Campfire Chat - General DiscussionsThis is a forum for posting discussion topics, questions, current events, and anything else you'd like to chat about. Please post serious Civil War History threads in appropriate History Forums.
With respect, I'm not quite sure how to respond to your posting, other than to say that I'm sorry you seem to take exception to every piece of evidence or document brought forth that either questions Sherman's tactics, or discusses the plight of the Southern people." Again, I was under the impression that this thread was orginally started in order to examine all aspects of Sherman's March...otherwise it would be pointless.
No one has said, thus far, that the South did not contribute their share of unnecessary cruelty to the Civil War, but nothing equalled Sherman's march to the sea, and the perpetual destruction to it's land, and to the citizens of South Carolina and Georgia...even if the intent of Sherman's campaign was " to save lives." Are you not interested in putting a more "human element" to Sherman's march, (and the despair of so many innocent people) or perhaps this is just too simplistic for me, and I should accept the viewpoint that "the South got everything they deserved?"
I'm afraid I don't. If Wade Hampton had set fire to his own clothing and then cried 'wolf,' it wouldn't matter to me. I had hoped, as Neil suggested, that we might all learn something from each other on this thread, but in truth, there is a heavy door slammed somewhere between the lines "the south lost" and "deal with it."
I wonder how it would go down if you or I, or our friend James down in Oz, or our new pal in Sweden, were to post a message about Vietnam which said "You lost. Get over it"? Would this be considered polite? Would this be considered civilised behaviour?
Yankeewoman,
I truley believe it is, or was, folks like you that make it extremely difficult for the Southerners to 'Get over it'! Reconstruction is a prime example. Sometimes it sounds as if you are full of hate over the Confederacy.......Well, perhaps it's time for you to 'Get over it', as well. It's either hate, or jealousy that drives you to hold such ill feelings. Perhaps too, that is why the South still holds such feelings as they do toward the North. I've learned much about our war over the decades, and it seems that in many instances, there are two versions of the same action. It depends upon which one you believe, or which one sounds the most plausable. This much I can say about your attitude toward what many Southerners believe, and that seems to be, that you hold no respect for their views. "Get over it"? My dear lady, with statements such as that, I'm afraid the war will never end, and you yourself, shall gain little respect in return. Also, perhaps it is folks just like yourself, that makes this board such a special place. I have always wondered, just what it would be like to have fought in that horrible conflict, and since I've read some of your comments, I believe I've found just one tiny idea, of how that could be. So, my dear lady, dig in, keep your powder dry, and your head down, for I have a feeling this could be a very long war. I trust that you may someday, respect our views, even if you don't believe, much less agree, with them. One thing is for certain, we at least know where you stand. Now..............You know, where we stand as well. I look forward to many more 'battles' with you,..............before this one is over.
Many times I've wanted to say the same thing, but you will notice the ruffled feathers and that doesn't work well and tends to close arguments rather than open them. Keep contributing.
Ole
Revisionist history is that which is written by those who lost.
Has anyone read James McPherson (a Yankee historian), Shelby Foote (southern [NOT southron] author, or even Michael Fellman (Canadian) .... all of whom used ACTUAL historic sources in re: the burning of Columbia?
Revisionist history is that which is written by those who lost.
Yankeewoman,
I believe the quote that speaks the truth is the one that says history is written by the victors.
If there is revisionism going on why do you not provide a source to prove it rather than sniping cattily from the peanut gallery. You could, for instance explain how it is revisionist when Sherman stated to Grant:
'You and I and every commander must go through the war, justly charged with crimes at which we blush."
I am rivisionist when I state he said it? Or am I being revisionist when I claim Sherman gave these orders:
"Can you not send over to Fairmount and Adairsville, burn 10or 12 houses of known secessionists, kill a few at random and let them know it will be repeated every time a train is fired upon from Resaca to Kingston."
"If torpedoes are found in thepossession of an enemy to our rear, you may cause them to be put on the ground and testedby a wagon load of prisoners, or if need be a citizen implicated in their use. In like manner,if a torpedo is suspected on any part of the road, order the point to be tested by a carloadof prisoners, or by citizens implicated, drawn by a long rope."
"If you entertain abare suspicionagainst any family, send it tothe North. Any loafer or suspicious person seen at any time should be imprisoned and sentoff"
So tell me, is that revisionist? How is it not a fact. If so, how? Why?
