The Civil War was a war of aggression against the South. The Northern states had the majority of the industrial capabilities and depended on raw products from the South to survive. The Southern states grew tired of high tariffs and over taxation without sharing in the revenue received by the Northern states from Southern products.

The election of Abraham Lincoln in 1860 was the beginning of the secession of seven states in the South. South Carolina, Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, and Texas seceded from the union and formed The Confederate States of America. The Confederate states were able to trade directly with other nations with a much lower Confederate tariff. Rather than fairly compete with the low Confederate tariff by lowering the federal tariff, The Lincoln Republicans and their Northern financial backers chose instead to destroy the Confederacy by force.

One of the first things Jefferson Davis did after assuming office as president of the Confederate States of America was to send a peace delegation to Washington, D.C., in an effort to establish friendly ties with the federal government. The Confederacy offered to pay the South’s share of the national debt and to pay for all federal installations in the Southern states. Lincoln rejected all Confederate peace offers and insisted that federal armies would invade the Southern states if they didn’t renounce their independence and recognize federal authority.

The Confederate government attempted to negotiate the withdrawal of a small federal garrison that occupied Fort Sumter, South Carolina, on December 26, 1860. Lincoln decided not to withdraw the garrison. Confederate forces attacked Fort Sumter on April 12, 1861. Lincoln issued a call-up of 75,000 troops to put down what he claimed was a "Rebellion" in the South. Four more Southern states joined the Confederacy Virginia, Arkansas, Tennessee, and North Carolina. Lincoln sent federal armies into the South. Kentucky and Missouri joined the Confederacy even though their efforts to secede had failed.

Slavery was not the issue for The War of Northern Aggression (aka Civil War), Lincoln himself stated "The war is being fought for the Union, not slavery". In 1862 in Tennessee a squad of Union soldiers captured a lone, ragged and underfed Confederate soldier. It was obvious that this Confederate soldier owned no slaves and was a worker of the land himself.

     The Union soldiers asked the Confederate "What are you fighting for?"

     The Confederate soldier simply replied "I'm fighting because you are down here".

The Confederacy did not want to go to war. Simply put The War for Southern Independence was fought by The South to preserve their God given right to govern and defend themselves as provided under the Constitution. The North losing the Southern States and allowing them their independence would mean economic disaster for the North. This would never be tolerated and would be stopped by whatever means necessary! The war was not fought to end slavery, The war was fought because Lincoln refused to allow the South to go in peace.

 Flags of The Confederacy 

The Bonnie Blue was the first unofficial flag of the Confederacy. It can be traced back to 1810 and was used as a symbol of Southern Independence. Sometimes used as a flag of secession. The Bonnie Blue served as the unofficial flag of the Confederacy until it was replaced by the Stars and Bars.

The First Official Flag of The Confederacy was used from March 1861 to May 1863, The seven stars represent the original seven states, South Carolina, Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, and Texas. This flag was replaced because it closely resembled the Stars and Stripes used by the union making it hard to distinguish on the battle field.

The Second Official Flag of The Confederacy was used from May 1863 to March 1865, The Battle Flag or Southern Cross was placed on a white background to set it apart from the Stars and Stripes. the thirteen stars represent the original seven states plus four more that joined us, Virginia, Arkansas, Tennessee, and North Carolina. The two remaining stars represent Kentucky and Missouri who joined us although their efforts to secede had failed.

The Third Official Flag of The Confederacy was adapted in 1865, a broad band of red was added to the end of the flag because when hanging limp the solid white background resembled a flag of surrender. This is the Adopted Flag of The Confederate States of America.

The Confederate Battle Flag "The St. Andrews Cross" flew from 1863 throughout the Confederacy, The Battle Flag was designed as an official banner to distinguish it from the Stars and Bars on the field of battle, and it flew proudly over every battlefield.

The Confederate Navy Jack or Southern Cross was used as a navy jack beginning in 1863, Although it was not actually a National Flag of the Confederacy, This is the most recognised Flag of the South which many people misquote the name as The Stars and Bars. The Southern Cross brings a sense of Pride and Heritage to the South. Let's keep her flying.

Southron & Confederate Information Center We need to share the Truth about our Heritage and try to overcome the lies that are being taught in our schools. Here is a good link that provides some quality information about the South, Myths, Facts, and generally the Truth about a lot of misconceptions people share on this issue.

