We must understand the "inherited convictions" cited by General Gordon. Those convictions were very fiercely held. There were true blood brothers and parents and children on opposite sides. They believed in what they were doing more than family. Mary Todd Lincoln had brothers in the Confederate Army. I can't remember the name, but there was a Union and Confederate general who were brothers. At one time, at least, they were on opposite sides of the same battle.

By thge same token, especially in the mountains of Tennessee, Kentucky, Georgia, and to some extent in Alabama, who did not want to fight for either side, and sometimes had to fight not to be conscripted by one side or the other.

Again, we cannot know accurately how they felt, and cannot judge them by our standards. Stan