Appomattox surrender- 149th anniversary

[PaigeBooth]

Couldn't let the day go by without taking a moment to remember that today marks the 149th anniversary of General Robert E. Lee's surrender to Grant at Appomattox Courthouse, Virginia. Even though next year will mark the big 150th, I still can't help myself from pondering over the amazing turn of events that happened on this particular day. John Wilkes Booth must have been devastated to hear the news! The war was over, well at least it was almost over- clear enough to see the waning Confederate Cause was practically over in the face of reality. I guess JWB still felt his plot against the government was still an "act of war" since Confederate General Joseph Johnston had still not surrendered his arms despite Lee's unfortunate loss at Petersburg. I remember reading the worst of all for Lee was the return ride to his faithful soldiers after the surrender. His soldiers whose ''shouts sank into silence'' and whose bronzed faces ''were bathed with tears.''

[L Verge]

Paige,

I'm wearing black today.

[Francis Farrell]

This is indeed a a day that changed the American Landscape. General Lee, concerned for his valiant and loyal trops made a decison that spared them from what would have been a defeat that would have bathed the landscape of Appomattox with blood of both sides to acheive not a victory but a continuation of what had become a long and protracted esanguination of young and old. General Lee accepted the humiliation in his surrender as the price to be paid for stopping the killing. General Grant was not the conquering hero in demeaning Gen. Lee but treated him with the repect due an equal. That the soldiers individually knew how divisive this had become and in an effort to honor american solidiers, Gen Joshua Chamberlin needs to be remembered- his action of rendering Honor for Honor as the ANV marched past to furl flags and stack arms is an unprecedented act of courage and provided the ANV with a sense of Dignity for the courage to fight for their beliefs and the manner in which they conducted themselves on the field of honor.

Unfortunately the same cannot be said for the politicians who governed (both sides) and then developed Reconstruction. This event I am afraid stil haunts us today.

Excuse myramblings , but I have over a lifetime found it possible to recognize in Gen. Grant a sense of honor and great respect for Gen. Lee and his men, as well as the humblness in Gen. Lee in accepting that to save his men the only choice was to leave the field with as much honor as possible.

I am yr,. Ob Svt:

Francis Farrell

[LincolnToddFan]

General Lee later said(per Jay Winik in "April 1865: The Month That Saved America") that he surrendered as much to Lincoln's goodness as he did to Grant's armies. That, in itself, is remarkable in the annals of warfare.

President Lincoln had often predicted that he would not live to see the end of the war but I thank God for his small mercies that the poor man did love to see it... even if only barely.

[LincolnMan]

And after this event, the Booth plot to take Lincoln for ransom will become an assassination plan.

[JMadonna]

And after this event, the Booth plot to take Lincoln for ransom will become an assassination plan.

I'd place the Fall of Richmond as the event that the ransom became an assassination plan.

[Gene C]

Was that "The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down"?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X_eK9ERNChI

[Wild Bill]

Dammit, Gene, it made me cry. I love JB's voice, but can't stand her politics. Good looking', too!

[Linda Anderson]

Joan Baez's version is beautiful. The song was written by Canadian Robbie Robertson who said, "When I first went down South, I remember that a quite common expression would be, 'Well don't worry, the South's gonna rise again.' At one point when I heard it I thought it was kind of a funny statement and then I heard it another time and I was really touched by it. I thought, 'God, because I keep hearing this, there's pain here, there is a sadness here.' In Americana land, it's a kind of a beautiful sadness.[2]"

In The Band's version, the lead is sung by Levon Helm who was raised in Turkey Scratch, Arkansas. It's very haunting.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jREUrbGGrgM

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Night_T...Dixie_Down

[Wild Bill]

My favorite comment: white trash shall rise again. In my case it is true--Florida Parishes Louisiana. In Rick Smith's it is not--too blue-blood Virginia Tidewater!

[Rick Smith]

My favorite comment: white trash shall rise again. In my case it is true--Florida Parishes Louisiana. In Rick Smith's it is not--too blue-blood Virginia Tidewater!

Bill,

Even so, the important thing to take note of is that we hold to the same Cause, whether lost or otherwise.

Rick

[LincolnMan]

And after this event, the Booth plot to take Lincoln for ransom will become an assassination plan.

I'd place the Fall of Richmond as the event that the ransom became an assassination plan.

You're right for sure. I guess the fall was the straw that broke the camel's back for Booth.

[LincolnToddFan]

And after this event, the Booth plot to take Lincoln for ransom will become an assassination plan.

I think the straw that broke the camel's back was AL's speech from a window of the WH on April 11 1865, suggesting that former slaves who had served in the Union armies be granted the vote . Booth and Lewis Powell were in the crowd that night and Booth reportedly snapped "[i]Did you hear him?! He is talking about n----r citizenship! That is the last speech he will ever make..by God I'll put him through!" He urged Powell to shoot the president right then and there on the spot, but Powell refused.

I believe THAT was the moment that sealed Lincoln's fate.

[RJNorton]

I believe THAT was the moment that sealed Lincoln's fate.

Back when I was teaching this would have been termed a subjective question. I think this is a tough call, but IMO I will go with Toia on this. I think the speech had a lot to do with it. Harney's mission had failed, and I am assuming Booth knew that; if you combine that failure with Lincoln's speech I think the makings for Booth's final decision are there. Within a day or two of this we know that Powell began scouting the Seward home. There are indications Herold was sent into the Maryland countryside to alert folks "something" was about to take place. On April 13th Booth asked John Deery to secure tickets for the box that adjoined where the Lincolns would be sitting if they attended the show at Grover's Theatre. George Atzerodt checked into the Kirkwood House early on the 14th and most likely had been told to do this by Booth on the 13th. If I were forced to place a bet on the "decision day" I think I will place it on April 11th. (This isn't to say that Booth had not been contemplating something for a long time previously.) Regarding my bets, I must fess up that they often are wrong. Laurie occasionally reminds me that I predicted Bodemeister to win the 2012 Kentucky Derby, and he lost.

[JMadonna]

And after this event, the Booth plot to take Lincoln for ransom will become an assassination plan.

I think the straw that broke the camel's back was AL's speech from a window of the WH on April 11 1865, suggesting that former slaves who had served in the Union armies be granted the vote . Booth and Lewis Powell were in the crowd that night and Booth reportedly snapped "[i]Did you hear him?! He is talking about n----r citizenship! That is the last speech he will ever make..by God I'll put him through!" He urged Powell to shoot the president right then and there on the spot, but Powell refused.

I believe THAT was the moment that sealed Lincoln's fate.

As far as the Booth plot was concerned, I would agree. But he was not the only plot in town. Remember, 'If he didn't get him the NY crowd would'.

This 'team' was sent from Canada when George N. Sanders stepped into the leadership vacuum after the fall of Richmond.