TO BE READ BY JAN 23. Posts Due Jan 28
The following excerpts are to be read by Jan 23 and a response of 200-500 words to be left in the comments section answering the following prompts to each reading.
Lee's Letter to Sister/Brother in regards to his impending decision whether to fight for the Union or Confederacy.
Lee Resigns- Lee's resignation letter to W. Scott & a letter to his daughter during wartime. - What do Lee's letters tell us about southern secession? Was is necessarily a popular or unanimous idea? Was the resignation of soldiers from the U.S. army easy? Why or why not? What, in the end was the reason for Lee's decision not to accept Lincoln's offer to command the Union army and instead take a lower rank within the Confederacy?
The following letters are part of a collection written by Newton Robert Scott, Private, Company A, of the 36th Infantry, Iowa Volunteers. Most of the letters were written to Scott's neighborhood friend/sweetheart Hannah Cone, in their home town of Albia, Monroe County, Iowa, over the three year period that he served as Company A's clerk. The final letter, describing the long-awaited mustering out in August of 1865, was written to his parents.
Scott's letters to Hannah are filled with rich details of the war and the living conditions in the Union camps in Mississippi, Missouri, Iowa and Arkansas. He tells of the terrible diseases that took a heavier toll than Confederate bullets, and the soldiers' frustration and impatience with the politicians in Washington.
Not only do we get a clerk's detailed account of the activities of Company A and the "boys of Monroe County," we also get a glimpse into the emotions of a 21-year-old farm boy uprooted from his family, friends, and sweetheart. In spite of his obvious education and proper upbringing, his polite prose sometimes gives way to impatience and sarcasm as he acknowledges Hannah's accounts of the many fairs, socials, and weddings taking place at home. Indeed he must endure the most embittering news of all when he is told that his sweetheart, "darling Hattie" has forsaken him to marry another.
Even though Scott & his comrades prayed for a Confederate surrender before their three year enlistment was completed, they were to serve the full term and were sent home five months after Lee's surrender at Appomattox Courthouse.
The story does not end here. A year after returning home Scott married Hannah, his faithful correspondent, with whom he raised nine children. Newton and Hannah lived long, productive lives. Hannah raised her family and died of heart failure at 69. Newton was a mail clerk for the railroad for 41 years. He died a peaceful death at 83.
Union Soldier Writes Home- AND Grant's Memoirs- Vicksburg - why are letters/Memoirs like these invaluable to understanding the war? What do these letters reveal to us about the life of a Union soldier v. General? What, if anything surprised you in both the letters and Grants memoir of Vicksburg?
Hunter Filonowich
ReplyDelete1/26/14
Lee’s letters of resignation really show how divided he is between his loyalty to his country, the loyalty to his state, and the loyalty to his family. His letters show how there were still many people in the south who didn’t want the succession but still stayed with their state when the time came to choose. Lee’s resignation from the U.S. Army seemed to be a decision that really seemed to take a lot of thought. In his resignation letters he specifically said that he would not take up arms again until his state was moved against. I think that his final decision to stick with the confederacy was the fact that he had children and a family that he wanted to protect.
The memoirs and personal letters of people during this time really gave their opinion of the war and kind of described their day to day living conditions. These letters show how many of the soldiers didn’t like the feeling of fighting their brothers and their own country, however they feel like it is necessary to fight for the rights that they believe in. These letters show just how bad some of the conditions are. Often times there were diseases that were flowing rampant between all the soldiers. The works of Grant showed how he really didn’t talk much about the condition of his own welfare but of his men’s. The thing about the letters and memoir that surprised me was how there were so many things that these people thought of before even starting a battle. I thought that the troops just kind of ran at the enemy while the enemy fired and the one with their men standing won. Instead of this, there was artillery support and sharpshooters protecting their infantry.
