Without reservation, I admit to being proud none of my ancestors fought on the side of the Confederacy.
For those of you familiar with my blog posts, you’ll know that I don’t have a firm grasp on history. I don’t care much about locations, dates, and people involved. Mostly because it didn’t directly affect me. Call it closed-minded or self-involved, but learning about dates and facts bored me to tears. How would knowing what date Columbus “found” America teach me about the journey I was on at the time?
Despite my apathetic concern for historical facts, the Civil War intrigued me more than any other event in American history. To this day, I love reading books about that time period or watching films that depict the struggles. Deep down I had immense pride in the fact that my parents’ families originated in the North, the likelihood being my ancestors would have fought on the Union side. Thankfully, that assumption turned out to be correct.
Regardless of the uniform color, these were young men and boys taking up arms against one another. They had mothers, fathers, siblings, wives, and children that loved them. Their loved ones wept at their funerals, cried tears of joy at their safe return, and felt pride at their bravery. Passing swift judgement against another is counter-intuitive to who I am and what I strive to achieve. I’ve struggled within the past few years to be more understanding and open-minded in regards to the Confederate soldiers.
I allowed myself to admit that the Confederacy wasn’t necessarily fighting in support of slavery so much as wanting to have the CHOICE to decide for themselves. I understand wanting control over your life and circumstances. To feel threatened when others make decisions for you. You feel voiceless, powerless and filled with anger and resentment. However, the governing officials and landowners were not the only ones dealing with those issues – so too were those who fed them, cleaned house, and helped raised their children.
All of that said, I’d be saddened and disappointed if I found out one of my ancestors fought for the Confederacy. I acknowledge it and accept it. For as much as I can understand and sympathize with the desire to fight against what restrictions are placed on you, I’m more concerned with righting injustices. The freedom of men, women, and children matters more to me than pride. I would not want to live in a nation where others were deemed subservient, inferior, or devalued due to their skin color or gender.
Did every Union soldier believe wholeheartedly in civil rights? Probably not. Can I assume all Confederacy soldiers opposed the abolishment of slavery? No. But knowing that my third great-grandfather fought in support of his oppressed brothers and sisters…that makes me proud to be an American.
Branches and Leaves 