Love and War

[JCSettle]

Was reading a book the other day on the thoughts and feelings of the Confederate soldier. The first story was an 18 year old North Carolinian who was in love with his cousin, but since his brother had already married a cousin, she was forced by the family to refuse his proposal. She was in fact in love with him, but never told him, but wrote it in her diary. He decided to attempt to win her love by enlisting with the 23rd NC Infantry. He wrote in his own diary about his love, along with his short affair with a Virginia girl (Well, what can I say, Virginia has the best!) He was wounded at Seven Pines, and died soon after. His diary was sent to his cousin, and she was heartbroken by his entries.
The point of this entry is why he enlisted? His prime reason was to win the heart of the girl he loved. Is love that powerefull that you would get yourself killed to win a heart? I was touched by this story, as if I saw it first hand. I actually got teary eyed at the end. What do you think of this? Would you enlist for love?

 

[yankee belle]

Looking at this from the female's viewpoint, I would have been repulsed by a shirker or a traitor. Not that the military is the only honorable job or profession, or that getting yourself killed for love is a good life choice, but don't run from duty, either. A man has to do what a man has to do.