I do wonder at you casting asperions on the fact that the players in the great drama of Civil War are dead. It would be hard for it be otherwise; it has been 130 + years, after all.
And yet, the --only-- apreciation we can make on these events -must- be based in the record--on what the people of the day did and said.
George Washington DID say that the goal of every true American was the consolidation of the national Union. I can't help that. I don't post this particuar comment, or the others I often use, for your benefit. You are obviously glad to ignore the historical record in making your interpretation of these events.
Rather, I quote the principal players in these events for the benefit of the lurkers. No open minded person will consider the words of the people who drove these events, and then accept your interpretation.
As for the books you would suggest are germane to these discussions, I do find it odd that they are never quoted in a thread on FR. I'd be glad if they were. It would be very easy to refute them based on the readily available record. Perhaps you will now post some excerpts from these books into this very thread.
I have made similar comments before. Let's see how it goes this time.
Walt