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
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Monday, February 2, 2009
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
"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
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