Let us look at 1861. During that time the United States was a collection of independant states that were soverent bodies. Loyalty was not to the United States as a whole but to the home state. Governers appointed Generals to command regements from the state that raised them. It was not until after the reunification that the change "The United States is", before it was "The United States are".

As to the question as to which side I would fight for is strange..The section of Western North Carolina that I am from was split down the middle, to the extent that that portion of the state and Eastern Tennessee were going to succed from the Confederacy and become the State of Franklin.

I had great great grandfathers who fought for 16th NCST, 58th NCST, 7 NC Cav BN, 43th NCST all Confederate and I had great great grandfathers who fought for 34th PA Inf, 13th TN Cav, 3rd NC Mounted Inf. All Union.

I reenact with a Confederate unit...I would guess the I would remain loyal to my home state and enlist in a North Carolina Company.

My in-laws just moved from the Franklin area, Otto to be exact.

I probably would have fought for the Confederacy, given my home state is Georgia.