The Real Flag of the KKK This is not a pro KKK site, just some true information about the flag they use. You think the Confederate Flag is their flag of choice? Think again.

Ronnie a Friend from South Carolina being sworn into the Sons of Confederate Veterans, Congrats Ronnie I'm proud for ya Man.

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      H K Edgerton is a man from Asheville N.C., He was once the president of the local NAACP, and a candidate for Mayor. Here lately he can be found proudly walking down the road carrying the Confederate Flag, His mission is to educate people of all color and age the Truth about Southern History so people of the South can be proud of where they are from, and people who have been taught all the negatives can understand the Truth. This proud man is an inspiration to all people, He knows and appreciates who he is and where he comes from and is simply trying to educate those who do not understand. He has carried the Confederate Flag on walks from Asheville NC to Austin TX covering about 1500 miles at 15 to 20 miles per day 7 days a week, speaking to people all over about the True History that needs to be known, and convincing local mayors into returning Confederate plaques and statues to their riteful places of honor. If you happen to see this man, take a little time to talk with him and let him know that his cause is not in vain.

A quote from H K Edgerton

     "I am very proud to call myself a Confederate American,"  "I want to educate folks about our wonderful heritage. You can't find more honorable people than southerners."others are "trying to divide black people and white people."

     "We are a family in the Southland of America," Edgerton said. "I caution you that if you don't know your history, you can't know where you are going."

Pictures of HK Edgerton sent in by a friend, Thanks Carey

Nathan Bedford Forrest

Born July 13, 1821 in Chapel Hill, Tennessee. Nathan Bedford Forrest was a farmer, real estate dealer, and slave trader. He had earned a fortune of app. 1,500,000 before the war started and spent most of this money during the war on such things as clothing his troops.

Nathan Bedford Forrest was a natural tactician who earned the praise of his enemies. Both Grant and Sherman feared this man who entered the Confederate forces a private and left a general. His formula for success was "get there first with the most men." His prowess as a cavalry leader and battlefield general earned him the envy of even his adversaries and the title, "Wizard of the Saddle," early on in the war.This title is the source of many arguments now.

On Dec. 24, 1865, six young Confederate veterans met in the law office of Judge Thomas M. Jones.The meeting resulted in the idea of forming a social club, an 1860s version of the VFW or American Legion. Their number quickly grew, and in meetings that followed, the men selected a name based on the Greek word "kuklos" meaning circle, from which they derived the name Ku Klux. Perhaps bowing to their Scotch-Irish ancestry, and to add alliteration to the name, they included "clan," spelled with a K. And so, quite innocently, a new social club called the Ku Klux Klan was created to provide recreation for Confederate veterans.

When Forrest was elected Grand Wizard of the Ku Klux Klan in 1867 at the Maxwell House Hotel in Nashville, he wasn't even in town. He was elected in absentia. The best research shows that Forrest never "led the Klan," never "rode with" the Klan, nor did he ever own any Klan paraphernalia. The only known order that Forrest issued using his famous name and perceived authority was for the KKK to disband in 1869, which it finally did in 1871. History shows that Nathan Bedford Forrest never was a part of the KKK but his unproven "brief association" with the Klan will forever raise questions about one of America's greatest tactical minds.

When the war ended, Forrest was virtually broke, having spent most of his estimated pre-war fortune of $1.5 million outfitting his troops. He spent his time between business ventures in Memphis and his farm in Mississippi. He died in Memphis, Tennessee on October 29, 1877.

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Thomas Jonathan “Stonewall” Jackson
(1824-1863)

Thomas J. Jackson is one of the most revered of all Confederate commanders. A graduate of West Point in 1846,  he had served in the Mexican War, earning two brevets, before resigning to accept a professorship at the Virginia Military Institute.

At the beginning of the Civil War he resigned from VMI and was commissioned a colonel in the Virginia forces and dispatched to Harpers Ferry where he was active in organizing the raw recruits until relieved by Joe Johnston. Leaving Harpers Ferry, his brigade moved with Johnston to join Beauregard at Manassas. In the fight at 1st Bull Run they were so distinguished that both the brigade and its commander were dubbed "Stonewall" by General Barnard Bee. The 1st Brigade was the only Confederate brigade to have its nickname become its official designation. That fall Jackson was given command of the Valley with a promotion  to major general.