Lee’s letters show the truth about the southern secession, and how it was a drawn out process of conflicting interests. The idea of secession was not a unanimous one. This could be seen by the Lee’s statement “The whole south is in a state of revolution, into which Virginia, after a long struggle, had been drawn.” (Anne Marshall Letter) His decision to resign from the army was not an easy one to make, and not an easy thing to accomplish. Resignation required the recommendation and approval of your superior officer, which without his high regards, Lee probably would not have received. In the end Lee’s decision to join the Confederacy was based on his loyalty to his state. He thought himself loyal to his country, but could not stand the idea of raising a hand against his friends and family.
ReplyDeleteThese letters are invaluable to understanding the war, because they are from the solder’s point of view; someone that was actually in the battles, someone with a gun in their hand. This point of view is important because it is not tainted by propaganda, or twisted by lies. The life of a general was one full of responsibility as well as accountability. The life of a soldier was full of demand and fear. These men were tools to be used by the higher ups, the better you take care of the tools the better the tools preform.
1. From Lee’s letters the question of secession was not an easy one for him to deal with. Lee spent his entire life in service to the Army and the United States and as his home state of Virginia was about to secede, Lee wanted to think long and hard about what he would do if you would strain the union and fight against his friends families and fellow Virginians or leave the union enjoying his kinsman in seceding the union. In the end we decided to leave the union valuing his family and friends in Virginia more than his service the country saying that he did not wish to draw the sword again in lesson the defense of his native land of Virginia.
ReplyDelete2. Documents like the letters sent from newton Scott or the memoirs of Grant are invaluable because they're the only first person accounts of the war, what the conditions were like, as well as the frame of mind of those men who fought in it. From the memoir Grant mentions little of his housing situation other than a few lines about how he was quartered on a ship and then in a house always away from the river on which he came in. The memoir mainly focuses on how the battles proceeded, where the generals were, what troop forces they had, and casualty statistics. By comparison the letters from Mr. Scott were mostly about the conditions that he and his friends lived in. Scott's letters were filled with details about how he and his company were housed, the health of the men, and even the food situation at times. According to the letters Scott wasn't necessarily part of any of the fighting however he did survey several battlefields after the fighting ended. He would recount how rebel forces had attacked what had happened and casualty statistics even though this only made up 2 or 3 of the letters Scott sent home their almost more detailed about the course of the battle then the memoirs of Grant.
Lee’s letters tell us that the secession was popular, but not necessarily unanimous, as getting Virginia to join in was a long struggle. Once this happened, though, ‘the whole south [was] in a state of revolution.’ However, resignation from the army wasn’t particularly easy for men who chose either to serve the south or refused to fight against it. There was a large dissonance rising from the concept of choosing between duty and family, as being called to duty by the union meant fighting against one’s own family, friends, neighbors, and native land. To live in the south and fight for the union would most certainly mean betraying one’s own local community. Lee’s reason for resigning was just this. It was incredibly difficult, but he ultimately decided that he couldn’t “take part against [his] native state.”
ReplyDeleteThe soldier’s letters serve as a look into the day-to-day life of a common soldier during the civil war. They illustrated the general attitude, as well as the living conditions of soldiers at the time, depicting the general ups and downs of soldiers’ situation during campaigns. On top of discussing the attitudes about fighting against one’s own, and the frequent mention of rampant disease among the soldiers, the letters also presented an interesting detail about the grim reality of the confederate army. According to the letters, confederate soldiers were deserting their army in droves to serve instead for the union. Grant’s memoirs showed the war from an entirely different perspective, focusing primarily on tactic (though I suppose this makes sense, the piece being a memoir of battle rather than a personal letter home). As far as the life of a general in the field, it appears that the majority of one’s time would be spent planning and coordinating for the eventualities of both attack and defense of various positions. General living conditions were also extremely different, officers generally having access to houses, where available, while the enlisted soldiers would make do with tents and shanties. One detail presented in the writings that surprised me was the fact that explosive musket balls were readily available and used in combat. However, it was also surprising to find that they were generally no more useful than the standard ammunition, and seemingly only served to make the wounds they inflicted far more grievous.
