See also Civil War Prisoners of War

A Little More Than Duty

Somewhere a bugle sounds, and men inside their building
wait until the flag comes down.
And others run to get their car quite harrowed or dismayed.
Afraid they will not reach the gate before "Retreat" is played.

Not thinking of the flag or men who fought to keep it flying.
How many would be glad to stand whose bodies now are mute.
Or have no hand that they might raise and stand in proud salute.

So accept it not as a duty, but a privilege even more.
And receive as an honor, instead of just a chore.

author unknown

Worldwide, slavery was banded circa 1820's and only slaves BORN in the United States were allowed to be bought and sold in the U.S. (see the case of Armistade). Had the north waited 6 more months, it is believed Virginia would have abolished slavery; the south would have followed suit. Thus effectively ending slavery in the United States within a year.

While currently it is popular to believe the Civil War was a slavery issue, it in fact, only became an issue when President Lincoln made his Emancipation Proclamation. Some believe President Lincoln did this in order to cause more havoc. It is believed by many President Lincoln's Emancipation freed all the slaves. In fact, the only slaves freed by the Emancipation Proclamation, were ones behind the southern lines. Any slaves in states "controlled" by the north were already free. The Emancipation can be called both ingenious and dirty pool; President Lincoln knew when he did this, he would weaken the southern lines and the south. It worked.

The movement of the slaves off the plantations and into the military, north or west weakened the plantations. The fields and the animals were worked by the slaves. The exodus of the slaves meant there was no one to run the farms or plantations. With most of the men gone and the women left to work, it meant starvation for the south.

One thing the north did to weaken the morale and the bodies of the "rebels" was to slash and burn their way through the south or use the property of the southerners or neutral states. Some homes were used as headquarters and the women left behind by the men had no choice but to comply. Sometimes, they used the property to bury their dead. One such place is Arlington, owned by General Robert E. Lee. The Union buried their dead right up to his doorstep; a punishment for being the souths main general, thus Arlington Cemetery. Another act, was Sherman's burn through the south. He burned or almost burned every home he saw. There was no pity for the helpless women and children. When he left - he left behind, death, destruction, starvation and burning homes and fields. Even today you can see Sherman's reign of terror on the South, very few "old" Southern homes stand.

When it came to the "neutral" states - such as Kentucky or Maryland, the north - "borrowed" horses - never returning them - in some cases killing the owners; as in Kentucky. In Maryland, destroying towns and property. The idea being wherever the Union went they didn't want the Confederates to have any "niceities". (:see The Civil War Journals and Letters called All for the Union)

At the same time Union soildiers suffered at the hands of the Confederates. One of the ugliset places to bestow itself on God's green earth was Andersonville. 12,912 men died while under the "care" of this prison. Their "overseer" was Captain Wirz. 45,000 men were shoved into a place built for 8,000. Living was a day to day battle. Men died by the 100's daily. They were lied to and used as target practice. One such lie was the exchange program. When the soldiers were released from Andersonville they were told they were "finally being exchanged". In fact, they went from one prison camp to another.

Even knowing the horrific conditions, the North did little to nothing to help and the south did nothing to change it. Such was the case all over the eastern half of this country. The "higher ups" Grant, Sherman, and Lee would not alter the course to help the men who served them.

The point to this is both sides committed horrible autrocities aganist each other. Many beyond our wild expectations. If your ancestor can not be found - perhaps Andersonville or one of many Civil War "concentration" camps may be the place to look. Also, don't forget the south. Some northeners believed in states rights (the original reason for the war) and fought on the side of the south. They left when the war turned to the slavery issue.

In either case, this was a sad, black time in our nation's history. One which even today houses deep wounds in families and our country. While yes this page is located in Schuylkill County; I dedicate this page to all our Civil War ancestors both north and south

Disclaimer: This is only one opinion of the war. There are many versions of what really occured and why. I have read the documents referred to in the above introduction and through these and my experiences in the south have drawn my own conclusions as to the dispute between the states. Again this is only my opinion

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