In a message dated 01/17/2003 10:03:48 AM Eastern Standard Time, [email protected] writes: > Another point - If Confederate soldiers were not "American" soldiers, why > were they given pensions? > Didn't they take an Oath of Allegiance to the United States as a condition of the pensions? Which would make them, once again, Americans. I've always found the concillatory attitudes of both sides immediately after the CW both astonishing and inspiring. Other than the English civil war I am not aware of another conflict in which both sides put aside their differences, embraced each other and moved on. Since so many of this group is interested in the CW I'm sure almost all of you saw the PBS series. Did you see the segment about the attempt at a reenactment of Pickett's charge by the aged veterans of both sides? I say attempt because when the Yankees saw the Confederates start their march across that field they leapt over the barricade and ran out to meet them. They fell into each other's arms crying. The people who actually fought the war put it behind them as fast as possible. I think they would be appalled at some of the bitterness of later generations. We have the right to disagree but considering we are absolutely free to speak our minds in this country we should show our respect for that right by doing so in a civil and respectful manner.