankee (and occasional Confederate) re-enactor, and the funny thing was, in spite of my in-depth knowledge of trivial matters such as AP Hill's favorite shirt (red fireman style), dates and casualties, as well as the sequence of most of the major battles, and the gear, weapons and equipment, used, I never delved into the war from the South's perspective, until recent years.

What I've found has absolutely blown me away.

I read DiLorenzo's books on Lincoln, ordered many books from the Confederate Reprint Company, and have completely changed my opinion on the struggle, its origins, execution, and consequences.

Although I live almost as far north as an American can live, I consider my self a Southerner "in spirit". Whether that flies with any of you south of the Mason-Dixon, well, that might be another story.

Here's the question I have, and I would like to hear personal stories, family stories, I would like to get recommendations of websites and offline books to read, to help me better understand.

What is it like? Really?

What is it like what is is like to have met, been defeated by, and then to have been razed by a relentless, materially superior enemy that is interested only in obtaining the submission of its foes?

What is it like to be "part of the good 'ole US of A, when you know that the "U" was obtained only after your kinsmen and ancestors were murdered to make it so? After the US government applied "scorched earth" to your lands in a manner that would've made any despoiler throughout history proud? After "reconstruction", a subjugation plan which was on par with the disastrous US "Morgenthau plan" in post WW2 Europe?

Moral high ground? In my experience, popular opinion says the north held the "moral high ground". Well, they won. As I've said before, the victor writes the history.

What is it like to be demonized and vilified in the way that you have been by the US government?

I cannot imagine.

I say I'm a Southerner in spirit, but I'm not presumptuous enough to pretend I can really understand the way you do. I'm sure many from the former CSA don't give it a second thought. I know for a fact that many do.

I don't care much for the official version. Help me learn your story, if you would. Posting here would be great; contacting me via my contact form will work as well. There are likely more than a few of you with perspectives that I would really value.

I know this, for what it's worth. If I ever get seriously back into re-enacting the war, I will never put on that blue uniform again.

Never.

Resist."

The Arctic Patriot
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Follow Up: "Request for Perspective"