And they use us til they refuse us

Jefferson Davis the first and only president of the confederate states of America is a fascinating character in the rich tapestry of American history. Defiant to the end about the righteousness of the confederate cause, he issued this statement after the fall of Richmond: "Relieved from the necessity of guarding cities and particular points, important but not vital to our defence with our army free to move from point to point, and strike in detail detachments and garrison of the enemy; operating in the interior of our own country,where supplies are more accessiable, and where the foe will be far removed from his base and cut off from all succor in case of reverse, nothing is now needed to render our triumph certain, but the exhibition or our own unquenchable resolve. Let us but will it and we are free." This was after Shermans army had marched through Georgia and South carolina burning and destorying everything in sight. Also aftet the confederacy had also suffered massive inflation from printing currency without any backing and from the Union blockade of confederate ports. You have to admire his determination and resolve I suppose. After the civil war Jefferson Davis and others led to a literary movement known as the 'lost cause' which exulted in the merits of the Confederate cause and the north crimes against her people and soil. In some ways one can imagine and indeed in some ways understand the factors underlying this seniment. A large portion of the cities and villages of the south were completly destroyed and devastated as a result of the war. In the end the strategy of total war was deemed to be the only means nessacary to end the conflict. When I see pictures of the cities of South destroyed by the war it reminds me of pictures of Europe after world war 2 vast expenses of destroyed, blown up buildings, a vista of ruin and devastation. And the sense of defeat really resonated with the Southern people so I think it is part of the reason why they still remember the Civil war so acutely. If New York or Boston or Washtington were reduced to burning piles of rubble and the countryside of New England was burned and raped and pillaged for all that is was worth, I imagine we Yankees would feel a similiar sentiment.