Posted on 02/25/2004 11:52:26 AM PST by 4CJ
THOMASVILLE -- Nelson Winbush knows his voice isn't likely to be heard above the crowd that writes American history books. That doesn't keep him from speaking his mind, however.
A 75-year-old black man whose grandfather proudly fought in the gray uniform of the South during the Civil War, Winbush addressed a group of about 40 at the Thomas County Museum of History Sunday afternoon. To say the least, his perspective of the war differs greatly from what is taught in America's classrooms today.
"People have manufactured a lot of mistruths about why the war took place," he said. "It wasn't about slavery. It was about state's rights and tariffs."
Many of Winbush's words were reserved for the Confederate battle flag, which still swirls amid controversy more than 150 years after it originally flew.
"This flag has been lied about more than any flag in the world," Winbush said. "People see it and they don't really know what the hell they are looking at."
About midway through his 90-minute presentation, Winbush's comments were issued with extra force.
"This flag is the one that draped my grandfathers' coffin," he said while clutching it strongly in his left hand. "I would shudder to think what would happen if somebody tried to do something to this particular flag."
Winbush, a retired in educator and Korean War veteran who resides in Kissimmee, Fla., said the Confederate battle flag has been hijacked by racist groups, prompting unwarranted criticism from its detractors.
"This flag had nothing to with the (Ku Klux) klan or skinheads," he said while wearing a necktie that featured the Confederate emblem. "They weren't even heard of then. It was just a guide to follow in battle.
"That's all it ever was."
Winbush said Confederate soldiers started using the flag with the St. Andrews cross because its original flag closely resembled the U.S. flag. The first Confederate flag's blue patch in an upper corner and its alternating red and white stripes caused confusion on the battlefield, he said.
"Neither side (of the debate) knows what the flag represents," Winbush said. "It's dumb and dumber. You can turn it around, but it's still two dumb bunches.
"If you learn anything else today, don't be dumb."
Winbush learned about the Civil War at the knee of Louis Napoleon Nelson, who joined his master and one of his master's sons in battle voluntarily when he was 14. Nelson saw combat at Lookout Mountain, Bryson's Crossroads, Shiloh and Vicksburg.
"At Shiloh, my grandfather served as a chaplain even though he couldn't read or write," said Winbush, who bolstered his points with photos, letters and newspapers that used to belong to his grandfather. "I've never heard of a black Yankee holding such an office, so that makes him a little different."
Winbush said his grandfather, who also served as a "scavenger," never had any qualms about fighting for the South. He had plenty of chances to make a break for freedom, but never did. He attended 39 Confederate reunions, the final one in 1934. A Sons of Confederate Veterans Chapter in Tennessee is named after him.
"People ask why a black person would fight for the Confederacy. (It was) for the same damned reason a white Southerner did," Winbush explained.
Winbush said Southern blacks and whites often lived together as extended families., adding slaves and slave owners were outraged when Union forces raided their homes. He said history books rarely make mention of this.
"When the master and his older sons went to war, who did he leave his families with?" asked Winbush, who grandfather remained with his former owners 12 years after the hostilities ended. "It was with the slaves. Were his (family members) mistreated? Hell, no!
"They were protected."
Winbush said more than 90,000 blacks, some of them free, fought for the Confederacy. He has said in the past that he would have fought by his grandfather's side in the 7th Tennessee Cavalry led by Gen. Nathan Bedford Forest.
After his presentation, Winbush opened the floor for questions. Two black women, including Jule Anderson of the Thomas County Historical Society Board of Directors, told him the Confederate battle flag made them uncomfortable.
Winbush, who said he started speaking out about the Civil War in 1992 after growing weary of what he dubbed "political correctness," was also challenged about his opinions.
"I have difficulty in trying to apply today's standards with what happened 150 years ago," he said to Anderson's tearful comments. "...That's what a lot of people are attempting to do. I'm just presenting facts, not as I read from some book where somebody thought that they understood. This came straight from the horse's mouth, and I refute anybody to deny that."
Thomas County Historical Society Board member and SVC member Chip Bragg moved in to close the session after it took a political turn when a white audience member voiced disapproval of the use of Confederate symbols on the state flag. Georgia voters are set to go to the polls a week from today to pick a flag to replace the 1956 version, which featured the St. Andrew's cross prominently.
"Those of us who are serious about our Confederate heritage are very unhappy with the trivialization of Confederate symbols and their misuse," he said. "Part of what we are trying to do is correct this misunderstanding."
What did he do besides kill a cow?
I'm not worked up. You must be worked up. I'm amusing myself watching you make a fool of yourself.
Your namecalling tells a different tale.
Is there a reason you're calling me "Mikey" or is it just another nervous habit of yours?
In 100 years, they won't be doing Civil War re-enactments, they'll be doing Alamo re-enactments with the English-speaking Bad Guys -- the Gringos -- while Santa Ana and his brave troops attack using the official US language of Spanish.
So now secessionists from Kansas were coming into Texas and coercing Unionists not to participate in the conventions? I'll need a link on that one.
But most were threatened to not participate.
Now it's most? The only reference you've provided is a synopsis with no materials sourced. And your reference does not support that most were coerced into non-partitipation. It mentions it in passing along with the fact that many refused to participate in what they saw was an illegal act (much as Patrick Henry had done 80 years before during the Constitutional Convention).
Non-participants get screwed in any system of government. It's what the 'public good' is all about.
Too late. That's after the coup
No, in fact your supposed coup could not have taken effect until after the vote. Much like Ms Stewart, you seem to have a problem arranging dates in order.
Eh?
Thought I recognized you, Ronly.
Ever wonder how many have served this great Republic in that regard who do not deserve your damnation?
Thaddeus Stevens, assassin of cows, you are hereby condemned to eternity in hell for your evil deeds.
As has been pointed out to you, you do so wrongly. The slaveowners were reluctant secessionists, knowing their property in flesh was secure for eternity within the bounds of the Union. It was those who sought greater political power who roused for secession.
Yes they are. They can't run the pilot program until Congress decides how it's to be done.
Intelligent proof of your argument. I concede.
I was obviously showing the mindset of those that would perpetuate slavery. Some of them were murderers.
Now it's most?
Obviously.
The only reference you've provided is a synopsis with no materials sourced.
Here we go with "it was faked!" again. You guys don't believe anything unless it's a claim that New Yorkers were shot in voting booths. lol
And your reference does not support that most were coerced into non-partitipation. It mentions it in passing along with the fact that many refused to participate in what they saw was an illegal act (much as Patrick Henry had done 80 years before during the Constitutional Convention).
It doesn't take much of an imagination to comprehend how someone is encouraged not to attend a political event.
Non-participants get screwed in any system of government. It's what the 'public good' is all about.
It's one thing not to participate. It's another to be "encouraged" not to participate.
No, in fact your supposed coup could not have taken effect until after the vote. Much like Ms Stewart, you seem to have a problem arranging dates in order.
First came the coup, then the referendum. Too late.
Look Ronly, this dude thinks we're the same guy. ROFL!
Ever wonder how many have served this great Republic in that regard who do not deserve your damnation?
God had already gave us the victory and Booth's act was nothing but murder. Assassins will burn in hell.
What bull. 70% in that link were slaveowners.
I know logic is foreign to neoconfederates. If they applied logic, all their arguments would fail and so they abandon it.
Better men than you or I have fought many a war to save her.
I made it clear what kind of assassin I was speaking of.
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