An obsession with the American Civil War?
Yes, and some people just don’t get it. I mean, I know there are a lot of people out there who understand just what I’m getting ready to say, but I think most people just don’t understand “us.” What does it mean to be obsessed with the Civil War? This is no simple discussion when considering what Civil War memory is all about. What drives us? Why do we continue to go on and on and on with this stuff? We hash it out and then, think about it a little more, and hash it out again.
Actually, this came to me in my drive to Harrisonburg today. I opted to take Rt. 42, originally with the intent to stop by and visit the grave of Capt. S.B. Coyner at the Mossy Creek Presbyterian Church. I opted, instead, to do it another day, with camera in hand to take a photo with the advantage of the morning sunlight. But why? Why did I want to stop at the grave of a Civil War soldier? I’ve been there before. Why do I need to go back and visit it again? I don’t know, I just want to do it. I guess it is like returning to Gettysburg time and time again – it never gets old. Perhaps the side-trip to the grave of a Civil War soldier is my available alternative to making a three hour trip to Gettysburg at this time (especially in light of the $3.33.9 gas price I found posted on the signs this morning – the “powers that be” are killin’ us!).
But it’s not just the grave of a soldier that stirs the “memory.” Taking Rt. 42, or just about any road in the Valley (“the Valley”… it’s implied… we just know it’s the Shenandoah Valley) all the way down (yes, the river does flow north) to Harpers Ferry and on into the Cumberland Valley, I can hardly never make a trip in this area without the Civil War crossing my mind in some form or fashion. Just as an example, today, I realize I was “thinking Civil War” on the trip, but there probably wasn’t five minutes that passed between the time I saw a site and no sooner came upon another that brought to mind some factoid about the Civil War. It’s everywhere around here, and I don’t mean the number of Civil War Trails signs and Dept. of Historic Resources markers! It’s everywhere for somebody who knows… even looking at a house. I am not an architectural historian, but I know what house designs bore witness to the Civil War. Like I said, I was conscious of it all the way to Harrisonburg today – I made a point of it. Yet, I would dare say that even when I am not conscious of it, it’s rolling over in my head whenever I spot a site with which I am familiar (that has bearing on the war) or whenever I see something that looks like it was present in the right time frame.
Maybe I shouldn’t say “obsession” as it just feels negative. Let’s just call it… a passion… I think. Yet, does that even come close to understanding just how much the Civil War dominates “our” thoughts? I don’t think I’m done with this one, but for now… until another day…
I don’t call it a passion… I call it an avocation that has yet to net any income.
Mossy Creek Church has a number of Confederate graves. Some buried there were actually killed by Union Soldiers. I know that not long ago you never saw a Confederate Flag on a grave. I once inquired into as to why. I could tell that “political correctness” was held in high esteem, and you know where Flag of the Confederate States of American scores under “political correctness”. I venture to say that on Memorial Day you will find U.S. Federal Flags on the graves of Confederate soldiers. How sad.
I think you have to look at who is placing the American flag for Memorial Day and/or Veterans Day. In my county, it is usually the American Legion. The practice of the Legion is to place American flags and that’s just “old hat.” The placement of Confederate flags usually falls to independent folks, the local chapter of the MOS&B or the local camp of the SCV. I’m sure there are exceptions, but that’s usually the only way you will see the Confederate flags over Confederate dead or veterans.
I believe the trustees of Mossy Creek Presbyterian church placed the American flags for Memorial Day. I think it would be interesting if a SCV camp would go to Mossy Creek and seek to place CSA flags on the graves of the Confederates. A church that has as many Confederates buried in their cemetery and who had many members serve in the CSA army as Mossy Creek does, should give some special attention to the Confederate graves, not just on Memorial Day, but throughout the year. Personally I knew that the placement of CSA Flags was not acceptable there.
Surely a church with a rich Confederate history has the ability to figure out that American flags are on Confederate graves. And they probably do!!! They DON”T WANT CONFEDERATE FLAGS IN THEIR CEMETERY!
If The American Legion puts Federal flags on Confederate graves, they should just stay home altogether, for what they claim to have fought for is dishonored by putting your countries flag on the grave of one who fought against your country.
But reason and Honor are not involved. There is but one goal and all means justify that goal. Get rid of the Confederate flag and make the Confederate South something to be disdained and forgotten.
Well… I can agree with you a little on one part. After taking time to consider the nature of the motivations of each Confederate veteran in the cemetery, Confederate batttleflags (but not by any means the naval jack) or third nationals would be more appropriate for placement on some of the graves. Capt. S.B. Coyner, for example, left a good record of his motivation.
