That point in time f rom the 1830s to the late 1850s was a time that we will never see again. The ills of slavery were ignored for the sake of the economy, which is so terribly sad, but had been a part of the US since settlements were started in the late 1600s, so it was ignored, but in 1863, it was declared "null and void" by the president. "Gone With thr Wind" showed both sides, how accurately, depends where one lived in the North or South as to the degree of what a war would do to each state, town, or person but was sadly far from accurate. It missed showing the chared, ruined remains of Atlanta, Richmond, Vicksburg, New Orleans, etc. that was war at its worse. What followed under "Reconstruction", was man taaking advantage of his neighbor for his profit in the "deep Southern states" but it is noted that more than a few members of Congress, who served as high ranking officers in thhe Southern Army, found themselves elected to Congress as soon as possible and life went on. We in North Carolina faired bettwe than most. Raleigh wasn't leveled, though it had Union troops in it and there was 1 instance of a "drunk" Union soldier trying to set the Capitol Bldg. on fire with a box of matches but passed out before he would get the granite structure to burn. He was later found in the local jail by Union officers and subsequently sent out of state. Yes, we did ok, I guess. We still have reports of that "boy Colonel" from N.C. that died the first day in an attack that showed errors on both sides. He has a simple grave in the family section in the "old cemetery"but he was mourned then and still remembered to this day. It seems he can't rest in peace and is seen sitting on a bench along side his grave and willvaanish if the living get too close. Have I seen him? I have seen something during not the drk of night but at high noon on a hot July 1st, as if he had to be somehwere else and was dressed for the occasion. There is a print entitled "Covered in Glory" , as is a book, that speaks for him and the 26th that noting else can. I do do wish he could move on, as he deserves so much beter for what he gave.
