Compromise? The Civil War is still being fought in non-military ways. Horwitz documented this in sometimes-sobering, sometimes-amusing ways. He traveled the south, specifically in areas where the Civil War was fought (because it was fought almost completely in the south). He took notes exhaustively and wrote "Confederates in the Attic," a must-read tome for history enthusiasts.
Horwitz is the quintessential journalist, author also of "Baghdad Without a Map."
The current flap has to do with Virginia Governor Robert McDonnell's attempt to proclaim April Confederate History Month. How he could do this without foreseeing controversy is beyond me. It's like the politicians who make analogies with the Nazis and World War Two and then have to apologize. Usually these analogies trivialize those earlier tragedies. These politicians repeatedly make the mistake. Southerners trying to commemorate the Civil War by honoring the Confederacy are making the same kind of mistake.
The Confederacy, which could more accurately be described as a rebellion, ceased being real a long time ago. The real Confederacy was nothing but ugly. It had far from universal support in the South. It was a pathetic resistance to change and progress. Since it is no longer real, it must represent different things today. Indeed it does.
Commemoration is usually framed in the issues of today, mostly on a subconscious level. Since the Confederacy never reached fruition or became real, it never had to meet any expectations. Thus it sort of exists in the ether of our collective imagination. There is a feeling tugging at all of us that we ought to admire the gallantry of those outnumbered southern troops and their beloved "battle flag" (the Stars and Bars, not the official flag of the Confederacy, contrary to the belief of many).
We all liked seeing the Butler men's basketball team in the Final 4 of the men's hoops tourney, so we all admire the grit and competitiveness of the underdog.
But the northern states had a huge challenge before them. While the South had only to defend a vast geographic area, the North had to invade and suppress a rebellion that had strong legs. The Union paid a horrible price in the process. The expenditure of blood and treasure was staggering. The point I'm primarily trying to make is that Civil War "nostalgia" is not based on reality. The Myth of the Lost Cause grew up in the ashes of the war, and it too had little to do with reality.
The South obsessed on its war heroes and constantly pondered how a different turn in the war here and there could have led to a different outcome. Their No. 1 question: What if Stonewall Jackson had lived? Losers always talk about "what ifs." General Jackson was killed by friendly fire in the aftermath of the battle of Chancellorsville. What if the military leadership had shown better judgment than to have Jackson out there in a vulnerable position?
What if the Confederates had been better supplied with artillery ordnance for the Gettysburg campaign? What if their artillery had used "triangulation" better for the barrage that preceded Pickett's Charge?
The fact is, the Confederates lacked the resources to win that war. When you lack resources you commit lapses. The Union had redundancies to cover for their mistakes. There is that tempting inclination to admire the valor of the Confederates, men whom we can view as products of their culture and not necessarily bad human beings.
Nearly all Civil War movies show the Confederates as great, deeply feeling human beings whom destiny had placed on the losing side. The movie "Gods and Generals," in which Ted Turner had a guiding hand, was a departure in that it tried to suggest that the South's cause was morally superior. The overblown movie has been judged a failure. It was made as a "prequel" to the movie "Gettysburg," which was a success and made along the traditional lines - no political tweaking of history.
Eventually there was supposed to be a third movie called "The Last Full Measure" to complete a "trilogy" of flicks. No. The failure of "Gods" has doomed those plans. But there would be nothing wrong in seeing some more Civil War movies because the topic is worthy of continuing attention, reminding us of our troubled and conflicted past.
But "Confederate History Month" is a laughable throwback to the "Myth of the Lost Cause." Governor McDonnell, a Republican, had to apologize and amend his proclamation to include the topic of slavery. Southerners always end up on their heels, backpedaling when these topics emerge from the murky depths.
Ironically, part of the push to honor the valor of Confederate warriors came from the North in the wake of the Civil War. This was for the sake of national morale during the very challenging time of Reconstruction and henceforth. The North was happy to put General Robert E. Lee on a pedestal. Why should the North care? The North had in fact prevailed in the only showdown that mattered.
The North allowed its Southern brethren to cling to the pride associated with the scrappy but futile battle with the industrialized North, a foe that represented the irresistible forces of progress. The North allowed the South to embrace some consolation prizes. But they're empty, as empty as "Confederate History Month."