I’ve posted on the matter of motivations before, so I won’t rehash it.
While you can’t force the church to comply with your personal feelings on the matter of the Confederate flag over the appropriate graves (in lieu of a U.S. flag), it should be more open-minded about the placement of Confederate flags and conscious of the fact that U.S. flags should not be placed on the graves of Confederate soldiers/veterans. The U.S. flag flying over those graves is just another version of misrepresenting not only the people buried there and their personal motivations at the time of the war (perhaps), but also the interest of those same people as former congregation members. I’m afraid that’s just a matter of ignorance displayed on their part. Not only is this a display of ignorance of the history of their own state, but of their church and former congregation members.
I don’t agree with you however, on one of your points.
The current flag of the United States, while resembling the flag of the Union at the time of the Civil War, is not a “Federal” (in the sense of “Yankee”) flag. It is a flag of OUR country and, in fact, embodies a history well beyond the Civil War/War Between the States. There are nearly 150 years more after the war and the 85 years before (a cumulative 229 years) represented in this flag and it is inclusive of people from the North and the South and more. The accomplishments made and courage displayed in those cumulative 229 years were made by a unified, and later reunified people. In many cases, people who were/are descended from soldiers from opposite sides worked together to make possible many of the things of which the rest of the world is quite envious.
That said, limited reference to the U.S. flag as a symbol of the Union of the Civil War (a mere four years) throws to the wind the accomplishments and sacrifice that our people in the military, including those from both the North and the South, have made in the 150 years since the Civil War and 89 years before.
Thank you for your reply.
I would like to comment about the point you disagree on. Call it what you will, the U.S. flag was the symbol of the oppressing country to the CSA during the War Between the States. 27 men lay in Mossy Creek Presbyterian cemetery having died fighting against the U.S., Federal flag. Bottom line is they gave their lives for the Confedreacy.
Your comments of disagreement are the tactic used today to remove all symbols and rememberance of the Confederacy. One thing is for sure…DO NOT put the CSA Battleflag, (naval jack, or ANVA), in public view. It is the symbol of the Confedrate States of America that is recognized today. Maybe it would sooth the politically correct to fly the Bonnie Blue over the Confederate Soldiers graves? Probably not. All Confederate symbols are targeted for removal from memory.
Just what does the Stars and Bars represent? When displayed it often brings persecution to whoever braves to fly it.
No, in regard to the U.S. flag, I’m not calling “it what I will,” but rather what it IS. Also, you misrepresent me with your remark that what I said is a “tactic used to remove all symbols and remembrance of the Confederacy.” At what point did I say anything about removing the Confederate flag?
The history is what it is… and that fact is far more than just four years of history tied to the flag of the United States. The four years was what may have been the “inevitable test” of the system, with obvious roots that stretched back to the time of the creation of this nation. Like it or not, generations of Southerners have flocked to “THAT FLAG” in the years since those four years and have died to see that the nation under it and the principles behind it were not destroyed.
I think I’ve already made my point in previous posts regarding the flag flying over the graves of Confederate soldiers and/or veterans. In fact, in regard to the “Bonnie Blue” and the “First National,” I’ve been quite clear about irresponsible flagging in one of my previous posts. The fact of the matter is that it won’t be those who are “attacking” Southern heritage who will see to the obliteration of the Confederate flag from view. Rather, the actions of some of those who say they “defend” the Confederate flag will prove the undoing.
Call it “what it IS”. Still 27 Confederates lie dead in Mossy Creek cemetery fighting aginst the U.S. Flag?
Blame those that defend the Stars and Bars for its undoing? You are to be congranulated on your political correctness.
As I ride by Mossy Creek cemetery on Memorial Day I will have to wonder if the Confederate soldiers who have the U.S. flags on their graves would rather someone have been politically incorrect and placed the Army of Northern Virginia Battle Flag on their grave?
I don’t know where you lose my point, but it has nothing to do with “political correctness.” I don’t dance that dance. My work is not motivated by such practice. I’m an historian and the truth is my focus.
In any regard, you have apparently not given consideration to my response to your comments. I made it clear that putting the U.S. flag on the graves of the Confederate dead and Confederate veterans is, in essence, a mistake by those who continue in that practice (more correctly, a misrepresentation of the dead). The placement of flags is one subject… your reference to the U.S. flag or more specifically, the manner in which you refer to the U.S. flag, is something entirely different. So, that said, it appears that this exchange between us has run its course…
can you send me something bout how the people in the american civil war would dance i need it for a school project!