Well concidering what we been taugh about the War for a hundred years and what our children are taugh in school today, which is grossly incorrect, I will tend to be a little unsure of what appears to be obvious spin and to go with the version that is NOT written by the victors to justify their cause.

I tend to look at the history of mankind as a cause and effect, or action/reaction type of process.

Even Lincoln refused to endorse or implement such draconian measure as were passed by the United States Congress when they were presented to him in 1864. There was much argument over Lincoln's 1863 plan of reunifiction of the nation after the war. And Johnson was almost impeached over his attempts to implement Lincoln's program and opposition to the radical republicans efforts.

I learned a long time ago in conducting interviews of people involved in criminal events that all people will tell their experiences in a manner which cast themselves in the best possible light. Not that they were necessarily lying because each story has its elements of truth. The job of the interviewer is to find those elements of truth and discard the BS.

The reconstruction in the south was NOT constructive!