Thanks Bettie, I am sure many of the Vick's died for the South and many for the North. There is no good War. I am hoping this discussion will bring out things we can all be proud of on both sides. I don't think there was a bad guy here. I think we had two sets of needs that drove the war. The South won that war for a long time. Then the tide turned and the North won the war. The outcome was very uncertain for a long time. Looking back now, and you know about hind sight, makes me wonder where we would be as a country if we had been divided? Would we have been defeated by another country? If the North had lost what would have happened to the industry steel Mills and so fourth in the North? Could we have developed divided? I hope none take offense. It is not meant to bring offense but rather to Remember, Honor, those that went before us. I don't know what I would have done at that time in history. I don't think my heart would have allowed me to keep Slaves. It had been outlawed for many years around the World. However if my whole way of life and my families future depended on that labor to harvest crops it would be very hard to walk away and give up everything me and my family had worked for. I would like to here your two cents worth on this matter. Like I said there is no right or wrong answers Honorable men on both sides did what they felt they had to do. Many knew each other from West Point where they trained together as Army officers. Many knew each other from there home towns. Matter of fact many were brothers shooting at each other across a field. It hurts my heart to think of all that was lost on both sides. They just did not have the ability to sit down and "talk" it out. They could only see there own need. There needs were very different. The North needed people with higher job skills and mentality. The South needed people to work the fields. They didn't have to read the instructions. I would like to here your two cents worth on this topic. There have been some very interesting points made already so jump right in the water is fine. Cuz'en David in Cold Florida string the pot usual