Lee’s letters tell us that while secession was a popular idea amongst the South, it was definitely not a unanimous one. They also demonstrate that it was difficult for families to choose loyalty to either the North or the South when some felt the war would reap no benefits for the country. Resignation from the U.S. army was not easy, since it had to be approved before one was allowed to resign on good terms. Lee decided to decline Lincoln’s offer to command the Union army because he could not in good conscience fight against his own people, especially in his homeland.
ReplyDeleteMemoirs such as these provide priceless insight into what soldiers’ day to day life was like and how the war affected them overall. They help emphasize that fighting was not very enjoyable, and that they ultimately desired for peace to come as soon as possible. Also, the differences between a soldier’s and a commanding officer’s experience are apparent. As a general, it was necessary to focus on the plan for your troops at all times. Every event helped develop the strategy being used, whether it was a sign to press onward or an indication to hold out a little longer. From a Union soldier’s perspective, the focus was on fellow soldiers and getting back home. The letters show there was an interest in the places and people the troops encountered, which was most likely a more pleasant thing to dwell on than the current warfare, especially when writing to family and friends who had not seen those places. I found it surprising that according to the letters, Confederate soldiers were surrendering themselves to the Union and deciding to fight for them, against men they used to stand next to. It seems odd that the Confederacy would continue fighting so hard if so many of their men were deserting the cause.
Robert E. Lee's letters demonstrate that the Southern succession was not necessarily a popular and unanimous among Southerners, as he had many doubts and reservations about the succession himself. Lee was reluctant to resign from the U.S. Army, as he was very fond of his job and the people he worked with, and he did not wish to fight against them. Lee did not accept Lincoln's offer to command the U.S. Army because he ultimately felt that his primary duty was to Virginia, not the Union, so he could not bring himself to command an army against the people of his home state.
ReplyDeleteLetters and memoirs such as these are invaluable to understanding the war because they provide some of the only first-hand accounts of the war from the highest generals to the lowest soldiers, exposing a wide range of perspectives of those who had the most genuine understanding of the war. Scott's letters reveal that the life of a soldier was focused on the everyday struggle of being a soldier and the details of the conditions he and the other soldiers in his company experienced. Grant's memoirs, however, show that generals were more concerned with the large-scale affects of war, such as outcomes of battles, strategies, movements of troops, and supplies, although some of the individual details of the lives of soldiers were included. What I found surprising in the letters was just how miserable the war was presented even when there was no combat involved. As for Grant's memoirs, I was surprised by how little he discussed himself and his own condition during the war in that chapter.
Robert E. Lee's letters indicate that the idea of Southern succession was not necessarily popular or unanimous. This is made clear by a statement Lee made in a letter to his sister; "the whole South is in a state of revolution, into which Virginia, after a long struggle, has been drawn". Virginians, much like Lee's self, were reluctant to leave the Union, but as the idea of civil war grew both were persuaded to join arms with the South. Lee ultimately made the decision to resign and decline Lincoln's offer to command the US Army, because he could not take up arms against his home and family.
ReplyDeleteLetters and memoirs such as these give a clear picture of the lives of generals and soldiers during the time of war. They allow for a better understanding by revealing the everyday thoughts and feelings towards the war through many different perspectives. Scott's letters reveal the life of a soldier longing to return home and the living conditions in which he and his comrades were forced to endure. I found it interesting how little combat was mentioned in Scott's letters, besides the accounts of surveying the aftermath at battlefields and the death count of both the Union and Confederate soldiers. Grant's memoirs on the other hand were more concerned about the logistics of war. There was little discussion about the lives of soldiers or Grant's feelings towards the war, however, his memoirs served more as a battle plan and documentation of key details to winning the war. I was intrigued by Grant's table documenting the total loss, wounded, and missing soldiers during each battle. It puts it into perspective how many men lost their lives or were badly wounded during the war.
