One of the Civil War reenactors I met at Jefferson, Texas wrote me and shared the link to his SCV camp’s site. (Sons of Confederate Veterans. ) It is one of the best sites I’ve seen for explaining what the Sons of Confederate Veterans organization is. The camp is in Orange, Texas. I hope to make it down to see these men sometime in the future. You can that site here:

And you can read about the Battle for Port Jefferson and see some photos here:

Book News:

As I’ve traveled and presented my programs in Texas schools, I’ve been impressed with how the students say the pledge to the Texas flag every day. If you’ve never read it, here it is:

Pledge to the Texas Flag

(Stand erect, remove your hat, place your right hand over your heart)
“Honor the Texas flag; I pledge allegiance
to thee, Texas, one state under God,
one and indivisible.”

And if you’ve never read the salute to the Confederate Flag, here it is:

Salute to the Confederate Flag

(Stand erect, remove your hat and stretch out your right hand, palm up)
“I salute the Confederate Flag with affection, reverence and undying devotion
to the Cause for which it stands.”

The Ten Causes of the War Between the States

Today, I found an article, posted on several sites on the Web, that argues there were ten main causes of the War Between the States. I’ve listed the author’s main points below. If you are interested in the “true” history of the War, rather than the version we have been taught in the past, you should read this article, written by James W. King and Lt. Col Thomas M. Nelson. You can find that site with the complete article here:

1. TARIFF: (Unfair Tariffs on the Southern States)

2. CENTRALIZATION VERSUS STATES RIGHTS (Though I will not add my own comments on all of the writer’s points, I do want to add this thought to this point: Do the people of America want Big (Brother) Government or a Limited Federal Government. Hurricanes Katrina and Rita revealed that the Federal Government is not the savior people had imagined.)

3. CHRISTIANITY VERSUS SECULAR HUMANISM

4. CULTURAL DIFFERENCES

5. CONTROL OF WESTERN TERRITORIES

6. NORTHERN INDUSTRIALISTS WANTED THE SOUTH’S RESOURCES

7. SLANDER OF THE SOUTH BY NORTHERN NEWSPAPERS

8. NEW ENGLANDERS ATTEMPTED TO INSTIGATE MASSIVE SLAVE REBELLIONS IN THE SOUTH

9. SLAVERY

10. NORTHERN AGGRESSION AGAINST SOUTHERN STATES

Since I am an English teacher and have often taught Charles Dickens, I found this quotation to be one of the best in the article.

Charles Dickens and the Causes of the Civil War

The famous English author Charles Dickens stated “[T]he Northern onslaught upon Southern slavery is a specious piece of humbug designed to mask their desire for the economic control of the Southern states.”