Brian: Let’s at least agree

[Allan from Fallbrook]

Brian: Let’s at least agree that citing Wikipedia doesn’t constitute any sort of meaningful rejoinder, okay?

You’re always asking for book titles, right? The American Civil War is one of my favorite topics, and I actually walked the Gettysburg battlefield over a three day period (following the actual battle itself) during a Command and Leadership course in War College at Carlisle, PA.

I’ve heard you opine before that Southern rank-and-file were fighting against their interests and supporting elite land-owners and slaveholders. That is actually not true, and McPherson’s “For Cause and Comrades” does an excellent job of debunking that. http://www.amazon.com/Cause-Comrades-Why-Fought-Civil/dp/0195124995/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1297724246&sr=8-1

On the causes and lead-up to the Civil War, Klein’s “Days of Defiance” is a good, single-volume handling of the topic, including the actual importance of slavery on both sides. http://www.amazon.com/Days-Defiance-Sumter-Secession-Coming/dp/0679768823/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1297724324&sr=1-1

And the best single volume I’ve read so far on the overall war itself: Hattaway and Jones’ “How the North Won”. http://www.amazon.com/How-North-Won-Military-History/dp/0252062108/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1297724430&sr=1-1

As far as Lincoln and context go: Lincoln handled the slavery issue only we had no other choice, which is why the Emancipation Proclamation wasn’t signed until 1863. His entire focus was on maintaining the Union and at any cost necessary. Hence my irritation with my son’s 7th grade teacher giving the Gettysburg Address and its importance such short shrift.

And, for the record, I believe everything Obama says. I just don’t understand it.