From Lee’s letters I can tell that southern secession was not a unanimous idea. Lee himself had no desire to leave the union. I can’t tell whether or not is was popular just from Lee’s letters, although I would suspect that non slave owners would have little to gain in the long run from leaving the union. Resignation from the army was definitely not easy for Lee and was probably an equally difficult decision for other soldiers in his position. It would have been a hard decision because the US army had recently won a victory against Mexico in a war that brought huge amounts of new land into the union. Any veteran of that war would have felt a strong bond with fellow veterans regardless of whether they came from the north or the south. To go from being a member of an army making large territorial gains for a unified country to fighting against your old comrades in a civil war where everyone loses and there are no gains to be made would be hard. The only reason Lee left the union army was he couldn’t bring war and destruction to his home state, which is what he would have done had he stayed.
ReplyDeleteThe letters from Newton Scott don’t tell us much about the nature of the American civil war in particular, although they are useful for understanding the hardships and pains suffered by soldiers in any war before antibiotics. From Grants memoirs you can tell how the imbalance of industrial power played a role in the norths victory. From Scotts letters you can tell that union soldiers had to deal with a good deal of disease, boredom, and hard ass work. Grants memoir doesn’t reveal much about his experience during the war, although the lack of complaints about disease and boredom suggest that he didn’t have to deal with these.
Robert E. Lee's letter tell us that the secession of the south was hard on not only the country but its citizens. The secession split up friends and families and the military. It was not a unanimous idea because the decision was so difficult to make. The resignation of soldiers from the U.S. Army was also not an easy decision because it once again split up friends and family. It would have also been hard for soldiers whom are loyal to their southern home and also to their country to pick a side to fight for. In the end Lee ultimately decided to decline Lincoln's offer to command the Union army because his home state was part of the seceded Southern states.
ReplyDeleteLetters and Memoirs like the ones by Newton Scott and Ulysses S. Grant are invaluable because they give us more insight on how the war affected people. The letters by Newton Scott and memoirs by Grant are a good way to compare the live of a soldier and a general. Scott's letters focused on many different topics while Grant's memoirs main focus was on strategy. In Scott's letters strategy was not the focus, Scott would most likely write to get his mind off of the war. One of the things I found surprising is that some of he Confederate soldiers would abandon their army and fight alongside the Union soldiers.
General Lee’s letters point out that secession was not a unanimous idea and that many soldiers found it difficult to resign from the U.S. army. In his letter to his sister Lee describes that his home state of Virginia was reluctantly drawn into the secession. This description suggests that not all southerners were fond of the secession. In Lee’s letter to his brother we see that the reason for his resignation was an inability to fight against his home state of Virginia. In Lee’s resignation letter to Gen. Scott, lee elaborates on the difficulty of his decision “ It would have been presented at once but for the struggle it has Cost me to separate myself from a Service to which I have devoted all the best years of my life, & all the ability I possessed” (PBS.org). In Lee’s resignation letter it is clear that Lee like many soldier found resigning difficult. They had put their lives into service but were unable to fight against their friends and neighbors.
ReplyDeleteLetters and memoirs such as these are invaluable because they give us a look into historical events through the eyes of people who were there. The letters showed a great difference between the experiences of the soldiers and generals. Many of the soldier’s letters described horrible events and sickness; however, Grants memoirs read more like a non-emotional account of the event’s and glazes over the hardships. One surprising thing in grant’s memoirs was an accountant of mortars being made from tree trunks and metal straps due to a lack of equipment.
