A civil war story’s deepest meaning is human fratricide, not tactics

Evidence

A whole is found in the story of Missouri, as revealed in this siege and capture. The 11th Missouri Regiment, USA, was on one side of the fighting; the 3rd Missouri, CSA, was on the other. From that fact is illumined the human tragedy that was the war itself: fratricide. It reveals the story of a divided border state, with an animosity almost exceeding that of Deep South and North. What difference does it make now, except to the researcher, who commanded these regiments? Or whether they were stationed on the left or right? Some of these Missouri boys, now striving to kill each other, were once fed gingerbread and doughnuts from the same Aunt Nellie’s jar. That is a whole. — Freeman Tilden, Interpreting Our Heritage, 314

Categorization

• SHARE: The Missouri regiments both sides from one state fighting each other after sharing Aunt Nellie’s doughnuts is a poignant detail for a history-interested friend.
• XREF: connects to: Expert interpreters must cultivate humility toward non-expert visitors — Freeman Tilden, Interpreting Our Heritage, 329