[Gondring]

Jackson could have been the fourth. That blacks would sneak past Union sentries to put flowers upon Stonewall's grave speaks volumes.

[Frumious Bandersnatch]

There were indeed others, many others on both sides who were great. But it was these three, more than any others, who ended the war on an upbeat note. Grant's treatment and defense of Lee was admired and appreciated by the defeated south. OTOH, Lee was admired for his honor, honesty and chivalry by many in the north. He was also appreciated for not carping about losing. Lincoln fought to keep the Union together and desired to eradicate the tensions engendered by the war.

The worst enemy that the south ever had was John Wilkes Booth. By assinationg Lincoln, Booth removed the one check upon an extremely hostile congress that existed.

I believe that had reconstruction never happened, and that the southern states were accepted as Lincoln desired them to be, the war would have ended around 1865.

[Non-Sequitur]

That blacks would sneak past Union sentries to put flowers upon Stonewall's grave speaks volumes.

Why on Earth would the Union Army post sentries over Jackson's grave?