Torn between the union and the confederate sides, When Lee chose a side in the war it was with a heavy heart leaving the country he had long served. He knew that he would be fighting the men of the same country he lived in. he, like many, had to choose which land to fight for and what beliefs they would defend. This ultimately left him to leave the union army with his sincerest apologies and respect, and face praise or detestment from his peers. He could now fight for his state, family and neighbors
ReplyDeleteThe letters of the many people in the war allow the pictures of the past to see seen from more angles, often showing something that could not be seen elsewhere. Eyes from soldiers, generals, and civilians. Often it has been depicted that the solders have it rough doing all the dirty work that needs to be done. The generals seem they have it easier in terms of labor but bear the weight of the heavy decisions that control their men. And the people of the land are left to miss those who have gone off to war and face any destruction brought to them by the war passing through their land. The civil war, like many wars, has been painted as a good thing likely from the vastly considered to be good ultimate outcome of the war: the rejoining of the north and south and the ending of slavery in the United States. But it is never as simple as that, throughout war people face sickness, loss of family and devastation of what they knew to be there land. Though many of the solders are loyal to their country and would see the war to either its end of their end for their country, many would quite frankly rather be at home with their family and friends living a peaceful life instead of facing death disease and solitude from their loved ones. War is far from a happy and glorious testament, but it is something man has felt the need to do throughout history.
Lee’s letters show that succession in the South was not unanimous among the citizens of Southern states. His personal decision on whether he should follow his home state of Virginia or the Union was a very difficult decision to many U.S. Army officers at the time. The soldiers felt duty to their states more than the Union. This caused men like Lee to join the confederacy. Lee felt that if in the face of war, his duty was to protect his state first and foremost. Although in making this decision, Lee was horrified at the idea of fighting family and friends in the North. This is made clear in Lee’s letter to his former commanding officer.
ReplyDeleteThe memoirs of the Civil War are priceless because there is no survivors left alive that could tell what it was like. These memoirs are the only way we can look into what it would have been to be a Union solider and learn about the trials that they faced. It gave the soldier’s personal view with out another source or propaganda changing or hiding truths. The letters showed that the General’s had more comforts that the regular solider but the generals faced more accountability.
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ReplyDeleteRobert. E. Lee's letters show that southern succession was very unexpected, but not necessarily surprising. Lee mention's that it took a long time for Virginia to be drawn into the succession, which demonstrates that war was not necessarily popular everywhere, so this was not a unanimous decision. Lee's decision to leave the Union was extremely hard for him. Eventually he had to do it because he did not want to be commanded to take up arms against his home, family, and friends. This is why he eventually declined Lincoln's offer and left the U.S. Army. Lee was very against being brought into the war at all and hoped he would never have to fight. However, he eventually joined the Confederate Army because he believed it was his duty, as a southern citizen, to defend his home.
ReplyDeleteLetters and memoirs such as those written by Newton Scott and General Grant give a first person perspective of the war. The letters showed what it was like to be a private in the Union Army. Scott's occasional sarcasm display the emotions that he was experiencing and his accounts of the army's movements help to understand what was typical for different infantries during the Civil War. Grant's memoirs show the difficulties that a general in the army had to face. Having to be accountable for an entire army was extremely stressful. However, Grant had more luxuries than a normal soldier, such as Newton Scott, had during the course of the war.
In letters to his sister and brother, Robert E. Lee explains that he must follow his native state of Virginia – a state that he is unwaveringly loyal to – and resign from the U.S. Armed forces. He says, “Save in defense of my native State, I have no desire ever again to draw my sword” (R.E. Lee). It turns out he will have to act on that statement by fighting for the Confederacy. These letters show that there were many reasons, both personal and otherwise, that dictated which side an individual fought for in the Civil War. Lee, as one example, believed that there was no reason for Virginia to secede, and would have much rather stayed with the Union. It appears, after reading Lee’s letters, that resignation from the U.S. Army was a deeply emotional endeavor. Serving in the Army brought about close friendships with comrades and respect for ones superiors, something that was probably not easy to leave.
ReplyDeleteLetters and Memoirs written by soldiers during the Civil War help us get an idea of how it might have been to be in their shoes during this time. It is a much more personal account of the war then what can be read in a history book.
1.) Robert E. Lee's letters suggest that secession was hardly a unanimous idea. Lee had an extraordinarily hard time making the decision to leave the Union army, and I expect that many other soldiers had an equally difficult time deciding to take that step. Lee finally made the decision to leave the army solely out of his loyalty to his home state and family and the desire to protect them. While he left the Union Army, he still had no desire to fight and stated multiple times that he'd not draw his sword except in the defense of his home.
