Ya know, sometimes we view one side or the other as little more than statistics but the truth is every man on both sides was somebody's son, husband, brother or father.

Very True.
What I've often thought about was the role of chaplains and other ordained combatants. It had to be hard preaching on the love of God and still encouraging men to do their duty. I myself believe in the death penalty and not just for cop killers and judges (their lives of more value than say, a fourteen year old girl?") I also believe in military action, which entails deaths and the right of self defense. Still in all, it's a serious thing to take a life.

I remember when Father Proud used to post here. What a great guy and Bible scholar he was. Remember how he would always mention that his ancestor Lorenzo Barber was the greatest fighting soldier in either army? I don't know about that but I do know his skill with any firearm was second to none. The thing I think about, is it must be hard to be out sniping rebs one day and preaching the next. One the other hand, one has to say that if you are going to encourage men to risk their lives and kill for their country, you should be willing to walk the walk yourself.

Oh well, like you say, some things we will never know.

Cump.