Your post really illuminates a lot about the war, particularly in Florida and South Alabama. The reasons for the war were complex and the reasons men fought for either side were as complex. The boiled down passions of today do not really reflect the true feelings of 1860 or even 1865, on either side.

My ancestor was in South Alabama and entered into service with the 57th Ala Inf in 1863, I am sure not of his own desires. Issues of that time were not cut and dried. It is easy to label one 'traitor' and another 'patriot' but harder still to understand why.

One of the reasons this war is so facinating to study, it is so interesting on so many levels, as well as so sad.