Never surrender

[Union_Buff]

I'm just curious, if Lee hadn't surrendered at Appomattox, do you think the war would have turned into a prolonged guerilla war or would the Civil War have gone on for a bit longer? In my opinion, Forrest would have come to the fore if it had gone to a guerilla-type situation, the new "Stonewall Jackson". What do you think about this?

 

[unionblue]

Union_Buff,

You might want to check out the book, April 1865: The Month That Saved America, from your local library.

It covers this very real situation you mention in your post above.

Sincerely,
Unionblue

 

[Union_Buff]

Union_Buff,

You might want to check out the book, April 1865: The Month That Saved America, from your local library.

It covers this very real situation you mention in your post above.

Sincerely,
Unionblue

Thanks again for your help Blue. I'll definitely try to find it and read up on it.

 

[unionblue]

Union_Buff,

Your welcome.

You will enjoy the book and it will answer for you why the South in general and Gen. Lee in particular did not continue the war through guerilla warfare.

Glad to have been of help.

Sincerely,
Unionblue

 

[larry_cockerham]

I'm just curious, if Lee hadn't surrendered at Appomattox, do you think the war would have turned into a prolonged guerilla war or would the Civil War have gone on for a bit longer? In my opinion, Forrest would have come to the fore if it had gone to a guerilla-type situation, the new "Stonewall Jackson". What do you think about this?

As for Forrest, he spoke for himself:

May 4, 1865 The 21st Tennessee Cavalry CSA surrendered at Citronelle, Alabama under the command of Lt. Gen. Taylor, son of the former president. This included the remnants of the cavalry of Nathan Bedford Forrest who declared "You boys can do what you d*a*m*n please, I'm agoing home." This was in response to a proposal to move west and initiate guerrilla warfare.


N.B. Forrest and most of the men of the Confederate army had witnessed far more than enough bloodshed. Peace was at hand after four years and these men didn't want to screw it up. Union or Confederate, enough was enough.

 

[thrashassault]

Yeah I suppose the didn't want to screw it up the hope for peace. The Confederates who would've continued to fight probably wouldn't have received the same terms of surrender as the original forces did.

 

[Freddy]

If Lee had not surrendered on April 9th he faced three Union Corps plus calvary divisions. His weary forces would have been cut to pieces. About 28,000 men were paroled.

Joseph Johnston surrendered about 89,000 troops, 30,000 under his direct control, on April 26th. Some of his soldiers may have gone the guerrilla route but I am not aware if any did.

 

[Severon]

The best the Confederates could have hoped for would have been guerrilla warfare. The shape they were in exemplifies this.

 

[PINCKNEYUSMCRET]

Just what good would a guerilla war do. the real war had been lost. what would a guerilla war gain except to be a pain to the north who to end the guerilla war might make Shermans March to the Sea look like an easter parade and make the civilian popluce really miserable.

Pinckney

 

[ole]

No doubt. Fighting on in the hills and woods would have guaranteed nothing more than further devastation and misery for innocents and belligerents alike.

Guerillas have to eat. With no organized supply, they would have to requisition from the local folk. I suspect the locals would soon take to reporting their guerilla-camp locations, if not fighting alongside Yankees or forming their own counter-insurgency bands.

There might have remained bandits and terrorists in the hills, but I believe the majority of the Rebs had had enough of adventure and just wanted to go home and do what humans have always done: raise crops and babies.

Ole

 

[Union_Buff]

Thanks for the input

Well, I'm glad the war ended when it did - and like Ole said, everyone had enough of the war and wanted to get back to being civilians once more.