It's kind telling just because there's no real consensus on what that war should be called. Even this long after the fact, it's not decided to both sides satisfaction. I assume the term Civil was used because the war had some effect on the general population but there was nothing Civil about it. Those with leaning toward the Federal way of thinking may call it Rebellion. That seems to be the official Federal version because it's what the records are listed under. Those with roots in the South may not see it that way but may view it as the War for Southern Independence. If that isn't confusing enough, then one gets into the sectionalism such as Western Virginia vs the rest of the Commonwealth. There was that factor in all of the states that seceeded. Maybe small pockets of it but it was there just the same. Toss in some of the citizens who may have really not cared one way or the other as long as they didn't have to do anything but wait it out and the difference gets bigger. Then you can get on to the next step. The real reason for the dang war. The "real" issues for men leaving their family and home behind to go shoot at other men. Here is another of those 'depends on who you ask as to the answer' deals. Different reasons for both 'sides' and for individuals. Some for an ideal, some for the little bounty they got for signing up and some for the 'adventure'. I think the adventure people were sadly disappointed. It was more like a job and no benefits.

Now we sit here, how many years later and still ask the same questions those who fought in that war asked. What were they doing there? How did it come to the point that there had to be actual battles? Who started it? ---and so forth. Maybe that is why we are sitting in front of our computers talking to each other. We still do not have an answer we are comfortable with. Those who were involved are long gone but the questions remain. I don't know of another war that has been picked apart and examined like the one we are here to discuss. Maybe, because it still is still unsettled, we can at least give some credibility to the idea that there was a real difference of opinion on the why of it and that's the reason for it to remain a question. Really, it could be that simple but oh so complicated. The answers may have been different for entire sections of the country but they could also be different for people in the same township or county. Heck, we can't always agree here on one message board so how can we expect to understand how our ancestors really felt in the time the event happened?

Pam