ReplyDelete2.) Personal correspondence such as these letters give great insight into the actual going-ons at the front, whereas official news can often be tainted by propaganda or personal viewpoint. The letters show that the daily life of a union grunt was a rough one, with little to bring enjoyment. The life of a General can contrast starkly, which is to be expected.
April, 1861, Robert E. Lee made a gut wrenching decision to turn down command of federal troops and give up his U.S. Army commission to fight for his homeland - Virginia.With all my devotion to the Union, and the feeling of loyalty and duty of an American citizen, I have not been able to make up my mind to raise my hand against my relative, my children, my home. I have, therefore, resigned my commission in the Army, and save in defense of my native State I hope I may never be called upon to draw my sword. These words echo the rough sentiment of war and the decisions American men have sacrificed through the years to serve their country well and with pride. Yes he did serve with pride but the land he comes from means more to him then anything else. Virginia he calls home where family resides that's where he will he reside and defend his land. The land his father bestowed upon him, and the land he will protect by leaving the Army to go home to be with family. He writes to his family and describes the ills facing his soldiers his heartbreak facing him daily is a reason to resign. Even though being popular in the Army lee places family first. In his return to Virginia he joins the Confederacy. Many letters and journals written by fellow soldiers that served in protecting their land detailed many sad feelings and hardships they faced each day, not knowing if they will return, and the sight of dead soldiers being buried in massive graves not able to be sent home for proper burial. The blood shed that has dyed this landscape red will live in the minds of the survivors of these wars.
ReplyDeleteLee's letters illustrate the highly conflicting nature of the southern succession. The idea is not necessarily popular nor unanimous with the south. Resigning from the U.S. Army was not an easy decision. You are split between country, state and family and have to make a decision regarding the war. In Lee's resignation letter to General Scott he talks about how much he has enjoyed his almost 25 years in service and how he feels very indebted to General Scott. He cites defense of his native state as the reason for having to leave and “draw my sword” against the Union. Lee couldn't accept Lincoln's offer to lead the Union, because he would be brother fighting against brother. This was not an easy decision for Lee and he ultimately went with family and state.
ReplyDeleteLetters/Memoirs like this are very invaluable, because they provide firsthand accounts of how the actual soldiers were fairing and how they were coping with conditions. Frequently accounts of war conditions can become embellished, but stories to those back home frequently will illustrate the harsh conditions that were often present. The life of a soldier was quite brutal at times and involved a lot of manual work, while the general's life was much nicer and dealt with making tactical decisions instead. I was surprised by the scale of the lines of soldiers that were used. It is difficult to grasp the scale of a 15 mile line of soldiers.
Letters and memoirs of any participant are crucial to understanding a war, because; they give you an insight to an event that unless you where there at that time and place, will never fully understand. Also, these letters and memoirs reveal to us that regardless of position, standing, or rank everyone had the same concerns, beliefs, hopes, and dreams. For example, Lee was worried about his family's safety and that he would be able to return home to them, whilst Scott's letters show that he too would like to return to his family safely and alive. These letters and memoirs also show that the mental battles going on for these participants of these wars. As letters are a way for a person to truly put down what is going in their head, what their beliefs are, and how they truly feel. Seeing as what is heard and/or said about a person can be grossly blown out of proportion by even the well meanings of people. Finally the thing that surprised me the most is fact that they used wooden barrels as artillery pieces during the siege of Vicksburg. It just shows how intent Grant's will to win.
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ReplyDeleteRobert E Lee’s letters show that the South’s decision to secede was not an unanimous decision and Lee himself was torn on which side to join. In his letters, Lee says, “The whole South is in a state of revolution, into which Virginia, after a long struggle, has been drawn,” showing that some states were forced to pick a side. Lee knew that if he decided to accept Lincoln’s offer to command the Union army, he would be at war against his relatives and family. With this in mind, Lee decided to respectfully resign. It appears that it was not easy to resign from the U.S. army as Lee wrote a letter to Lieutenant Winfield Scott asking him to recommend his resignation for acceptance. In his letter to Scott, Lee also described how he had experienced only kindness from his comrades and how much of an honor it was to serve. Lee was devoted to the Union and was a strong American citizen but his loyalty went to his native state of Virginia and his family. Lee had many personal struggles and would have preferred if American could have avoided the war altogether.
