The Term “Civil War” Ought to be Abandoned

What is called the American Revolution was properly a civil war, fought with England for control of government in the 13 North American colonies.

Bernhard Thuersam, Director
Cape Fear Historical Institute
www.cfhi.net
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The Term “Civil War” Ought to be Abandoned:

The discriminating minds among our intelligent young people of the South will readily perceive that there is a manifest and important, because truthful, distinction to be maintained touching the style and title of the conflict waged on this American continent during 1861 - 1865, between The United States and the newly-born nationality known as The Confederate States. The following from Dr. S. A. Steel, of Richmond, Va., will be appreciated:

"The term 'Civil War' ought to be abandoned because it embodies an error. A civil war is a war between factions contending for the control of the same government, like Caesar and Pompey, like Lancaster and York. If the Southern people had fought in the Union, it would have been a civil war, and the defeated party would have been rebels. The movement was a revolution. The object of it was to maintain a separate government. The war was between the government of the United States and the government of the Confederate States. We went out of the Union; went so completely that we had to be re-admitted. We were not 'rebels,' but patriots, wisely or unwisely, exercising the inalienable right of self-government in an honest effort to rectify political difficulties. This is the verdict history will ultimately pronounce upon that struggle."

While our friends, the enemy, persist in calling as "Rebels," and refer to that struggle for Southern independence as "The Rebellion," we are content to bear the obloquy, knowing the injustice of it; yea, we glory in it, as did the now largest of protestant religious denominations accept and wear the term of reproach designating them "Methodists." But let us not forget that "We be brethren!"

(Editorial Note, Experiences of a Confederate Chaplain, 1861-1864, Rev. A.D. Betts, Chaplain, 30th North Carolina Troops, W.A. Betts, editor, Greenville, South Carolina, 190?)
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The Term “Civil War” Ought to be Abandoned