ItwascommonknowledgeamongthetroopsofbothsidesduringtheAmericanCivilWarthatUniongeneralGeorgeMcClellanandConfederategeneralAmbroseHillhadbeenrivalsforthehandofthebeautifulNellieMarcywhileatWestPoint.NelliehadbeenundecidedforsomewhileandhadflirtedwithbothmenbeforeeventuallymarryingMcClellan.
ItwasnoticeablethatduringMcClellan'scampaignsaroundRichmondin1862HillwasalwaysintheforefrontofConfederateattacks.UnionsoldiersgotsotiredofbeinghitinflankorrearbyHill'smenthattheyattributedHill'sactionstoapersonalvendetta.Ononeoccasion,beforethesunhadevencomeup,Hill'smenbegananattack.Forcedtorolloutoftheirbedsandtakeuparms,theUnionsoldiersbegantogrumble,oneveterancryingcutindisgust,“MyGod,Nellie,whydidn'tyoumarryhim!”
美國南北戰爭期間，雙方將士無不知道北軍將領喬治．麥克萊倫和南軍將領安布羅斯．希南當年在西點軍校都曾追求美麗的聶莉．馬西。聶莉最初周旋兩人之間，難以取捨，後來下嫁麥克萊倫。
麥克萊倫一八六二年戰於利其蒙一帶，南軍每次來襲，希南顯然都奮勇爭先。北軍側翼、後方不斷受到希南部隊攻擊，不勝其苦，都認為他是公報私仇。有一次，太陽還未升起，希南部隊已展開攻擊，北軍士兵被迫下牀拿起武器，都口出怨言，一名老兵悻悻然高喊：「天啊！聶莉，你當年為甚麼不嫁他？」
【注】Vendetta指「力求報復的宿怨」，Heisconductingavendettaagainsthisformeremployer即「他仇恨前雇主，蓄意報復」。