[Blue Jays]

"...Antietam by the numbers..."

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That was a fascinating post. Thank you for sharing.

[Pecos]

One way of looking at the weaponry is to equate it to today's terminology. The soldiers were essentially firing soft lead 20 ga shotgun slugs from single-shot weapons.

I read once that the Civil War was a series of engagements using 18th century tactics and 20th century weapons. Not an entirely correct summation, but close enough to understand I wouldn't have wanted to be in my great grandfather's shoes at Fredricksburg.

[firebrand]

When asked why they were fighting if they disapproved of slavery themselves, a Southerner answered, “Because you guys were here!”

This line may be well known but it still strikes me as both corrective and classic.