I had long heard the arguments that the war was really about tariffs, or state's rights, or somesuch, but I took that as Southern propaganda and disregarded it. But then a few years ago I inherited my great-grandfather's book of his regiment (the 15th Pennsylvania Cavalry). Members of the regiment had submitted their individual versions of what happened at various points in their campaigns, and great-grandad edited them into a book, giving different perspectives of the same engagements.
And how often did they mention slavery as their reason for fighting? Hardly ever. Mostly they talked in general terms about "preserving the union". They didn't seem to think very often about why it was important, it was just sort of repeated like a mantra. I also got the impression that a lot of them joined for the adventure, and maybe the political reason was just an excuse. In other words, they couldn't just say they joined to fight and win personal glory, so they needed to repeat something that would justify it.
On the other hand, sometimes the right things happen for the wrong reasons. Slavery was a horrible institution, and worth the fight to get rid of, no? |
