So apparently we agree, but you want to put a harder edge and sharper point on it?
I don't think that's necessary.
Moonman62: "For many years leading up to the war, slavery was the number one issue.
Once the rebel states left the Union, preservation of the Union became the number one issue and slavery was second."
You're good so far.
Slavery was not the issue at Fort Sumter in April 1861.
For Lincoln it was supplying & protecting Union troops, for Davis it was protecting Confederate "integrity" from a Union "assail".
Moonman62: "As Lincoln stated in his first inaugural address, the impending war would be about the preservation of the Union and nothing else."
Now you're starting to derail.
In fact, Lincoln said nothing of the sort in his First Inaugural.
What he said instead was he would not assail Confederates and they could have no war unless they themselves started it.
Moonman62: "By the time of his second inaugural, victory was all but assured along with the preservation of the Union, so now slavery would be the number one issue again.
Lincoln revised history for political reasons."
Total nonsense.
Union was always the number one issue.
Why was the Union spit apart?
Over slavery.
Why is that a difficult idea to get your mind around?
Slavery was the main reason for secession and slavery became an issue in the first weeks after Fort Sumter in the form of "Contraband of War".
Soon enough Contraband became Emancipation and then 13th Amendment.
So there was no time during the war when slavery was not an important issue.
Why would you claim otherwise?
Moonman62: "Only states that left the Union had war waged against them.
That’s a fact.
The war was about preservation of the Union.
That’s a fact."
Sure, and the sun rises in the East, sets in the West, why are you telling me this?
Slavery was the main reason for secession and abolition became the war's major objective, necessary because Unionists believed without abolition the South would soon rise to fight again.
None of this is mysterious, difficult or even controversial.
Note again my quote in post #64 from famous CSA Gen. Morgan.
Nobody at the time was confused about these things.
So why are you?
Moonman62: "Let’s suppose a rebel state wanted to end its hostilities with the Union during the war, which of these two actions would have worked?
Ending slavery and remaining separate, or keeping slavery and rejoining the Union?"
Well... there was a peace conference at Hampton Roads in early 1865 where these matters were discussed.
Lincoln offered Confederates compensated emancipation and they refused.
They also refused to offer slaves emancipation in return for military service until way too late.
So there's no denying that protecting slavery was always important for Confederates and abolition by war's end just as important for the Union.
And your problem with that is what, exactly?