The Civil War was fought by most Union soldiers to preserve the Union. Some had abolitionist sympathies, but weren't thinking of them as they fought and died. They felt they were fighting to preserve the country their ancestors had fought and died for in the War of Independence. Most Southern soldiers felt they were fighting because the Union would not let them have their "divorce."
I read this post to me after I wrote my Post 98.
It seems we are on the same wavelength.