The Assassination of Lincoln

April 14, 1865 was the day of a tragic event. President Lincoln was assassinated by a southern. John Wilkes Booth shot Lincoln at the back of his head with a piston. Booth had reasoned that if he got rid of the president the south would benefit. Apparently he has not learned that violence will get us nowhere! This is proof that there is a long way to go before the Union will truly be united.

http://www.americaslibrary.gov/jb/civil/jb_civil_lincoln_1.html
http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/alhtml/alrintr.html

Surrender

By April 1 all supply routes for the confederate army had virtually been cut off. President Davis fled from Richmond. Despite losing a quarter of my army I pushed on. I was not ready for defeat. Even so, I had to admit that my men were only mortal. We needed supplies. I headed to Appomattox Station to gain supplies. We were encircled. Grant sent a letter asking me to surrender.

"General R.E. Lee, Commanding C.S.A.:
5 P.M., April 7th, 1865.
The results of the last week must convince you of the hopelessness of further resistance on the part of the Army of Northern Virginia in this struggle. I feel that it is so, and regard it as my duty to shift from myself the responsibility of any further effusion of blood by asking of you the surrender of that portion of the Confederate States army known as the Army of Northern Virginia.
U.S. Grant, Lieutenant-General"


In turn I replied:

"April 7th, 1865.
General: I have received your note of this date. Though not entertaining the opinion you express of the hopelessness of further resistance on the part of the Army of Northern Virginia, I reciprocate your desire to avoid useless effusion of blood, and therefore, before considering your proposition, ask the terms you will offer on condition of its surrender.
R.E. Lee, General."


I did not surrender outright, but to avoid more bloodshed I had to.

http://www.eyewitnesstohistory.com/appomatx.htm

The Civil War Battlefield Guide
Edited by Frances H. Kennedy

The Siege of Vicksburg

Another blow has been dealt to the confederate army. While I was fighting in Gettysburg other portions of our army were fighting elsewhere. General Pemberton was overwhelmed in Vicksburg, Mississippi around the same time I suffered my defeat. Over 10,000 men were killed and 37,000 prisoners were taken from the confederate army. They took 260 cannons, 60,000 stand-of-arms, and over 2 million rounds of ammunition.

There is no more hope left to fight with, only pride.


http://www.sonofthesouth.net/leefoundation/siege-vicksburg.htm

The Civil War Battlefield Guide Edited by Frances H. Kennedy.

The Battle of Gettysburg

The win at Chancellorsville energized me, so I pushed north. My plan was to deal the union a devastating blow, but I didn’t want to make take an aggressive battle too far in the enemy’s country. There were two main reasons for my gamble. In Pennsylvania there was food available to feed my men and their horses. Also if I didn’t attack the union soldiers first that would get us. I was pretty sure moving north would scare Hooker into defending Washington. Even so a gut feeling told me that something was going to go wrong. The soldier I sent to spy on the Union never returned, so I assumed it was safe. It was a stupid assumption on my behalf. Needless to say the Union army followed us and we were defeated. We lost well over a third of our army. Little hope remains.

In There Own Words: Civil War Commanders collected and edited by T.J. Stiles

The Long Road to Gettysburg written by Jim Murphy

The Battle of Chancellorsville

This took place from April 30 to May 6.

My army and I met union soldiers at a ford in Chancellorsville, Virginia. No conversation passed between our opposing sides, but we gave a rallying cry as we attacked the Yankees. They appeared amused for a brief moment that went away, however, when we bombarded them with shells. They stood in perfect formation and fired upon us. Waves of men fell from each army but many more from our side. They were told to fire at will and I commanded my men to do the same. Then additional union soldiers attacked us on each side. We were tricked! Once again we were outnumbered 2:1.

I divided my army into sections to take out those sent to hit us on both sides. Surprisingly the union soldiers were the ones retreating. I had to tell my soldier, “That is the way you young men always do. You allow those people to get away. I tell you what to do and you can’t do it." To summarize as the Union Army was constantly being divided we held together. We were the victors in the battle.


Originally Printed in Civil War Times
http://www.historynet.com/battle-of-chancellorsville-day-one.htm

The Civil War: Strange and Fascinating Facts. Burke Davis The Fairfax Press.

Originally Printed in Civil War Times
http://www.historynet.com/battle-of-salem-church-final-federal-assault-at-chancellorsville.htm

Freeing Slaves? An Emancipation Proclamation?

"There are few, I believe, in this enlightened age, who will not acknowledge that slavery as an institution is a moral and political evil."

Slavery is a macabre evil. I will not deny that I have inherited slaves. I will not deny that I used their labor for my own profit. These things, however, reflect nothing of my inner turmoil. God knows that owning and using these people is a sin but, “I think it, however, is a greater evil to the white man than to the black race”. Africans are better off here than they were in the jungles. Those abolitionists are irresponsible and unaccountable” because providence will free the slave in his time through natural causes.

http://www.sonofthesouth.net/leefoundation/Lee%20on%20Slavery.htm

http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?index=1&did=1615435601&SrchMode=1&sid=2&Fmt=3&VInst=PROD&VType=PQD&RQT=309&VName=PQD&TS=1233024607&clientId=19245

Battle of Sharpsburg

I have had the longest and most disappointing days in my life. The Battle of Sharpsburg was the beginning of the end, and it was by far one of the most tragic conflicts I have ever taken part in. I remember looking at my troops while standing on a rock. I contemplated whether or not to retreat. I was outnumbered 2 to 1. They surrounded us in group formations. My men were prepared to give there all. But I determined that life was more important than winning that one battle. So I retreated so we could get more troops and restock supplies.

It was perhaps pure negligence on my part though. I came up with a detailed plan to defeat the Union army but fate intervened. I trusted one of my officers to deliver the details. He wrapped the orders in a cigar case. Unfortunately, he lost them and they fell into the hands of the Union army. I discovered this much too late. The Battle of Antietam was the most gruesome event of my life. It was the largest amount causalities I have ever seen in my life. Over 23,000 men died! It was an inconclusive battle for the most part although the Union saw it as a defeat for us. Now Lincoln has decided to free the slaves!




http://www.nps.gov/archive/anti/battle.htm

http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?index=0&did=749880681&SrchMode=1&sid=6&Fmt=4&VInst=PROD&VType=PQD&RQT=309&VName=PQD&TS=1232745676&clientId=19245

http://www.americaslibrary.gov/cgi-bin/page.cgi/jb/civil/battle_2

http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?index=55&did=866776241&SrchMode=1&sid=4&Fmt=3&VInst=PROD&VType=PQD&RQT=309&VName=PQD&TS=1232744982&clientId=19245

http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?index=4&did=1407959391&SrchMode=1&sid=4&Fmt=3&VInst=PROD&VType=PQD&RQT=309&VName=PQD&TS=1232744226&clientId=19245