The United States’ conquest of the independent South in 1865 was a horror impossible for us today to fully comprehend because we have not endured such devastation and death. Dr Walter Edgar writes about the different emotional responses of Southerners on page 374 of his book South Carolina: A History:
Men in gray reacted differently to the war’s end. At Appomattox neither Lt. William G. Hinson nor Brig. Gen. Martin W. Gary of the 7th South Carolina Cavalry could believe what was happening. Gary cursed while his hardened veterans wept. David Harris had been sent home to get another horse and was cut off from his unit. On 21 April the news reached Spartanburg of Lee’s capitulation and Johnston’s impending surrender. “At least, I am relieved from the army at present… I am now going back to work instead of to war. I think I will like it best.”
Not many white South Carolinians, especially women, were as philosophical as Harris. Four years of desperate struggle and sacrifice had not brought victory. Many held a deep-seated resentment against their enemies whom they variously characterized as “fiends,” “vandals,” “despots,” “tyrants,” “ruffians,” and “Huns.” No one expressed the animosity the vanquished felt more forcefully than Emma LeConte: “A sea rolls between them and us – a sea of blood.” Smoking houses, outraged women, murdered fathers, brothers, and husbands forbid such a union. Reunion! Great Heavens! How we hate them with the whole strength and depth of our souls.”
My confederate ancestors went back to their communities, and became leaders both spiritually and in civic ways, rebuilding their lives and their communities.
In other words, they didn’t let the war turn them into bitter old men.
They moved on.
I’m not saying anyone would blame others for not being shattered.
That happened as well.
However, I believe the blood of my ancestors would cry out today to build a “better world”, not some mean, spiteful, hate-filled place where we curse the ground bou’t every day, and then we die.
I don’t see my other southern relatives living that way either.
I’m not perfect, but I’m gonna’work hard to build that better world, and do my best to be that positive influence.
Any way I can.
New Silence Dogood: Southern Nationalists are working to rebuild life and their community – despite the years of devastation being wrought at the hands of the Federal Empire. We’re hopeful at working hard to build and restore our communities, and to be a positive influence for truth and justice. However, we must understand the lessons of history and our ancestors in order to better understand how to act in the difficult days ahead. Are we crying and gnashing our teeth at the horrible actions against our people? Perhaps some. But for the most part, I think through our history and continued actions against our civilization today, we’ve developed a resolve that makes us strong.
Well put and well said.
I believe you are correct.
I also believe, as you said, that some cry out and gnash their teeth.
Just so long as that is not the only thing they are doing.
The key is to then take that “inner fire” and use it to build a better world.
It’s like the times when I was growing up as a kid, and someone said I couldn’t do something, especially when some of my peers would say I couldn’t do something in some athletic endeavor.
It was in those times that it would stoke a fire deep down inside and I would always say to myself “I’m going to prove them wrong”.
I think if we can channel our energies and anger in that way and work hard to “prove them wrong” anything is possible.
We must channel our energies to build something good, something better.
All it takes is resolve, rolling up our sleeves, and a little “elbow grease”.
And never, ever, giving up on our dreams of a better tomorrow…..