Replies

Just wondering if any of y'all have read "The Rise and Fall of the Confederate Government" By Jefferson Davis

After many years I have began rereading it (hopefully finishing it this time). I found it free online at www.gutenberg.org .

Because I may have an unintentional bias I was going to look for a work that tackles point by point what appears to me sound logic from Davis view of things.

He makes splendid arguments for
The states each retaining sovereignty,
That the North declared War and initiated it.
That ceded lands for federal properties were not without limitations and could be revoked, etc. All while providing a wealth of documentation to back up his assertions.

Thatnks for that. Grant's memoirs is also in there.

Here's an excerpt showing that there was more mutal respect between the two sides than we sometimes see on message boards today.

Just back of these, and about equally distant from the creek, were the guards of the Confederate pickets. The sentinel on their post called out in like manner, "Turn out the guard for the commanding general," and, I believe, added, "General Grant." Their line in a moment front-faced to the north, facing me, and gave a salute, which I returned.

The most friendly relations seemed to exist between the pickets of the two armies. At one place there was a tree which had fallen across the stream, and which was used by the soldiers of both armies in drawing water for their camps. General Longstreet's corps was stationed there at the time, and wore blue of a little different shade from our uniform. Seeing a soldier in blue on this log, I rode up to him, commenced conversing with him, and asked whose corps he belonged to. He was very polite, and, touching his hat to me, said he belonged to General Longstreet's corps. I asked him a few questions--but not with a view of gaining any particular information--all of which he answered, and I rode off.