Many dirt poor, Confederate conscripts were bullied by those with clear economic interests in preserving the slave labour system, generating high profits for the cotton empire. While Southerners not favouring succession were branded as traitors & sellouts, confronted with abuse or far worse. It seems not much has changed in that respect. Quotes from North Carolina wartime governor and Confederate supporter Zebulon Vance:
"Liberty and independence can only be gathered of blood and misery sustained and fostered by devoted patriotism and heroic manhood. This requires a deep hold on the popular heart, and our people will not pay this price."
"The great popular heart is not now and never has been in the war. It was a revolution of the politicians; not the people."
And you are right about the oppressive measures the Confederate authorities used against Southern Unionists. The neo-Confederates talk loud and long about the "oppressive" Lincoln's measures against the North, but never make a mention of the tyranny of Jefferson Davis's regime.
The truth is that there was never enough support for the Confederacy and Southern nationalism to sustain the rebellion against the hardship of winning independence. If the Southerners of the 1860s did not deem the cause worthy to continue the fight, how can so many today appear to wish to reverse the verdict of history?
Thankfully, we are one country and one people comprising numerous regions. Why would anyone wish to reject the greatest nation man has been blessed with?
"And you are right about the oppressive measures the Confederate authorities used against Southern Unionists. The neo-Confederates talk loud and long about the "oppressive" Lincoln's measures against the North, but never make a mention of the tyranny of Jefferson Davis's regime." If today's obsessed neo-Confederates ever actually admitted the real tyrannical modus operandi of Jefferson Davis & his insurrectionist leadership their entire movement to remain locked into attempting to undo the numerous defeats of the 'Old South' would be fully unmasked. For many, their world came crashing down with the forced dismantlement of the South's state mandated system of racial segregation, but none will ever admit it in public.
Returning to the 'real world' there exists a cruel, inhuman enemy out there who does not view Americans as 'Yankees' or 'Confederates', just targets! This enemy's only concern is exterminating all of us - unless we take him out first.
For those under the silly illusion the enemy will restrict his beast like acts of mass murder to only targeted innocent victims on large urban transit systems, think again. There are scores of other 'hits' but it's foolish giving these bastards any other ideas.