Robert E. Lee's-- Uniform/Surrender

[larry_cockerham]

Your logic in that regard is still terribly thin. The money is an interesting subject. Seems the currency of the land would certainly have been limited to US dollars in 1865. Confederate paper would have been even too small for adequate buttwipe. An interesting question. Could be an infinite number of possibilities. Bribery would have made little sense in view of the fact the war was over? None of these gentlemen had much power to do anything except take a well-earned rest.

[5fish]

I know my logic and theory are walking on thin ice, but if you look at the naunce of the uniform one could make the argument if it was acquired in the weeks prior to April 1865.

The money only means Gen. Lee showed up in Richmond with a few dollars in his pocket in 1865, but one could infer on the use and purpose for the money before April 1865.

Gen. Lee had some money when he showed at home but most of his men showed up at thier homes with just thier human soul..

[larry_cockerham]

Robert Edward Lee was Virginia aristocracy, or as close to it as existed at the time. He couldn't be seen running around penniless. Many a man would have gladly sacrificed for the comfort of Robert E. Lee. The position at what was to become Washington and Lee University was created for that cause and probably little else.

[5fish]

I understand that most anyone in the south after the war would gladly sacrified to provided Gen. Lee with any needs he would have require.

This brings up something interesting, key in any confederate generals name into Wkipedia and read about thier post civil war days. You will learn. They all had successful lives after the war many becoming wealthy but none died in poverty.

I know of a couple union generals that were near poverty at death.( Hancock & Grant )

It makes me wonder how bad the reconsturction years were for the south since every confederate general that survived the war lived a middle or upper class life style.

You will find no poverty among the confederate generals. At least I haven't.

[ole]

You will find no poverty among the confederate generals. At least I haven't.

The fact that they were generals indicates that they had something in their characters to allow them to be somewhat successful in whatever they did. In short, they were not losers. They might have been bad generals but they were capable of taking care of themselves--even after the war.

The rest of your post, I'm sure, will garner a few responses.

ole

[larry_cockerham]

Grant for one, had a bit of a drinking challenge. Seems to me the presidency should have given him avenues to economic comfort were it not for his ailment. I think Ole's response is quite on target. To have gained admission to West Point or to have been appointed an officer in the CSA required a background of wealth if not social standing. Even Nathan Bedford Forrest had several dollars in his pouch when the war broke out. The training for general he was about to receive in the field. Most officers were alread doctors, lawyers or Indian chiefs, particulary in the case of Stande Waite. The northern officers tended to be more regular army and in far greater numbers, gave them more chances for a man of less weathtly roots to advance.

[5fish]

A interesting note about the surrender.

All the description of the meeting between Gen Lee and Gen. Grant come form either Gen. Grant's or Col. Porter's eyewitness accounts.

Gen. Lee did bring along aids but you never read their eyewitness account of the two generals meeting. I know Col. Marshall was at the meeting and wrote a book about his time with Gen. Lee. I have never read his eyewitness account to the meeting.

Has anyone read an account of Gen Lee's And Gen. Grant's meeting that was not based on either Grant's or Porter's eyewitness accounts.

[5fish]

One of my points is that as far as I could tell most if not all Confederate generals lived a good life after the war.

I remember a many fellow southerns act as if reconstruction period was this horrible time in the south; and some have said it took hundred years for the south to recover from the war.

I think it was not that bad from what I read. Yes, were Gen. Sherman went there was a lot of rebuilding but most southern cities were intake when the war ended.

From what I read the southerns were more upset about the blacks right to vote; and not about feeding themselves.

Which means that once the north ended the blockade of the south was able to feed itself within a year of the war ending.

I believe the south took hundred years to catch up with the north economically due to the fact the south was just slow to change it ways.

[M E Wolf]

Dear 5fish and List Members;

In the article: Captains of the Civil War--Chronicle of the Blue and Grey by William Wood; says in part -- General Lee's Aide-de-Camp explained to General Grant, when the Confederates had been obliged to reduce themselves simply to what they stood in; each officer had naturally put on their best and brand new uniforms. This also applied to General Lee, who wore his best uniform and wore his jeweled sword--a gift from Virginia.

Reading on further, the recollections of General Lee's sons and other associates; he did budget himself. Mrs. Lee, even in her wheel chair and in poor health, knitted socks as to clothe the soldiers. General Lee when he got food, sent it to Richmond to his wife and daughters. A lemon was a big deal.

Another thing comes to mind--women made their own clothing for their family; especially the ones who had no funds. With the adoration of the Southern woman; I highly consider that these women took bits and pieces as to match them and create a 'new' uniform. I reflect on my own Mother, who took my deceased relative's old WWI uniform of the US Army which wasn't in the best condition; tailored it as to provide me the most beautiful 'regimental' uniform to mirror General George S. Patton of WWII fame. I had cap guns, riding boots, crop as a swagger stick, spurs and my deceased battle ribbons, a helmet--and, I got the first prize for best costume!

I often think of the movie Gone with the windand how people made clothes out of blankets and anything they had--even curtains.

I am also of the thought, that it could have been possible, that Mrs. Lee stored in her well guarded home on Franklin Street, in Richmond, Virginia--a uniform at the ready.

True--The Lees, Custis, Fitzhugh and other branches of the family were well off compared to most--The Confederate uniform for Generals were interchangeable for the highest ranks.

General Grant's new uniforms, as to reflect his new rank was still stuck enroute in baggage.

Regardless, no matter how much research there might be done; it is probably one of those things which was insugnificant to those Generals at the surrender. The symbolism that came out of it, in my opinion--coincidental. However, coincidental or not--I feel it was perfect and was used as to take the 'sting' out of surrender, rose the dignity level of General Lee and the process of protocol. General Grant in his simplicity; created a common soldier appearance, humble and not a 'show off' as to rub the Confederate's nose in the defeat. The respect was genuine for General Lee for both sides. Hats in hand by the Federal troops, was a silent salute to the man, the gentleman and a great General as history in post Civil War would demonstrate--the amount of men, horses, support--he did more with less.

The fact that in the terms of surrender, the sword was no longer considered a weapon--allowing General Lee to keep his jeweled sword. The uniform would be of new use. But, was clothing that was certainly needed. Confederate cavalry mainly bought and owned their own horses--many had the bill of sale; thus allowed to take horses home and resume farming and the like.

After the Civil War, the Federal cavalry had to return their horses; as they were Government issued. If they bought them, only then did they get the opportunity to take them home.

Just some thoughts.

Sincerely,
M. E. Wolf

[5fish]

Wolf,

I know Lee's wife made him socks and repairs to his tattered clothes, but I do not believe she ever made him a uniform.

I know the Napoleonic style coat he wore to the surrender of his army was made in London, England. He brought it out of storage to wear it to the surrender. The uniform under the coat was new or not that I do not know.

I know Lee's staff pulled out their best uniforms during their flight from Grant's army expecting to be capture at anytime.

The new uniform is used all the time about Lee in the days before his surrender. My question is did he buy new uniforms during the siege of Petersburg if he did he surrender was the only option and he as preparing for it.

If Lee knew surrender was the only option then Ewell's words ring true after his surrender. I am paraphrasing them "Any further fighting is murder"