James McPherson, of Princeton U, author of "For Cause and Comrades,"
examined this question as well in his seminal work. We were required to
read it (and four other books,) in Dr. Steven Deley's Civil War and
Reconstruction  course at University of Houston (upper class) which I just
finished. McPherson examined thousands of letters from CSA and Union
soldiers in hopes of finding the truest sentiments of why these men fought;
the ultimate answer it seems is rather varied and changed as the war
progressed. IOW, there was no single reason but there were overall themes:
to end slavery, and its counter-point; to protect the union and its
counter-point;  to protect home and hearth, and for love of comradeship are
some of the reoccurring and developing themes.  In Dr. Deley's course, were
were tested on these issues, and they are multi-layered. I would encourage
you to read McPherson's short but very readable work. which suggests the
rational changed over time as the war dragged on.




On Mon, May 7, 2012 at 11:29 AM, Jeff Southmayd <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

> "We often ask why so many southern white men, who did not own slaves and
> whose economic picture was negatively impacted by the competition from
> slavery, fought in 1861 to uphold an institution that did not evidently
> benefit them..."Pretty obvious they fought largely because their homes were
> being invaded by an enemy army.  Or as one Southern soldier in Virginia
> reportedly responded to a Northern soldier's question "Reb, why are you
> fighting" with "I reckon because your here."
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