-Brian Williams - Morris mn Minnesota - bwilly73@yahoo.com
Horwitz is the quintessential journalist, author also of "Baghdad Without a Map."
The current flap has to do with Virginia Governor Robert McDonnell's attempt to proclaim April Confederate History Month. How he could do this without foreseeing controversy is beyond me. It's like the politicians who make analogies with the Nazis and World War Two and then have to apologize. Usually these analogies trivialize those earlier tragedies. These politicians repeatedly make the mistake. Southerners trying to commemorate the Civil War by honoring the Confederacy are making the same kind of mistake.
The Confederacy, which could more accurately be described as a rebellion, ceased being real a long time ago. The real Confederacy was nothing but ugly. It had far from universal support in the South. It was a pathetic resistance to change and progress. Since it is no longer real, it must represent different things today. Indeed it does.
Commemoration is usually framed in the issues of today, mostly on a subconscious level. Since the Confederacy never reached fruition or became real, it never had to meet any expectations. Thus it sort of exists in the ether of our collective imagination. There is a feeling tugging at all of us that we ought to admire the gallantry of those outnumbered southern troops and their beloved "battle flag" (the Stars and Bars, not the official flag of the Confederacy, contrary to the belief of many).
We all liked seeing the Butler men's basketball team in the Final 4 of the men's hoops tourney, so we all admire the grit and competitiveness of the underdog.
But the northern states had a huge challenge before them. While the South had only to defend a vast geographic area, the North had to invade and suppress a rebellion that had strong legs. The Union paid a horrible price in the process. The expenditure of blood and treasure was staggering. The point I'm primarily trying to make is that Civil War "nostalgia" is not based on reality. The Myth of the Lost Cause grew up in the ashes of the war, and it too had little to do with reality.
The South obsessed on its war heroes and constantly pondered how a different turn in the war here and there could have led to a different outcome. Their No. 1 question: What if Stonewall Jackson had lived? Losers always talk about "what ifs." General Jackson was killed by friendly fire in the aftermath of the battle of Chancellorsville. What if the military leadership had shown better judgment than to have Jackson out there in a vulnerable position?
What if the Confederates had been better supplied with artillery ordnance for the Gettysburg campaign? What if their artillery had used "triangulation" better for the barrage that preceded Pickett's Charge?
The fact is, the Confederates lacked the resources to win that war. When you lack resources you commit lapses. The Union had redundancies to cover for their mistakes. There is that tempting inclination to admire the valor of the Confederates, men whom we can view as products of their culture and not necessarily bad human beings.
Nearly all Civil War movies show the Confederates as great, deeply feeling human beings whom destiny had placed on the losing side. The movie "Gods and Generals," in which Ted Turner had a guiding hand, was a departure in that it tried to suggest that the South's cause was morally superior. The overblown movie has been judged a failure. It was made as a "prequel" to the movie "Gettysburg," which was a success and made along the traditional lines - no political tweaking of history.
Eventually there was supposed to be a third movie called "The Last Full Measure" to complete a "trilogy" of flicks. No. The failure of "Gods" has doomed those plans. But there would be nothing wrong in seeing some more Civil War movies because the topic is worthy of continuing attention, reminding us of our troubled and conflicted past.
But "Confederate History Month" is a laughable throwback to the "Myth of the Lost Cause." Governor McDonnell, a Republican, had to apologize and amend his proclamation to include the topic of slavery. Southerners always end up on their heels, backpedaling when these topics emerge from the murky depths.
Ironically, part of the push to honor the valor of Confederate warriors came from the North in the wake of the Civil War. This was for the sake of national morale during the very challenging time of Reconstruction and henceforth. The North was happy to put General Robert E. Lee on a pedestal. Why should the North care? The North had in fact prevailed in the only showdown that mattered.
The North allowed its Southern brethren to cling to the pride associated with the scrappy but futile battle with the industrialized North, a foe that represented the irresistible forces of progress. The North allowed the South to embrace some consolation prizes. But they're empty, as empty as "Confederate History Month."
-Brian Williams - Morris mn Minnesota - bwilly73@yahoo.com
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