[Non-Sequitur]

And what country was Washington loyal to, the one he was born in, or the one that did not exist until he helped to form it?

The one he helped found, and not the colony/state he resided in. And if founding the second country he was under no illusions that he wasn't committing treason against the first. Something the confederates were blind to.

[smug]

Something the confederates were blind to.

How so , Southern or's were well aware that the north would consider them traitors. Just as they considered them "worse than vandal horde's"."Our enemies are a traditionless and a homeless race; from the time of Cromwell to the present moment they have been disturbers of the peace of the world. Gathered together by Cromwell from the bogs and fens of the North of Ireland and of England, they commenced by disturbing the peace of their own country; they disturbed Holland, to which they fled, and they disturbed England on their return. They persecuted Catholics in England, and they hung Quakers and witches in America."

[Michael.SF.]

Your perspective on loyalty is oddly curious, hypocritical and applies modern thinking to yesterday's rules of behavior and learning.