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Segment
Descriptions
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- In the opening segment, Dr. Simon compares the recent
1998 mid-term election to the 1864 presidential election.
1998 was an upset to the Republican party but, more
importantly, the political pollsters were proven just
as wrong as they were in 1864.
- History teaches us that what appears obvious isn't
always so. The odds in the Civil War favored the North-they
had two million enlisted men; the South had 750,000
men. But the Confederates' belief in their cause gave
them the psychological advantage and enabled them to
fight on for four years.
- Odds were not determinate factors in the Civil War.
The South fought for its independence. Southerners expected
to win by their persistence. They assumed the North
eventually would simply give up, and at this point in
the war, they appeared to be right.
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- There was gloom in the North. Grant was outside Petersburg
and Richmond, but after two months, his suffocating
siege was not producing its desired effect. To make
matters worse, his generals blundered in numerous skirmishes,
most notably the imaginative Battle of the Crater -
a spectacular failure in which the Union attempted to
breach the Confederate lines with an explosive-packed
mine built underneath the rebel lines.
- The Union faced another defeat. In the midst of the
Petersburg siege, Lee detached Lt. Gen. Jubal Early's
troops to raid Washington, D.C. Lee knew he could not
gain the city, but the demonstration showed the North
that he could still be dangerous and unpredictable in
spite of Grant's apparent stranglehold on him at Petersburg.
- In the West, Sherman was still trying to take Atlanta.
- All these things combined to add to the failing morale
in the North. The gloom spread to Lincoln and to others
who believed that George McClellan would be victorious
in his bid for the presidency.
- The South's best hope was for McClellan to win the
election. They knew McClellan would end the war on more
favorable terms than Lincoln. Their hope was that the
South might be allowed to remain independent--and maintain
slavery--if McClellan became president.
- The Republicans were even considering running someone
other than Lincoln. Many of them believed Lincoln to
be a failure as a leader. On August 22, Lincoln asked
his Cabinet to sign a document discussing the actions
the President and Cabinet would take to end the war
once McClellan was elected.
- The Republicans were even considering running someone
other than Lincoln. Many of them believed Lincoln to
be a failure as a leader, and the President seemed to
agree. On August 22, Lincoln asked his Cabinet to sign
a document that outlined the actions the President and
Cabinet would take to end the war once McClellan was
elected.
- The situation was entirely reversed beginning in September
1864. Among other victories, Atlanta finally falls.
When Lincoln is re-elected, it signals the South that
the war would continue and the North was not giving
up. The South understood that the "war" was over, they
could not win it, and behind the scenes they attempted
to negotiate a peace.
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President
Abraham Lincoln, National Archives
General
George B. McClellan, National Archives
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- By early 1865, the Confederate army is experiencing
100 desertions per day. The Rebels were simply giving
up and going home.
- Faithful Southerners believed Lee would come up with
something-perhaps a bold master stroke. They hoped he
could overcome the siege and enable him to break away
and recover the Shenandoah Valley, where Union General
Phil Sheridan's army was laying waste to the region.
- Lee's last significant assault took place on March
25 at Fort Stedman. This was to be his master stroke,
but it wasn't. It was a desperate night attack that
ended in disaster.
- Confederates overran the fort and attacked Grant's
lines. After fierce combat, they were pushed back. This
would be the last time Lee took the offensive.
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*Fort
Stedman, National Archives
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- Following the battle at Fort Stedman, Lee had only
54,000 men to Grant's 112,000. Southern desertions continued,
bleeding Lee's army of fighting men and raising the
odds against him even more.
- Lee begged Davis to begin enlisting blacks as soldiers.
This had been considered before, and, given the situation,
the Confederate Congress finally agreed. The black enlistees
were to remain slaves. There were officially only 35
black Confederates who were eventually trained as soldiers,
compared to 186,000 black soldiers who fought in the
U.S. Army. These were 186,000 well-equipped, well-trained
soldiers fighting for their freedom. The attempt to
enlist black soldiers in Confederate armies was a desperate
measure by a desperate government.
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*U. S. Colored
Troops, Library of Congress
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- Grant planned to extend his lines to the west and
cut the railroad links to Petersburg and Richmond. However,
Grant feared that this tactic would not only drive Lee
out, but enable him to consolidate his forces with Confederate
troops from North Carolina. Grant realized that instead
of ending the war at Petersburg, the Confederates might
make a formidable resistance further west. Grant could
not let Lee escape from Petersburg.
- To this end, Grant looks to cavalry commander Philip
Sheridan more than any other general. Sheridan is colorful,
willful, and has openly defied, among others, General
George Meade, commander of the Army of the Potomac.
But Grant knows he needs Sheridan to coordinate what
he hopes will be the final battle to stop Lee.
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General
U. S. Grant, National Archives
General Philip
Sheridan, National Archives
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- This battle is the last concerted effort of the Civil
War. Commander of the defenses near Five Forks, Major
General George Pickett is at a shad bake when the fighting
begins, and can't even hear the battle raging. A coordinated
Union effort and a weak Confederate defense bring the
Federals an easy victory. The fall of Five Forks compels
the evacuation of Richmond and Petersburg on April 2.
