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Re: Major Anderson's Health...
In Response To: Re: Major Anderson's Health... ()

Yes, I had thought of possibly "Shell Shock" or what we now call P.T.S.D.

You know that those old boys must have gone throught a lot of that. I know that my GGrandfather would talk very little to his son about what he went through in 4 years with the Army of Northern Virginia. I have found that this is much the same with most veterans of WW II, Korea and Viet Nam unless they feel that their actions will be "understood" in the context of what combat is all about. And even then it is own their terms of what they will tell you.

But on the other hand I can also see the self recrimination aspect of Anderson of feeling responcible (I was in command, could I have done anything differently) for what Fort Sumter brought about.

Then again having gone through some of this myself personally 30 years ago, that self recrimination of feeling somehow responcible for some adverse action is also a part of P.T.S.D. One of the worst things that happens is someone walking up to you and saying something stupid like "Hay, great job", or in Anderson's case making him a "National Hero" promoting him to General's rank because of Fort Sumter, and using him as a political football to raise the Flag back over the ruins of "His Fort".

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Major Anderson's Health...
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