"[T]he moment this House undertakes to legislate upon this subject [of slavery], it dissolves the Union. Should it be my fortune to have a seat upon this floor, I will abandon it the instant the first decisive step is taken looking towards legislation of this subject. I will go home to preach, and if I can, practice, disunion, and civil war, if needs be. A revolution must ensue, and this republic sink in blood."
- South Carolina Congressman James Hammond, on the Floor of the House of Representatives.
The southerners knew what they were doing. It was rebellion. It was insurrection. It was civil war. And it was planned.
In a rebellion or a war of independence, the "civil war" aspect would be the part of the war in where the citizens of the same State would be partisans and fighting each other.
Torry vs Patriot armed conflict would be an example of "civil war" in the American Revolutionary War.
Union loyalist vs Confederate loyalist in Southern States armed conflict or Copperhead vs Union loyalist armed conflict in Northern States would be an example of "civil war" in the 1861-1865 war.
Would the Battle of Saratoga against British forces be considered a battle in a "Civil War"?