Abstract Looks at the months leading up to the surrender of General Lee to General Grant, the events that took place just prior to the surrender that made it inevitable, and the terms of surrender negotiated between General Lee and General Grant.
From the Paper "The end of the Civil War is marked by the surrender of General Lee to General Grant at the Appomattox Court House. This was a decisive moment, though the fighting did continue with other generals for some time after this surrender. The surrender of Lee did mean that the main strength of the Confederate forces was broken and that the outcome was virtually inevitable. Today, the court house is a national monument. The road to Appomattox was long and difficult and involved massive losses of life on both sides of the conflict. Had this surrender not taken place when it did, it is certain that the loss of life would have continued, with particularly dire consequences for what was left of the Confederacy."
Tags: confederate, forces, union, officers, virginia, abraham, lincoln, civil, war
Abstract "A Stillness at Appomattox" by Bruce Catton has long been considered by many to be the paramount success of this revered historian. Within its pages, Catton describes the last year of the Civil War, one of history's cruelest mistakes, with unending detail and vigorous accuracy. The paper shows that a combination of passion for the subject and an apparent love for writing mix to form this informative, imaginative book.
From the Paper "This selection focuses on the last months of the Civil War, from the latter part of 1864 to the end at the Appomattox Court House on April 9, 1865. To achieve this feat, Catton describes each major battle and touches on the seemingly minute skirmishes that had a true impact on the war. From the battles of the Wilderness, Bloody Angle, and Cold Harbor to the battles leading up to Lee's surrender, Catton explains each and every constituent with an enthusiasm that commands the respect of others. Certainly, the battles of the Civil War are an integral part of this nation's history, and Catton brings these pieces together in a way that has never been seen before."
Abstract This paper is about the early life of Robert E. Lee and his military career. It covers most of his major battles during the American Civil War. The paper shows that it was Lee's last stand in the Civil War that causes him to be remembered as a true military leader and dynamic strategist.
From the Paper "Because of this Lee's mother Ann Hill Carter was left by herself to raise young Robert. There he learned patience, control, and discipline. Eventually he became old enough to acknowledge his family's Christian faith and accepted it as his own belief. Since Lee was brought up in a strong military family, he had strong beliefs and values, but lived in a family that showed little emotion. For example after the death of his father, Lee was sent directly to West Point academy only six months after the loss to train in the footsteps of his father."
Tags: fredericksburg, Thomas, J., Jackson, Ambrose, E., Burnside, Appomattox
Abstract The American Civil War had amazing leaders. General Robert E. Lee, for the Confederates, was a gentleman's gentleman, brilliant tactician, and wonderful human being. On the other hand, General Ulysses Grant, the leader of the Union Army, won decisive battle after battle and made the overall outcome of the War possible. The paper shows that General Grant, who rode his popularity in winning the war to the White House, remains to this day, a much maligned figure. It is true that his presidency, while not plumbing the depths of the presidencies of Warren Harding, William Harrison, or Andrew Johnson, did not set any standards for leadership. The paper shows that what remains hidden and often distorted is the fact that Ulysses Grant left behind a spectacular legacy of martial generalship. This work explores Grant's role and personality against the backdrop of the Civil War with his achievements and shortcomings.
From the Paper "Historically however, Grant has been portrayed more as a caricature than his vast accomplishments merit. Revised history is slowly beginning however, to turn the tide in favor of Grant's numerous qualities. One of the biggest faults brought up against him were that of drinking, with the allusions that his drunkenness were somehow related to the injudiciousness that he displayed on the battle field, especially with the soldiers. Statistically, battles that Grant was involved in resulted in the loss of more Union soldiers in very short periods of time. This earned him the unfair moniker of ?Butcher.? It is true that the Union army's casualties at Shiloh were appalling, but so were Confederate losses. (Wakefield, 1999)"
Tags: Emancipation, Proclamation, Appomattox, Court, House, Virginia
Abstract This paper explores the causes of the American Civil War that have been obscured by the contemporary equality of all peoples. The paper looks at the great differences that helped start the war between, not only blacks and whites, but between the North and the South and between those who wished for a union with strong central government and those who believed in the formation of a conglomerate of states without a central authority. The paper chronologically reviews the major historic battles of the Civil War.
From the Paper "The CSA or Confederate States of America declared themselves conglomerate of states, lacking any final central authority. This division of power proved to be, towards the end of the war, ultimately unworkable. Eventually as well even the CSA debated the need to liberate the enslaved peoples within its borders, because of the untenable fact of having a nation divided between free people and enslaved people. The Union's way of life and industrialization was to triumph over the feudal system of agriculture and plantation-based economies of the South."
Abstract This paper discusses and reviews the book "Lee: The Last Years" by Charles Bracelen Flood. Flood's book looks at the final five years of Robert E. Lee's life after the American Civil War. It is a moving look about a man who gave so much to his people and yet always felt that he had given so little.
From the Paper "Lee was well respected, even by the Union troops, who he had once fought with before he resigned his commission and joined the Confederacy. Author Flood writes of a moving time just after the surrender at Appomattox, "When he realized that this was Lee leaving, he stopped and took off his hat. So did every other Union soldier in the yard" (Flood 13). Flood fills his book with emotional scenes like these, pulling the reader into the action and giving them a fuller idea of what Lee was really like, underneath the command and the power."
