Bryan, you would appear to have considerable knowledge on military matters. May I assume you are a retired officer? I make bold to ask you a question (you don't seem to think we Yankees created original sin). What do you consider the most militaristic society that has been on this planet? The Spartans? The Japanese Samurai? The Prussians?. By this question, I don't mean who conquered the most land mass. I am well aware that the Brits accomplished that. What I'm speaking of is inoculating the idea of military virtues within the general populace of the citizens. A advantage I believe the South had over the North as there so many militia units in the South and didn't most all the whites in the lower South have to do turns as slave patrollers? A quasi form of military operation. Any comments or remarks. I look forward to your view on military society. With me it's a toss up between the Spartans and the Samurais.