Yes we did provoke it, I never said we didnt. First rule of war is strike first, best defense is a strong offense.
As for the rest If you say so...
Of course the evidence says otherwise, ask the director at the Atlanta Archives...
But we’ll go with your account, I have the fresh shrimp, sunshine and southern women, along with an influx of folks moving here to the terrible backwards south for some reason to console myself against your “superior position” so like I said up thread I am not so sure who really won the war...
Now that is the true spirit of Confederacy!
If all our pro-Confederates would also admit as much, then about half the debate on these threads would go away...
ejonesie22: "Of course the evidence says otherwise, ask the director at the Atlanta Archives..."
When the director at the Atlanta Archives posts their evidence on Free Republic, I'll be happy to consider it.
But in the mean time, all reports I've seen show serious efforts made to prevent atrocities against civilians on both sides, with occasional exceptions which pale in comparison to those committed in other wars -- WWI & WWII for examples.
ejonesie22: "so like I said up thread I am not so sure who really won the war..."
The same could easily be said of Germany and Japan since WWII.
Both enjoy wealth beyond the dreams of their grandparents' generation, both vacation in the world's most exotic locations, both are highly respected by their neighbors and the world community as a whole.
Both spend about 1% of their GDPs on national defense -- while the US spends 4.6%.
Who won the war?
Who shoulders the responsibilities?
Whose economy is groaning under the weight of now 70+ years of massive investments in blood & treasure for national defense and international peace?
How does that saying go about loneliness at the top?
Maybe it's not just loneliness, but also poverty.