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I don't want to get into the big argument about whether the war was about slavery or not. Suffice it to say that many (traditional) southerners view all those deaths as Lincoln's fault. We were merely defending our homes against overwhelming odds, and even though might ultimately prevailed, it does not in slightest sully the honor of those men who fell for the south. And your post did impugn their honor. Frenchmen indeed!

Well I can't disagree with the tragedy of all those deaths, but I have very little patience with those who reduce any southern reverence for our dead to "you guys lost" which is what your first (I'm sorry but there is no way to characterize it but ignorant) post says.

Yes I apologize - my satirical sense overwhelmed my judgement. As a New Englander it's easy to forget that feelings about that national tragedy are still fairly raw in certain areas of the nation. I should not have impugned the honor of the brave souls who risked all for their causes.

I had a namesake who fought on the Union side in the Civil War. He was a sergeant. We have this story about him:

In bivouac one damp, rainy day an officer rode up to a group of soldiers trying to warm themselves at a tiny campfire. The officer (recently arrived from military school) began complaining about the shoddy state of the soldiers' uniforms, a natural consequence of months in the field. The solidiers ingnored him, sending him into a wild rage, whereupon he began beating them with a riding stick.

My ancestor, a grizzled veteran of many campaigns, snuck up behind the Officers horse, hooked a glowing coal from the fire, lifted the horses' tail and stuffed it into the equine's rectum!

It was said that the organ swelled around the coal, spasmed, sucked it in and then puckered up around it. The horse reared and took off for the timberline bucking and twisting with the Officer cursing and screaming on its back.

Neither ever returned.

That's MY FAMILY! We are so proud!