And I am still waiting upon your holy testement as to just how, exactly, would you suggest we dealwith it? One really not make blanket accusations nor should give such commandmants to people without having a plan. And also, maybe you could enlighten us as to why anyone, either North or South or anywhere in between should look upon your contributions as a positive thing towards honest and forthright debate, irregardless how partisan? Or is that the whole point? To not contribute but vent bile?
Yankeewoman,
One thing is for certain......It's good that the 'other' side had a revisionist history written, for how would we ever know about the other side. One side did not have a monopoly on writting how the events of the war unfolded It's good to know that the Yankees didn't make their own history, and make us, (Southerners), believe it all. Somebody had to revise some of those pieces of our history, which shed some light on otherwise what could be called, one sided. Far too many folks out there, know only one side, and history is comprised of more than just what people up North would like you to know, or believe. You may not believe any of the Southern viewpoint, and that is your right, but no matter what you may think, there ARE, two sides to every story. All you have to do, is to be intelligent enough to understand that simple statement.
So........ I guess that means you haven't read any of the authors or historians I have mentioned, eh? Both sides included in their words... Shelby Foote, too.
Hey there, Yankee...........woman,
I have read more than enough, but I shall probably never read too much. Let's face it, I am going to believe what I am going to believe, just as you! However, at this point in time, it is pointless to even bother to converse with you on the subject of the War of Northern Aggression. Your attitude has simpley been atrocious. I have begun to see that you don't have many friends on this board, or at least many that agree with you, and that's not a bad thing, it just shows that there is NO bend in your thinking at all, and yet...........You would have us bend to your way of thinking, and to believe that your version, or those of them that you ascribe to, to be the ONLY version of how things went 'down'! As I look and live that period of our history, I continually seem to find out little things that I THOUGHT I knew, weren't exactly like they were supposed to be, and I accept those facts. Then again, there are always things that were there, that didn't change my way of thinking about it, at all. These folks on this board are my friends, and even if they don't adhere to my way of thinking, they still respect my views. You, I'm afraid, seem to find some way of saying, that we are wrong, and that is that! Well, Now I am afraid that I must tell you that your way of telling me, and all Southerners, spelled S-O-U-T-H-E-R-N-E-R-S, by the way, to 'Deal with it', are totally wrong! I do not, nor will I, ever agree with not only what you say, but how you say it! I cannot hold a meaningful conversation with one whose outlook is so distorted, so one sided, and so venomous, as to condemn us before we even have a time to defend ourselves, or give our reasons why, even then, you refuse to listen, instead, you just tell southerners to "Get over it"? Perhaps, now, you can see why they went to war in 1861. You are a Yankee.....I am a Southerner, I hold those truthes to be self evident. I still respect your views, although, to hold respect for you as a person, has failed. I don't believe you came to this board to listen to any views that a Southerner has to offer, nor the reasons for them, instead, you offer up your versions of that history and we have to believe them or, we are wrong. I'm sorry to have to tell you this, dear Lady, but...........I believe you, to be wrong. I hope you find some sense of peace of mind some day, ma'am. When do you, you may then come to our door and discuss those differences in a rational and calm way, then, and only then, can we make some headway in resolving our different ways of thought, if you choose not to, then our differences will remain, unsolveable. So let it be said, so let it be written.
Being the true Southern gentleman that he is, Sgtcsa still respects your viewpoints and has consistently sought to understand your motives, as have others, throughout this thread on Sherman's march. At no time have you acknowledged an opinion, other than your own abstruse, biased outlook on anything to do with the South, and I would be hard pressed to understand if there is anyone of a Southern persuasion who is still willing to converse with you.
Normally, at this point, I would simply ignore everything else that you have to say, but you have been rude, disrespectful, patronizing and condescending to people who I care about, and whose opionions I value very much, both North and South. If you can't be civil, and if you can't put forth your ideas and concerns without scarcasm dripping off your lips, then why bother talking to people who can?
Within the last few days you've managed to offend more than one person on these Boards, but perhaps this is your intent? It's not so much your obvious hatred of the South that I find so objectionable, but the drawbridge that you've finally pulled up with me is your extreme lack of manners and consideration for other people.
All of this is really unncessary, and most unfortunate, because you seem like a very knowledgable person who has a great deal to contribute to almost any topic on these Boards. CWT is full to the brim with creative, thoughtful, intelligent, and productive people and you may or may not have noticed this, but most are blessed with good manners and common sense.
It is you who needs to get real and while you're at it you might want to deal with the fact that just because the South lost, does not mean that their cause was wrong or unjustified....might makes right...correct? But that's an entirely different topic and this one has been derailed long enough.
CivilWarTalk.com -
A free and friendly Civil War community. 
Linear Mode
