Before the war, it was said, “The United States are… ” Grammatically, it was spoken that way and thought of as a collection of independent states. After the war it was always “The United States is… ” – as we say today without being self-conscious at all. And that sums up what the war accomplished. […]
Civil War Quotes
One wore blue and one wore grey As they marched along the way A fife and drum began to play All on a beautiful morning One was gentle, one was kind One was gentle, one was kind One came home, one stayed behind A cannonball don’t pay no mind A cannonball don’t pay no mind […]
The war is over – the rebels are our countrymen again. (Upon stopping his men from cheering after Robert E. Lee’s surrender at Appomattox Court House, April 9, 1865)
Listen young heroes! Your country is calling! Time strikes the hour for the brave and the true! Now while the foremost are fighting and falling, Fill up the ranks that have opened for you!
He has lost his left arm, but I have lost my right arm.
We could have pursued no other course without dishonor. And as sad as the results have been, if it had all to be done over again, we should be compelled to act in precisely the same manner.
Let us judge not, that we be not judged. The prayers of both could not be answered. That of neither has been answered fully. The Almighty has His own purposes. “Woe unto the world because of offenses; for it must needs be that offenses come, but woe to that man by whom the offense cometh.” […]
Till after our Civil War it never seemed to enter the head of any foreigner, especially of any Englishman, that an American had what could be called a country, except as a place to eat, sleep, and trade in. Then it seemed to strike them suddenly. “By Jove, you know, fellahs don’t fight like that […]
From hence, let fierce contending nations know, What dire effects from civil discord flow.
Soldier-women bound their breasts when necessary, padded the waists of their trousers, and cut their hair short. Loreta Velazquez wore a false mustache, developed a masculine gait, learned to smoke cigars, and padded her uniform coat to make herself look more muscular… That roughly 750 women enlisted attests to the lax and perfunctory nature of […]
