[PAR35]

My main motivation is to actually find out on my own from various sources rather than what I "learned" all thanks to public education.

At some point you need to read the Confederate Constitution and compare it to the US Constitution. (I was fortunate enough to see the original)
http://www.yale.edu/lawweb/avalon/csa/csa.htm

Also look here for interesting documents:
http://www.yale.edu/lawweb/avalon/csa/csapage.htm

Turtledove's novels have been mentioned. For a straight up historical novel that is quite good, Fort Pillow deals with that battle and Gen. Forrest.

Don't forget to read up on the western theater - often overlooked.

[stainlessbanner]

Another must read is Jeffrey Rogers Hummel's "Emancipating Slaves, Enslaving Free Men: A History of the American Civil War"