Thank you. That was a very interesting letter. It should be remembered that in 1861, when someone was saying something like "by those who are desirous of serving their country", they were not talking about the united States of America or even the Confederate States of America - they were strictly speaking of "their country" - their State - in this case, South Carolina. The idea of serving their country, ie the United States of America, did not come about until after 1865. Prior to 1865, each State was it's own country and the government of the united States was a government, originally of 13 Free, Sovereign and Independent countries, grown in the number of Free Sovereign and Indepent countries - yet it was still a Republic of Republics until 1860 and the election of lincoln.

JR