[central_va]

I'd say it was more equivalent to an adult losing at least a leg and maybe an arm too. That's what made the Civil War a matter of national life & death.

Stop posting. Take a break. Take a week off an and do some research and stop emoting. Find ONE serious contemporary reference lamenting the threat OR EVEN THE POSSIBILITY of the North being conquered and occupied by the CSA. ONE reference please.

[BroJoeK]

central_va: "Stop posting.
Take a break.
Take a week off an and do some research and stop emoting.
Find ONE serious contemporary reference lamenting the threat OR EVEN THE POSSIBILITY of the North being conquered and occupied by the CSA.
ONE reference please. "

I've never said, "conquered & occupied", I've never even used "conquered" except in the sense of defeated and reduced in size & population.

So you are battling furiously against a straw man of your own creation.

I've also noted that in 1861 70% of the battles fought were in Union states & territories.
Can you explain to me how that was not an existential threat?