Hq Qrs Army in the Field
Camp Near Donelson, Feby 16th
Gen S. B. Buckner,
Confed. Army,
Sir:
Yours of this date proposing Armistice and appointment of Commissioners, to settle terms of Capitulation, is just received. No terms except an unconditional surrender can be accepted.
I propose to move immediately upon your works.
I am sir , very respectfully,
Your obt. sevt.
U.S. GRANT; Brig. Gen
U.S. Grant, Feb 16, 1862, Ft Donaldson TN.
__________________ F. S. Powers
Union Ancersor: Pvt Arnuah Norton, 60th Ohio. (G-G-G Grandfather) Died at Salisbury NC, November 3, 1864
Confederate Ancestors: Captain Thomas A. Morrow, 29th Texas Cavalry (G-G-G- Uncle) and 2LT George W. Morrow, 31st Texas Cavalry (G-G-G Grandfather). Both survived the war
President Johnson asked him (Gen. Grant), "At what time can Lee and Beauregard and other leading Rebels be arrested and imprisoned?"
Grant replied, "Mr. President, so long as these men remain at home and observe the terms of their parole you never can do so. The Army of the United States stands between these men and you."
Unionblue
__________________ "The American people and the Government at Washington may refuse to recognize it for a time but the inexorable logic of events will force it upon them in the end; that the war now being waged in this land is a war for and against slavery." Frederick Douglass
"Loyalty to our ancestors does not include loyalty to their mistakes." George Santayana
Last edited by unionblue : 12-12-2006 at 05:36 AM.
In a visit to Grant at Mt. McGregor, NY, in 1885 by Simon Bolivar Buckner, Grant said,
"The trouble is now made by men who did not go into the war at all, or who did not get mad till the war was over."
Unionblue
__________________ "The American people and the Government at Washington may refuse to recognize it for a time but the inexorable logic of events will force it upon them in the end; that the war now being waged in this land is a war for and against slavery." Frederick Douglass
"Loyalty to our ancestors does not include loyalty to their mistakes." George Santayana
Last edited by unionblue : 12-12-2006 at 05:35 AM.
When Charles Sumner asked for General Grant's cooperation in having a picture of Lee's surrender painted in the rotunda of the capitol, Grant said,
"No, gentlemen. While I can prevent it there shall be no picture in the rotunda representing a surrender in which Americans are the humiliated parties."
Unionblue
__________________ "The American people and the Government at Washington may refuse to recognize it for a time but the inexorable logic of events will force it upon them in the end; that the war now being waged in this land is a war for and against slavery." Frederick Douglass
"Loyalty to our ancestors does not include loyalty to their mistakes." George Santayana
President Johnson asked him (Gen. Grant), "At what time can Lee and Beauregard and other leading Rebels be arrested and imprisoned?"
Grant replied, "Mr. President, so long as these men remain at home and observe the terms of their parole you never can do so. The Army of the United States stands between these men and you."
Unionblue
That is a man! With Johnson and the Rad. Republicans, in charge, only Grant could prevent that travesty that would reopen that wound already inflicted. (Wonder how it would play out if the situation would be reversed?)
Never mind that, it is interesting to me that it was the 'Northwesterners' (Illinoisians?) who came to be those who both ultimately took charge and made the victory, but also were the most magnanimous in the treatment of those defeated.
__________________
-
"It was a very peculiar time." - Franklin D. Cossitt
Ancestors in USA Army: 6th IA Inf, 11th IL Cav, 1st AL Cav; 122nd NY Inf; 6th MI Cav; 35th MA Inf; 100th IL Inf; 1st CO Inf/Cav; 22nd IN Inf
Grant and Sherman remained loyal to Lincoln's "let 'em up easy" intent. Sherman, perhaps the most intense prosecutor of all-out war, abruptly proved to be one of the most charitable victors. For them, when it was over, it was over and time to rebuild. Their next fight was with those who wanted to find and hang all the leaders of the rebellion. We;ve had men like that. Too often, we've ignored them.
Ole
__________________ I never knew a man who wished to be himself a slave. Consider if you know any good thing that no man desires for himself. A. Lincoln
Even these two tough stubborn soldiers, Grant and Sherman, could see it was well past time to end the war. Lee and Johnston had also made prior claims. It's a shame none of them had the power to act on their instincts. It was easy for Lincoln, Grant and Sherman to be so considerate of their Confederate adversaries (also 'brothers' and cousins); very few of those who began the war were still alive.
__________________
Ancestors in US Army: 13th TN Cav; 10th TN Cav; 3rd NC Inf
Ancestors in CSA Army: 48th VA; 63rd VA, 5th NC Cav; 37th NC
Wife and Grandson's CSA: 15th AL, 51st GA, 41st TN; 36th TN; GA Mil 1197 Dist
Last edited by larry_cockerham : 12-17-2006 at 12:03 PM.
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