Vesta-
  My reading is generally earlier than the Civil War, but 12 or 15 years ago
(I was still at LVA at the time) Harvard Univ Press published a wonderful
study of Northern attitudes toward Virginia that argued, in essence, that
Union generals and soldiers from the North East were wowed by the Old
Dominion and those from the west less so - U. S. Grant being among the
latter.  It was a fascinating read, it may address your question, and
doubtless other Va-Hist folks will remember author, title etc.
All the best, Jon Kukla
==========
The Book Broker wrote:

>     Can anyone help answer the following question which came to me from
> a northern born Civil War historian.
>      In reading the letters and diaries of Union soldiers,  he has noted
> that, on crossing the Potomac for the first time, virtually all of them
> refer, sardonically or with bemusement, to "the sacred soil of
> Virginia."
>     He wonders  why so many young men from scattered places throughout
> the North, with a variety of educational backgrounds, would have all had
> that phrase on their minds.
>      Does anyone  know (a) who originated the phrase and (b) why it
> would have been so well known in 1861 to unsophisticated chaps.
>
> Thank you,
> Vesta Gordon
> --
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>
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--
Jon Kukla
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Brookneal, Virginia 23528
434 376-4172

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