Ending the war

[atlantis]

We see quite a bit of criticism of Davis for not ending the War. Just how was he supposed to do that when the result could have been the mass execution of anyone associated with the confederacy. Lincoln couldn't be trusted given how he misled confederates into thinking Ft Sumter was to be evacuated then turned around and tried to resupply it. Davis had every reason based on history to think if he could make it to Texas he could regroup and carry on the fight.
Even a gov't in exile for example located in Cuba would based on history been possible.
The other thing Davis had to consider if you lay down arms, demobilize the army, the potential complete collapse of order is there.
Davis had no choice but to carry on to the bitter end.
Agree or disagree.

 

[major bill]

After Lee surrendered, there was little Davis could do to achieve victory. If Lee's surrender did not motivate Davis to seek peace terms, Jonhston's surrendered on April 26, 1865 should have convinced Davis the war effectively over and could not be won.

Some additional fighting in Texas would not have achieved much only delaying the end a short time and costing lives. Some government in exile would not have accomplished much better results than what eventually occured.

 

[13 IL Cav & 64 GA Inf]

We see quite a bit of criticism of Davis for not ending the War. Just how was he supposed to do that when the result could have been the mass execution of anyone associated with the confederacy. Lincoln couldn't be trusted given how he misled confederates into thinking Ft Sumter was to be evacuated then turned around and tried to resupply it. Davis had every reason based on history to think if he could make it to Texas he could regroup and carry on the fight.
Even a gov't in exile for example located in Cuba would based on history been possible.
The other thing Davis had to consider if you lay down arms, demobilize the army, the potential complete collapse of order is there.
Davis had no choice but to carry on to the bitter end.
Agree or disagree.

Considering the favorable terms and conditions that Grant gave Lee, an attempt at diplomacy with Lincoln's administration to discuss surrender may well have been feasible. The only thing that Davis might possibly have gained in such a surrender would be a less forceful repatriation/reconstruction.

 

[wausaubob]

Considering the favorable terms and conditions that Grant gave Lee, an attempt at diplomacy with Lincoln's administration to discuss surrender may well have been feasible. The only thing that Davis might possibly have gained in such a surrender would be a less forceful repatriation/reconstruction.

President Lincoln's terms after July 1863 would have required reunion and full abolition of slavery. Congress and Lincoln were probably both willing to negotiate a time table for emancipation. Neither Lincoln nor Grant had much appetite for personal retribution. Most of the Confederate government would have been invited to exile themselves in London, Paris or Montreal. Lincoln could have made it a little clearer.

 

[atlantis]

The Vietminh did not just give up against the French nor did American rebels during the US war for independence even though you had British garrisons up and down the east coast. With the collapse of slavery, the nature of the war changes from a defense of slavery to a war of self-defense.

 

[J C J Barefoot]

We see quite a bit of criticism of Davis for not ending the War. Just how was he supposed to do that when the result could have been the mass execution of anyone associated with the confederacy. Lincoln couldn't be trusted given how he misled confederates into thinking Ft Sumter was to be evacuated then turned around and tried to resupply it. Davis had every reason based on history to think if he could make it to Texas he could regroup and carry on the fight.

the With respect, I think your assertion is extreme. Based on such points as the behavior of Grant toward paroled troops after surrenders of Donelson and Vicksburg, the treatment of officers at Johnson's Island, the treatment of people in Memphis and New Orleans, and countless other examples there is scant evidence that Lincoln or the Union officers would have "mass executed anyone associated with the confederacy."
Davis was not exercising reasoned judgment after the fall of Richmond. It was clear when the lines at Petersburg broke that the fat Lady was singing. He thus became totally irrelevant by his own actions. One can look to Lee at Appomattox. When it finally came time to surrender he did not even bother to try and connect with Davis to get approval of the surrender of his Army. He simply surrendered without Davis pre approval.
Surrender has to be looked at in terms of not just terms going forward but in terms of lives saved, life time wounds that would have been avoided, and r and property saved.
Had surrender in 4thQ 1863 when it should have ended terms would have been similar to 1865 but the south would have been spared the lost of tens of thousands more men and the great cities, farms and infrastructure would have been saved to rebuild. Davis did speak often about becoming slaves of the North and suffering "degradation" --which he meant living along side blacks not subjected to slavery. Davis was motived by pride and honor above all else. Including the suffering of his own people.

 

[leftyhunter]

The Vietminh did not just give up against the French nor did American rebels during the US war for independence even though you had British garrisons up and down the east coast. With the collapse of slavery, the nature of the war changes from a defense of slavery to a war of self-defense.

The Vietminh and the Colonial Rebels had quite a bit of foreign support so not really a good example to use.
Leftyhunter