[Colonel Kangaroo]

Unionist sentiment in the South was stronger than many today realize. There were many thousands of Southerners, especially in the non-slaveowning sections, who braved many hardships and dangers to reach Union lines.

Many southern citizens welcomed the Union army as liberators from confederate tyranny. Here's an diary entry from Illinois soldier Charles Partridge on his regiment's entry into Red Clay, Georgia:

"The Union citizens were quite demonstrative, some of them even bringing out flags, which had doubtless been hidden for at least three years. Women swung their bonnets and men hurrahed for the Yankees and the Union, manifesting great delight. One man, who claimed to be ninety-eight years old and to have been a captain in the War of 1812, was almost frantic in his ejaculations when the Old Flag came into sight."

Can you imagine the patriotic thrill today of the arrival of the American army into your town to free you from oppressors who would not even let you own the Stars and Stripes? There were many brave men in the CSA's front lines, but rebel government at home was brutal to the significant number who loved the old Union.

[the OlLine Rebel]

Interesting vignette.

But "brutal" may be a bit strong. "Depressing" and "alienated" may be more accurate. If it was really brutal, those people wouldn't have existed.

[stand watie]

the best estimate of "unionist sympathy" after 1863 is about 8-10% of the southern population. most of that was "hillbillies" from the "highlands".

free dixie,sw

[stand watie]

fwiw, reference the "unionists in dixie": NATURE is UNKIND to TURNCOATS & TRAITORS! the "unionists" behind dixie lines SHOULD have been treated in the same HARSH manner as unarmed "rebel civilians" were by the invading DY army!

btw, at least 92 of MY family members were RAPED, ROBBED, TORTURED & MURDERED by the DAMNyankee cavalry just because they were UNarmed, defense-LESS, POOR & "other than WHITE persons".(SADLY, the SLAUGHTER of my family was FAR from unique. such hecatombs were COMMONPLACE throughout the occuppied southland!)

free dixie,saw