Fascinating - Civil War prisoner camp uncovered...
 

I never could understand how both sides could treat the other's prisoners so poorly in the Civil War. You'd think they'd have some sort of compassion and sympathy for their fellow countrymen.

It was a different time and place. Compassion for your fellow man was not at the forefront. The roots of hatred ran deep as did distrust and outrite racisim.

It was war after all. Not like wars today fought with high power rifels drones and electronic survelliance.

It's the first step people have to take when they go to war, dehumanize the opponent.

HunterICX

I think the main causes are usually more practical than psychological. After all if your own troops are starving you're not going to feed your enemy prisoners any better.

Well, how much better was it for friendly troops there? It couldn't have been much of a rose garden for either side during that period.

The thing is, they weren't exactly fellow countryman at the time were they?

Well, in the strictest sense, you're right. But before the war, they were. It was still "brother against brother" after all.

Interesting viewpoints.

This puts me in mind of the prison camp scene in The Good, The Bad & The Ugly. I doubt they would have been very pleasant places to be for either side.

Not supprisingly the thread immediatly tacked to the sins of our past vs the actual find itself.

Sure there interlated but .... well I would really like to get a look at that site.

A pipe fashoned from melted bullets... sure its lead but who knew. ;)

That is a great scene, also the big battle at the *SPOILER* bridge battle.

Overall, the movie is still one of my favorites, despite being 30 years old, made waaay before I was born.

If you haven't seen it, watch it on Hulu :DL


Okay back on topic..

The funny thing is, all the civil war scene's in that movie were WAY off the mark. Starting with the setting. There is no desert in the south. Infact, there is no civil war battle ever fought that im aware of that happened in the desert, or anywhere arid with sage brush and what not.

I suspect that Sergio didn't care that much as he'd already made a bundle on the first two movies in the trilogy.

You're 30 years old? :o

Oh, you meant the movie. Actually it's 44 this year.

1861
July 26: Confederate attack on Fort Filmore, NM.
August 3: Skirmish at Mesilla, NM.
August 12: Skirmsh at Fort Davis, TX between Confederates and Apaches.
August 23: Skirmish at Fort Craig, NM.
August 23: Skirmish at Fort Craig, NM.
September 7: Skirmish between Union forces and Indians near Santa Ana Canyon, CA.
September 25: Skirmish at Cañada Alamosa, NM.
September 26: Skirmish at Fort Thorn, NM.

That's as far as I ever got with my notes, back when I was collecting information for a Civil War miniatures game. But it's probably enough.