Like Tony Horowitz I grew up enamored of the Civil War (War Between the States). I was steeped in Old South mythology and tales of heroics in battle. I knew my Confederate ancestors and learned early to hate the "damn Yankees" whom I was taught made us poor and impoverished as a region.

Why, though, as an adult, despite my study and knowledge was I not able to exorcise all those demons. Why do I still get a little shiver when I'm on some of the "hallowed ground" of that conflict.

On a lark, I decided to read Horowitz' book. I'm glad I did. This thought provoking travelogue takes a stab at all the various groups, psychologies, and motivations of Civil War worship in the South. It also does something no other book has ever accomplished - to do it fairly and with a balanced approach.

In this tome I came to know and better understand the people I had cast as villains and bigots. To understand the underlying reasons for their dogmatic insistence on creating a myth of the Old South which, albeit out of touch with reality, is understandable. I also came to know better those I had defended in the past and to understand their hatred for almost all things white or southern and to understand why, often, I was looked upon just as suspisciously by them as by the neo-Confederates!

In short, this wonderful work gave me new insight into my own culture. It allowed me to meet people and hear their stories in ways I never would have done personally. It allowed me into the inner sanctum of Confederate Worship: the Sons of Confederate Veterans and United Daughters of the Confederacy -- places I would never have ventured on my own. I was able to attend a Civil Right memorial and hear the public discourse, but then hear, in private, the prejudice, anti-semitism, and hatred of those professing broad-mindedness. I was able to visit separtist schools both black and white and hear how the students were being insulated from one another - how each was teaching that the other was irrelevant to their experience except as blame for injustice.

However, don't get the idea that this book is heavy and drab. It isn't. The tone is clear, fresh, and often humorous. With Horowitz we attend reenactments and "hard core" camp outs. This was another area where I learned about people who had puzzled me. As a Revolutionary War reenactor, the Civil War folks always seemed rather odd. Especially when some of them would stand "guard duty" all night at events. It just seemed strange when they knew no one was going to attack! Horowitz helped me understand their motivations. While they still seem strange, I now understand why they do what they do.

Of course, this leads to my one criticism of the book. Horowitz attends many reenactments but only mentions in passing the number of real injuries involved in their mock battles. Having been a guest at one and walked off the field because of numerous safety violations, it would have been nice for him to point out this aspect of the "hobby" and to perhaps look at why they break so many safety rules at their events. Could it be they want to be casualties? After all, one hardcore intimates to Horowitz that he'd like to use real bullets 'just once, to see what it's like under fire.'

Horowitz' book is a great read and highly recommended for anyone both North and South who wants to understand why we're still yelling about statues, flags, battlefields, and just what it all means.


Recommended: Yes