“Although connected by ties of birth and blood with the South, I loved my country and flag better than my State or section.” — p. 10, Cole’s Cavalry; or Three Years in the Saddle in the Shenandoah Valley, by C. Armour Newcomer
Though the book was written nearly forty years after Appomattox, it is one version of “Southern perspective” of the war. Yet, it seems unlikely that this book will be used in the effort to “ensure the Southern perspective is included in the anniversary events.” After all, though he considered himself a Southerner, Newcomer served in Union blue.
Just an example to accompany recent posts…
Another example (also unlikely to be used) was the subject of one of my posts from July.
Cenantua's Blog 
Kevin Borecki
December 21, 2008
As a social studies teacher for high school students, I have been seeking multiple perspectives of conflicts and historical events. I have read online in numerous places that the nomenclature for the US “Civil War” can differ substantially based on region and perhaps, time period.
Thus I am looking for a more “southern” perspective on the Civil War. Ideally, I’d like a textbook, or a series of textbooks that show how the subject was taught differently by region prior to the current age of “ubiquitous, PC” non-narrative text.
Any ideas on where I might get some different versions. In particular, I’d love either a book that refers to the conflict as the “War of Northern Aggression” – states’ rights viewpoint or one that refers to the idea that the secessionist movement was in reality a minority movement.
thanks for any help on these points or others that you can offer.
~Kevin
cenantua
December 21, 2008
Hi Kevin, and thanks for the comment. “Perspective” is an interesting topic of discussion in relation to the Civil War/War of Northern Aggression/War Between the States/Late War of Unpleasantness and so on. However, as you are seeking the “Southern perspective” then this narrows things down a bit. I would recommend, however, that while trying to teach the “Southern perspective,” you also keep it in the minds of your students that “Southern perspective” is not always “Confederate perspective.” Of those who supported the Confederacy, there were multiple layers, and they did not see support of the Confederacy on the same level across the board. Likewise, there were the Jimmy Stewarts (as in the movie Shenandoah), the Southern Unionists, the slaves, and the free blacks. All, I am sure, would offer different views from the conventional “Southern perspective” so often insisted upon today by some in the the new era Confederate remembrance movement.
Since you are looking for the flavor of “perspective” from those in the South who saw the war as the “War of Northern Aggression” I would recommend works published closer to the turn of the 20th century. There is one that was put out specifically by B.F. Johnson of Richmond that might be worth your while and I think you can pick it up at a rather good price on sites like ABE.com. Let me look up the title and get back to you.