ReplyDeleteLetters and memoirs from generals and soldiers are extremely valuable because they reveal remarkable detail and firsthand insight to the events that occurred in the war. Grant’s memoirs contain information on different generals that he fought with, different soldier divisions that attacked alongside his men, and also strategies and outcomes of different battles. Grant’s memoirs are more formal and discuss battles as a whole while Scott’s letters are less statistical and show more of his personal thoughts. In one of Scott’s letters, he says that he hopes the upcoming election will help bring a close to the war.
Secession in the South was not a unanimous idea nor was it very popular. Robert E. Lee faced a difficult decision to resign from the army. It was hard for a soldier to resign because they were stuck between following their home state or the Union. Lee resigned because he did not want to fight against his family, friends or home state. He later declined Lincoln’s offer to command the U.S. Army and he joined the Confederacy because he felt he needed to protect his family, friends and his home state.
ReplyDeleteThe letters that the soldiers wrote about the war came from the heart and were their exact feelings about the war. The letters gave an insiders perspective of what the war and camps were like. These letters helped civilians better understand the life of a soldier. Scott’s letters described the many struggles that the soldiers faced and described how horrible there living conditions were. On the other hand Grant’s letters showed a different life for the generals of the army. They were treated significantly better than the soldiers.
Lee’s letters of resignation show that even the most important and public of officials had split loyalties, and doubts about secession. It also shows that secession was in no way a unanimous decision, and possibly not overwhelmingly popular. Resignation from the US Army does not appear to have been an easy decision, or act to take, for many soldiers, since they had the choice to either resign and betray their country, or stay and be forced to fight their friends and families. Lee took a lower rank in the confederacy out of a stronger loyalty to his family and friends, and the place he lived, than he had for the country.
ReplyDeleteLetters and memoirs are invaluable to understanding the war because they give first person accounts of what happened, rather than being forced to solely rely on the official record of events. A soldier’s memoirs contains far more information about the thoughts, feelings, and issues for the every day soldier than any official account would. Knowing the true thoughts and feelings of the soldiers in the war is imperative to understanding the motivations behind individual soldiers, as well as to understanding their actions. The surprising thing about the letters is that the sentiments of individual soldiers were extremely split. It seems to have been fairly uncommon to feel extremely strongly one way or the other about the war, since most soldiers seemed to have friends, families, and loyalty on both sides of the battle.
It really evasive the fact that the south did not want to go to war. The just simply wanted to be left alone. In addition the secession was far from unanimous and almost done with no really reason whatsoever. That in the mind of quite a few southerners it was even done prematurely done by a few politicians and might not have even been the popular decision. the letters also show Lee's greatest struggle in my opinion. The just that every officer dreads having to make the choice between your duty to your country and the fact that you might have to fight and kill your family and friends. Has an officer that duty to your country is the only thing you have you live for it and without it most officers are lost. It's is beaten into you at the academy as the most important thing in the world. But then could you really kill your friends and family. That is the main question that must be answered. Ultimately Lee could and chose to leave the union.
ReplyDeleteThere really isn't any kind of media to document the struggles of war at this time. Sure there's the first photographs but it's slow and needs object to stand still for a fairly long length of time for longer then there is in a battle making it unusable it truly capture the horrors of war and the camera was also extremely bulky. these are really the only records of the war and what I love about them the best is the person touch that they have. film doesn't always show the soldiers personal feelings. Grants memoirs show the difference in the between the life and living conditions of the regular enlisted men and the officers and if you've ever been around the army no surprise officers have it a lot better.