They aren't my heroes. My family didn't arrive in this country till the beginning of the 20th century. They also didn't settle in a Southern state.
I just objectively note that the southern states had a right to leave, as espoused by the founding document of this nation. If we had a God given right to leave the English Union, *THEY* had a God given right to leave the US Union.
So why did General Irvin McDowell lead his army into South Carolina? What was his reasons for doing that? Was he just out for a stroll or something?
Yes they did. One of two ways - either negotiated with their partners or by waging war in which case all bets are off. They chose war.
My family on my mom’s side primarily came out of Tidewater Virginia. In fact, they go back in several lines to the first ancient planters of the Virginia Colony.
The South had no right to break up the Union without the consent of the whole body of the people of the United States.
Lacking that consent, all that was left them was force. They tried that, and failed. End of the story.