Cavalry Charger
Major
- Joined
- Jan 24, 2017
This thread is designed to get behind the sentiments of those involved in the Civil War, and therefore the motivations of its participants. It is not designed to be argumentative, but expressive, and an aid to understanding the reason men fought, and the reason they were prepared to die for what they believed in. The accounts can be pre, during or post Civil War, and from any perspective, but only from the perspective of those who served during the war (i.e. doesn't include politicians/political rhetoric)
"The Confederate States had, as I said, no naval vessels and none or very few that could be converted into cruisers. They had, however, a fine, loyal, able and true personnel, composed of officers educated and commissioned in the United States Navy before the war. They were Southern-born men, who represented their respective States in the United States Navy, just as their representative in Congress and other governmental branches represented them in their respective spheres. The expense of educating and qualifying them for their positions was borne from the general fund collected from all the States, their respective States bearing their just proportion for the qualifying of their quota. These men were not politicians, but when the war clouds gathered felt bound by every sense of duty, love and devotion, many of them against their judgment as to the judiciousness of disruption, and all of them against the professional hopes, aspirations and pecuniary interests, when their mother States withdrew, to rally to their standard, resigned and tendered their services. They were accepted and given commissions properly signed by the executive and confirmed by the Congress of the Confederate States. These men officered the cruisers of the Confederate States".
The Cruise of the Shenandoah
The Stirring Story of Her Circumnavigation of the Globe and Many Conquests on the High Sea. From the Pen of Her Executive Officer, Captain William C. Whittle.
By Captain William C. Whittle, CSN
From: Southern Historical Society Papers, Vol. XXXV, Richmond, Va. December, 1907, Pages 235-258.
"The Confederate States had, as I said, no naval vessels and none or very few that could be converted into cruisers. They had, however, a fine, loyal, able and true personnel, composed of officers educated and commissioned in the United States Navy before the war. They were Southern-born men, who represented their respective States in the United States Navy, just as their representative in Congress and other governmental branches represented them in their respective spheres. The expense of educating and qualifying them for their positions was borne from the general fund collected from all the States, their respective States bearing their just proportion for the qualifying of their quota. These men were not politicians, but when the war clouds gathered felt bound by every sense of duty, love and devotion, many of them against their judgment as to the judiciousness of disruption, and all of them against the professional hopes, aspirations and pecuniary interests, when their mother States withdrew, to rally to their standard, resigned and tendered their services. They were accepted and given commissions properly signed by the executive and confirmed by the Congress of the Confederate States. These men officered the cruisers of the Confederate States".
The Cruise of the Shenandoah
The Stirring Story of Her Circumnavigation of the Globe and Many Conquests on the High Sea. From the Pen of Her Executive Officer, Captain William C. Whittle.
By Captain William C. Whittle, CSN
From: Southern Historical Society Papers, Vol. XXXV, Richmond, Va. December, 1907, Pages 235-258.
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