First, though I am a transplant, I knew even growing up in Connecticut that Civil War was a misnomer. Secession is not the same as Civil War. The colonies’ war with England was NOT a Civil War. I normally refer to it as the War of 1861, as that is not weighted in any direction. Of course War Between the States and War of Northern Aggression are other names popularly given.
What the author describes WOULD be a Civil War. While there are still Red states and Blue states, there are people on both sides, everywhere, even in the cities.
The Civil War was started because of acts of attempted secession and aggression by secessionists attacking federal installations. Nonetheless, it was a Civil War.