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You're posting opinions from some guy who has not read the book!

I found my copy.

"In the summer of 1862, Prince Napoleon and his companions traveled to the United States, first visiting the North and having conversations with Lincoln, Seward, and General Scott. They visited Northern military camps and noticed a large number of foreigners in the ranks—recent immigrants who had been attracted to the pay, many of whom could not speak English.

Then the visitors traveled, to Virginia, first under a Union escort and then by Confederate cavalry to the camps of Generals Johnston and Beauregard. Mingling with young confederate soldiers, they asked for their thoughts on the war. First, a soldier mentioned defending his homeland, Virginia, from foreign invaders: "We do not want to have anything to do with the Yankees, neither will we suffer a single Yankee foot on our territory; and they having once violated it, it is all over between us." Another remarked, "Have we not the right of separation, since we possess the right of union? They very well know that, without us, their commerce is ruined for we are the cultivators. But we will no longer be cheated. We will continue the war two years—four, if necessary. . ..we will have nothing more to do with the Yankees'

These "young Confederate soldiers," as they were described, had the issues of the war in good focus, from the South's point of view. Defense- repelling foreign invaders—was the primary motive for these soldiers, and they "vowed a mortal hatred for the Yankees." And then came the economics, which even these young soldiers were aware of: "Without us their commerce is ruined," and "we will no longer be cheated,"

-Adams p. 109

But two can play at that game:

"The experience of one week with the Rebel Army satisfies me that the men are in a high state of discipline and have learned implicit obedience. When separated from their officers they do not show the same self-reliance that our men possess,—do not seem able to discuss with intelligent ease the political subjects which claim every man's attention at this time. All of them show a lack of energy and spirit, a want of thrift and cleanliness, which are altogether paradoxical to our men. A constant fear of their officers is associated with their prompt obedience of orders. Many, while they expressed their contempt for "the Yankees," would lament the war and express a desire to throw down their arms and return to their homes, if they could only do this without molestation. Jackson's name was always mentioned with a species of veneration, and his orders were obeyed with a slavish obedience unsurpassed by that of Russian serfs.

"How the rebels manage to get along no one can tell. They are badly clad. Many of them without shoes. Uncleanliness and vermin are universal. The odor of clothes worn for months, saturated with perspiration and dirt, is intense and all-pervading... About nine o'clock two seedy-looking individuals rode up Market street as fast as their jaded animals could carry them, Their dress was a dirty, faded, gray, their arms rusty and seemingly uncared for, their general appearance raffish, or vagabondish...A dirtier, filthier, more unsavory set of human beings never strolled through a town—marching it could not be called without doing violence to the word. The distinctions of rank were recognized on the coat collars of officers; but all were alike dirty and repulsive. Their arms were rusty and in an unsoldierly condition. Their uniforms, or rather multiforms, corresponded only in a slight predominance of grey over butternut, and in the prevalence of filth. Faces looked as if they had not been acquainted with water for weeks: hair, shaggy and unkempt, seemed entirely a stranger to the operations of brush or comb. About nine o'clock two seedy-looking individuals rode up Market street as fast as their jaded animals could carry them. Their dress was a dirty, faded, gray, their arms rusty and seemingly uncared for, their gen- eral appearance raffish, or vagabondish.

Sunday, September 14th.—Major-General Banks' corps d'armee, commanded by Brigadier-General A. S. Williams passed through town this morning on its way to the front. The men were in the best possible spirits, all eager for the fray. They are fighting now for and among people who appreciate their labors, and who welcome them as brothers. Brigadier-General Gordon said that "the reception of the troops by the citizens of this place was equal to a victory in its effects upon the men of his command."

The veteran troops were all in vigorous health, and the new levies made up of strong, athletic men, whose intelligent faces beamed with strong desire to press rapidly upon the retreating foe. We had never greater reason to be proud of our army."

-- Privately publish phamphlet of Dr. Steiner, U.S Sanitation Commission.

I don't think Adams book will repel much criticism. It is just more of the neo-reb rant.

Walt