Fall Colors

I'm reading a fascinating book on Abraham Lincoln (entitled "Team of Rivals") and am learning a lot about the Civil War period.  I just finished the part where the Secessionists cut off the resupply of the beleaguered Fort Sumter, in essence firing the first shot of the War Between the States.  Instantly, that act of aggression elicited a patriotic response in the North in which formerly feuding factions came together in a purpose to preserve the Union.  The things which divided soon became clearly less important than that great and noble purpose.  Amazing how that tends to happen!