Brian --

I throughly agree with you about opinions not being debatable, and the uselessness of starting fights that no one can win.

That being said, you'll understand what I mean when I say that the personal accounts of Confederate soldiers have an impact on how I view the Federal government then and now. Their stories also influence how I view Federal soldiers, particularly Federal behavior towards Southern civilians. For that reason I sometimes have to remind myself that I'm supposed to be writing as a historian rather than an individual with strong opinions. Hopefully people will remind me if I get off base.

I don't have any trouble saluting the flag, but won't sing the "Battle Hymn of the Republic".

http://www.rulen.com/partisan/goodreb.htm

One evening we had to explain my distaste for the "Battle Hymn" to a dear friend from Minnesota, who couldn't imagine how any American could feel that way. Later discovering that she had an immigrant ancestor in the 26th Wisconsin Regiment, the friend suggested I check it out. Cindy gave me a few weeks and called my wife to see what we had learned about her ancstor. "His general said the Germans wouldn't fight", Ginger replied, adding that the Confederates had chased this regiment back to the Great Lakes.

"That's not what General Barlow said," I interrupted. "Tell her the truth -- he really said, 'The damned Germans wouldn't fight'".

As for the 'home-made Yankees', Confederates usually preferred to fight against them rather than other enemies in blue. This may be hard for some to comprehend. It's not hard at all for those of us who live in states where in-state rivalries can be (and are) discussed in heated terms on daily basis.

Believe me, I understand.