[groanup]

Very good post. Very infomative. But your last sentence, not fighting for either side, probably would have gotten you hung by either side. But it also points out a little discussed aspect of the common young soldier.

Lincoln stoked a fire in his young soldiers by telling them the South was in illegal rebellion and the union must be saved.

Davis stoked a fire in his young soldiers by telling him the Union soldiers were illegal invaders and must be driven out.

Hmmm...

[Rick_Michael]

Here's something for you.

The general whom advised Davis on Fort Sumter overemphasized the problem facing them. He implied there was more war ships then there was. He was considered a person that really wanted to enter the war; so you put him and Lincoln together...you got a civil war.