The study of personal experience during the Civil War in this class has fascinated me. The Ayers' book was a great example of the way in which normal citizens were greatly affected by the War, as so many people were involved on so many levels. I think Horwitz really opened my eyes to the reality that the memory of the Civil War, and even the values it was fought to uphold, on both sides, is still alive and well today. However, it wasn't always that the common soldier knew, or even cared what he was fighting for. He simply fought because it was his duty. The Civil War may have very well been a war of the governments and educated fought by the lower classes.