I finished watching the Ken Burns The Civil War and it’s incredible the numbers of men that were lost in various battles. What’s even more incredible is the number of Generals that were absolutely worthless. When the Civil War started, if you had any kind of education or some sort of politician, you were made an officer, sometimes even a general. Several grads from West Point were on both sides, but more were needed.

It’s truly amazing some of the ineptitude and bungling of generals on both sides. One stupid mistake by some idiot in charge could cost thousands of lives. After the surrender at Appomattox the northern troops shared their rations with the Southerners, in a sign of what should have been a great healing of the country.

Almost every General in the Civil war seems to have a Fort or something named after them. All of the battles and the National Cemeteries are still reminders of the events that shaped this country.

Over 3 million served, 620,000 died, 1 million injured, that sounds like reparations paid in blood of the Americans that fought and died in what may not have started out to be a war officialy about slavery, but everyone knew it was.

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