Most readers will be surprised to read Watson's statement about pro-Union sentiment in the South --

In our company the most of the men were strongly union in their sentiments, and as citizens were opposed to the whole
secession movement. Nevertheless, as they were in the service of the State, it was their duty to obey the orders of the Governor, who was by virtue of his office commander-in-chief of the State troops. They therefore responded to the call, although I for one confess, and I believe I might say the same for many others, that I would much rather have been called upon to act with the United States troops to suppress the secession movement and maintain the Union.

Of course it's necessary to read the entire statement to understand how quickly sentiment changed and why.

We tend to believe public opinion before the war and even later remained constant = a secessionist was always a secessionist, and vice-versa. Careful reading of contemporary documents demonstrates otherwise.