I guess 150 years after the fact people think they can get away with rewriting history. On that subject, I wrote the below letter, which the Washington Times (Reagan’s favorite paper) published. For the men with the greatest motive to apply the word “traitor”, the idea never crossed their minds. I sometimes wonder if Ken Burn’s Civil War could be shown today?
Demeaning Our Military Heritage
This country owes as much of its enviable martial heritage to the South as the North. But now to serve popular morality, we must banish from history the Confederate battle flag and those who served under it. Responding to these assertions, I quote Joshua Chamberlain who received the Confederate surrender at Appomattox.
“Before us in proud humiliation stood the embodiment of manhood: men whom neither toils and sufferings, nor the fact of death, nor disaster, nor hopelessness could bend from their resolve; standing before us now, thin, worn, and famished, but erect, and with eyes looking level into ours, waking memories that bound us together as no other bond;—was not such manhood to be welcomed back into a Union so tested and assured?”
Winston Churchill commented concerning American entry into WW II that victory was then assured, because our Civil War demonstrated the tenacity required to defeat the Nazis.
Joshua Chamberlain
https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Joshua_Chamberlain
P.S.
At Appomattox General Grant said, “I felt like anything rather than rejoicing at the downfall of a foe who had fought so long and valiantly, and had suffered so much for a cause, though that cause was, I believe, one of the worst for which a people ever fought, and one for which there was the least excuse. I do not question, however, the sincerity of the great mass of those who were opposed to us”.
Per your quote from Grant which is exact, he felt that the war was nearly over and that was it. The rest gave up soon after and Sherman got into it with the scum in DC who demanded he rewrite his conditions to Johnston.
Sherman retorted to. I believe it was Stanton, that he had better watch it because some rash person might do something to him. Grant was sent to Sherman with orders to relieve him, but Grant simply gave Sherman the new terms he was to propose to Johnston. This he did in secrete.
Grant, Sherman, Lee and Johnston saved this nation in those few days. I really believe that if the scum in DC persisted in their determination of hanging Lee and others, that Grant would have led a coup and ordered the arrest of those trying to do the deed.
Grant felt it was OVER and that was that.
Great man.
Thanks for posting your letter!