Wednesday, May 2, 2001

While visiting my son last week in Fayette County, I happened to read a letter by a gentlemen from Fairburn. He first tells us that he accepted Christ at age 14. He then goes on to say how horrified he was to read your headline, "Last living daughter of the Confederacy." He includes the Confederate States of America in a Christ-less society along with Egypt, Rome, and Nazi Germany. To pervert and suborn the will of God while fighting to the death to have the ability to rape, kill and plunder at their own free will while enslaving a whole race.

My great-grandfather along with two great-uncles and a cousin never owned slaves. They owned small farms where they worked hard for a living, cotton being their main crop. They didn't like the unfair tariffs or the inability to sell their crops where they wanted. It was fight or starve. All three went to war and fought for what they believed in.

The Godless society phrase is simply not true! The ministers held church in the camps on Sunday morning and prayed to the same God I pray to today. Across the battlefield the soldiers of the Republic were praying the same prayers, for victory and to live another day.

I would suggest reading a few books on the Civil War to understand all of the facts about the conflict. A good book to start with would be the Civil War narrative written by Shelby Foote. He goes to great lengths to discuss the politics of the time along with Mr. Lincoln's thoughts and actions. While reading, you might look for Gen. William Tecumseh Sherman and his march to the sea.

You will find a quote by him stating, "I'm going to make Georgians squeal." You will also find that certain elements of Sherman's army did a great deal of plundering and killing at their own free will. As you know, "War is Hell." Many innocent families, women, children, and old people lost everything they owned, including anything of value.

We all know that slavery was wrong and that no person has the right to hold another person in bondage for their betterment. If you had a chance to sit down and to talk with Gen. Robert E. Lee or many other officers and enlisted men you would find that they felt the same way. They all realized that the problem had to be solved but no one had an answer to the complicated issue.

In closing, I would like to say that the Sons of Confederate Veterans are trying to honor our loved ones who fought, bled and died for their homeland. Let them honor them in peace. The Civil War is part of the history of our great nation. Marc, you or anyone else will never be able to change that.

Ralph W. Emerson, Jr.

(a descendant of Lt. William A. Smith, Sgt. James C. Emerson, Pvt. John Emerson, and Pvt. Wade Hampton Emerson, Company B, 59th Alabama Infantry, Hilliard's Legion)

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