And perhaps at first maybe they did, or even later,

也许在初期的确是这样
after a terrible degree of war weariness had set in.

在经历了大规模的厌战情绪后也依旧如此
The argument is simply that the South didn't have to win the war,

论点很简单南方不必去取得胜利
they didn't have to conquer the North,

他们不必去战胜北方
they simply had to fight long enough as an insurgent.

只是如同暴动一般进行拉锯战
They were the insurgent, the Confederacy was an insurgency,

就是暴动南方就是暴乱
let's use that term, that's exactly what they were.

我们就用这个术语很精准
If they could hold out long enough

如果他们能打持久战
and force the North into a degree of war weariness,

打到北方精疲力竭无心恋战
into some kind of economic trauma, they might just sue for peace.

陷入经济窘境他们或许会谈和
After all, the goal of the Confederacy was national independence.

毕竟南方的目的就是要独立
Some have said their cause was clearer, less abstract;

有人说他们目标明确且具体