Mr Chase;

I am a member of a Civil War Re-enactment group and on numeruos occasions I have had discussions regarding the reason or cause of the American Civil War. Those that say that the issue was over state right, I then ask them to tell me what rights of the states was being threaten. It is sad that all would not answer me since they knew that answer was slavery because that did not want to admit it. Your article is staight to the point. People have to learn that history is history and we should not forget it or try to rewrite it. There is the old saying that one learn from there mistakes, if they remember them. The same is true for history, "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it."

I took up re-enacting years ago, because I collect many books on the Civil War and read them but something was missing. The missing elemet was to suit up (clothing for both sides) and spend sometime (mostly for a weekend) living the soldier life to see what it was like. I could never totally relive their experiences, but did get enough to stat to understand their live experiences.

Our local history is not taught in schools and seem to be unknown for the majority of the population of North Alabama. Yes, I love history. That love includes the events (good and bad) and where they took place.

I support you view and article on this subject of Alabama session.

Also, do you know were Jonathan Ford is buried? I do, thanks to an article in The Decatur Daily years ago.

Jerrold S. Landers

I read the books too and my conclusion is the Civil War was fought for MONEY. Very simple all wars are fought for money. Oh rich folks never have to go to war. Lets get over this by taking down the confederate flags and stop the hating and stop this rehash of playing soldier. If you wish to be a soldier join the Army where you can feel the real threat of death. Maybe that threat of death is your missing element Jerrold.

Bubba says pray for peace everywhere and stop playing war

Good points Mitch. I, too, know where Jonathan Ford is buried. Wonder who wrote that article? ;)

good letter jerrold. way to go. from JW. 2ndsgt(19th) Bubba just don't know. do he?.