 In the invasion of Maryland, Jackson was detached to capture Harpers Ferry and was afterwards distinguished at Antietam with Robert E.Lee. He was promoted after this and given command of the now-official 2nd Corps. It had been known as a wing or command before this. He was disappointed with the victory at Fredericksburg because it could not be followed up. In his greatest day he led his corps around the Union right flank at Chancellorsville and routed the 11th Corps.

Reconnoitering that night, he was  returning to his own lines when he was mortally wounded by some of his own men. Following the amputation of his arm, he died eight days later on May 10, 1863, from pneumonia. Stonewall Jackson is buried in Lexington, Virginia.

Robert E. Lee wrote of him with deep feeling "He has lost his left arm, but I have lost my right arm."

Quotes     

"Nothing fills me with deeper sadness than to see a Southern man apologizing for the defense we made of our inheritance. Our cause was so just, so sacred, that had I known all that has come to pass, had I known what was to be inflicted upon me, all that my country was to suffer, all that our posterity was to endure, I would do it all over again.'' --- President Jefferson Davis, C.S.A.

''the contest is not over, the strife is not ended. It has only entered upon a new and enlarged arena.'' --- President Jefferson Davis, C.S.A., address to the Mississippi legislature in 1881.

"We could have pursued no other course without dishonor. And sad as the results have been, if it had all to be done again, we should be compelled to act in precisely the same manner." --- Robert E. Lee

"Our country demands all our strength, all our energies. To resist the powerful combination now forming against us will require every man at his place. If victorious, we will have everything to hope for in the future. If defeated, nothing will be left for us to live for." --- Robert E. Lee

"Duty is ours; consequences are God's." --- General Thomas J."Stonewall" Jackson

"I came here as a friend...let us stand together. Although we differ in color, we should not differ in sentiment." - LT Gen. Nathan Bedford Forrest, CSA, Memphis, Tennessee - July, 1875

"If I ever disown, repudiate, or apologise for the Cause for which Lee fought and Jackson died, let the lightnings of Heaven rend me, and the scorn of all good men and true women be my portion. Sun, moon, and stars, all fall on me when I cease to love the Confederacy. 'Tis the Cause, not the fate of the Cause, that is glorious!" --- Major R.E. Wilson, CSA

"Those who ignore history are destined to repeat it." --- George Santana

"If I thought this war was to abolish slavery, I would resign my commission, and offer my sword to the other side." --- Ulysses S. Grant

"I will say, then, that I am not, nor have ever been in favor of bringing about in any way the social and political equality of the white and black races ... I am in favor of having the superior position assigned to the white race." --- Abraham Lincoln

"I am not in favor of making voters or jurors of Negroes, nor of qualifying them to hold office..." --- Abraham Lincoln, 9/15/1858 campaign speech

"I have no purpose, directly or indirectly, to interfere with the institution of slavery in the States where it exists. I believe I have no lawful right to do so, and I have no inclination to do so." --- Abraham Lincoln, 3/14/1861 First Inaugural Speech

Quotes from Lincoln True quotes that Lincoln actually made during speeches and through letters. You decide.

Confederate Holidays and Days to Remember

January 8:General James Longstreet's Birthday,1821
January 16:General Pickett's Birthday
January 19:General Robert E. Lee born, 1807. and Texas Confederate Heroes' Day
January (3rd Monday):Confederate Heroes Day
January 21:General Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson's Birthday, 1824 
February 2:General Albert S.Johnston's Birthday
February 3:General Joseph E. Johnston's Birthday
February 8: Establishment of the Confederate States of America, 1861
February 22:President Jefferson Davis Inaugurated, 1862
March 4: Flag Day
April 12:Confederate batteries opened fire on Fort Sumter, War for Southern Independence began, 1861
April 26:Memorial Day (Ala., Fla, Ga., and Miss.)
May 10:General Thomas J. Jackson died, 1863. and Memorial Day (N.C. and S.C.)
May 30:Memorial Day (Va.)
June 3:Jefferson Davis born, 1808. Memorial Day (Ky., La., and Tenn.)
July 22:The US House of Representatives joined the Senate in voting to restore the American citizenship of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee, 1975
July 25:The US Senate passes a resolution 30 to 5 stating that the war is being fought to maintain the Union, not to end slavery, 1861
October 12:General Robert E. Lee died, 1870
December 6:President Jefferson Davis died, 1889

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