When will it end

This small selection is from the most popular song of the Civil War, North and South. “Suit of blue” was simply changed to “suit of gray” for the Confederate version. Dearest Love, do you remember, when we last did meet, How you told me that you loved me, kneeling at my feet? Oh! How proud you stood before me, in your suit of blue, When you vow’d to me and country, ever to be true. CHORUS: Weeping, sad and lovely, hopes and fears how vain! When this cruel war is over, praying that we meet again.” Reality behind a romantic poem, was not pretty during the Civil War. In May of 1861, the 1st confiscation act was passed by the Union in which disloyal owners ( Southern) could be divested of their slaves used to aid in the war effort. In July of 1862, the 2nd confiscation act said disloyal Southerners could be divested of all property including slaves whether or not used for the war effort. These two realities preceded the Emancipation Proclamation of January 1863 which freed slaves in the seceded States. On January 31, 1865, Congress passed the 13th Amendment banning slavery in our nation. White Southerners did not react gracefully to Emancipation. In April of 1864, they massacred blacks at Fort Pillow, Tenn. In April 1864 they again slaughtered black Union soldiers at Plymouth, So. Carolina. In July of 1864, they murdered many of them (atrociously) at the Crater near Petersburg, VA. Furthermore, black Union soldiers often faced enslavement or death if captured by Confederate troops. Unfortunately, the flames of reverse bigotry burn today. Travyon Martin’s death ( justified or not) has become the cause celebre of blacks ( this time around) who falsely want to make racism the central issue to promote another war.