civil war

An armed struggle between opposing and contending forces of the same nation for the control of the government. 56 Am J1st War § 2. While protection of the law of war is not accorded to those engaging in an insurrection or rebellion against the constituted authority, unless a state of belligerency is recognized by the existing government, when hostilities attain dimensions which interfere with the exercise of the jurisdiction of the existing government in some of its territorial districts, a state of war exists. The War between the Federal government of the United States and the seceding Confederate States, although referred to as the "Civil War," sometimes as the "War of Rebellion" or "The Great Rebellion," was accompanied by the general incidents of an international war, and the rules of war, as recognized by the public law of civilized nations, were applied, even though the general principles and purposes of the Federal government were the re-establishment of national authority and the ultimate restoration of the seceding states and their citizens to their national relations without any view of subjugation by conquest. 56 Am J1st War § 3.