Military and civilian refugees flee both cities.
- Years after Lee's death, Jefferson Davis said Lee
told him he would carry on guerrilla warfare for 20
years rather than surrender. However, this is pure Davis,
the politician and Confederate. Lee was the premier
military man of honor and recognized defeat. He was
a true American and understood that the battle, and
the cause, were lost at Appomattox
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*Monument at the
Site of the Battle of Five Forks. Photo by Susan Dennis
*Contemporary View
of St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Richmond. It was from
here during church services that Jefferson Davis fled
after hearing that Petersburg had fallen. Photo by Susan
Dennis
Jefferson Davis,
National Archives
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- As "Dixie" echoed the next day throughout a smoldering
Richmond, the residents believed that their own Confederate
army was re-entering the city. They were wrong. The
tune was being played for a black Union regiment marching
into the city. Shortly thereafter Lincoln arrived, protected
by only a few sailors. He and Tad walked down the streets
of Richmond to the closed shutters of the white residents
and to the welcoming cheers of the black residents.
- Lincoln's ideas of victory--Lincoln penned a note
under Stanton's signature explaining that the military
leaders should press their military end; only Lincoln
had the authority to determine the terms of surrender.
- Lincoln's terms were simple and unconditional: Restoration
of the national authority; no receding on the slavery
question; and a final end of war with no armistice.
- He also stated he would consider remission of the
confiscation of Southern property and Southern pardons.
He suggested that if Virginia alone returned to the
Union, he would make terms with her separately.
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*Ruins of Richmond,
National Archives
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- Davis has fled Richmond and is out of touch with Lee.
Lee is moving west as fast as possible looking for supplies.
At the Battle of Sailor's Creek on April 6, Lee loses
6000 more men. General Richard Ewell is captured here,
where he declared that to continue the war would now
be considered murder.
- Grant writes to Lee to explain the futility of continued
resistance and to discuss terms of surrender. But no
one knew what surrender would mean-paroles? prison?
exchanges?
- Lee confers with Longstreet, who says, "Not yet."
- The Confederate army desperately pushes on to Lynchburg
for supplies. The final blow comes at Appomattox Station,
where Confederate supplies are intercepted by Sheridan
and Custer. Lee finally agrees to see Grant. As soon
as Grant receives this note, Grant's mysterious migraine
headache ends.
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General James Longstreet,
National Archives
*Monument at the
Battle of Sailor's Creek, Photo by Susan Dennis
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- Arrangements are made to meet to discuss terms. The
closest location is Chicken Town. Fortunately for history,
they move to the next larger town of Appomattox Court
House.
- Wilmer McLean's house is the only one with a parlor
large enough to hold the meetings.
- Lee is dismayed with he sees that one of Grant's staff
officers is black. He then learns that the officer is
a Seneca Indian, Colonel Ely Parker. By way of apology,
Lee says it's good to see a real American. Parker replies,
"We're all Americans."
- Grant agrees to allow the officers to keep their horses,
side arms, and baggage. He intended to do this regardless
to avoid humiliating Lee by the spectacle of relinquishing
his sword in a formal surrender.
- Grant also allowed the Confederates to keep their
horses for the spring planting. This scenario is humorously
echoed during the 1962 steel crisis. President Kennedy
firmly rejected the steel industry's attempt to raise
prices. When asked about the terms of the government's
agreement, Kennedy stated, "I let them keep their horses
for the spring planting."
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*McLean House,
National Archives
Ely Parker on Grant's
Staff at the time of the Surrender, National Archives
*Parole signed
April 9, 1865 by Robert E. Lee and his staff, Library
of Congress
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- Charles Francis Adams stated that the surrender at
Appomattox was Lee's greatest moment. Lee really did
not have the authority to make terms and surrender,
but he did see the wisdom of surrender with dignity.
Lee knew the fight was over. He knew it was time for
his men to become Americans once again.
- Years later Lee and Grant met for the last time. Grant
was President of the United States and Lee was president
of a small college. Lee obviously did not wish to reminisce.
His desire was to accept the results of the war and
move on. He made a point to stay out of politics.
- Grant and Lee's agreement put an end to the war. After
Appomattox, Grant did not enter Richmond, but returned
to Washington and put the war behind him. The surrender
set a mood of reconciliation and peace. However, Lincoln's
assassination changed that mood into one of recrimination
and harsh reconstruction.
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Salute of Arms,
Generals John B. Gordon and Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain,
National Park Service
Surrender Ceremony,
National Park Service
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Audience Q & A
- Click on images with a * to
enlarge image.
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At the end of the attack at Fort Stedman, a Confederate
officer saw how hopeless it was when he saw Lincoln reviewing
the troops during the attack. Is this true?
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 Answer
1
Length: 00:01:18
*Fort Stedman,
National Archives
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Lee was recently named general-in-chief. Would Lee
have had the authority to surrender all the armies as
general-in-chief?
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Answer
2
Length: 00:16:56
General
Robert E. Lee, National Archives
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How did they garrison Richmond and still get to Washington
for the Grand Parade down Pennsylvania Avenue?
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Answer
3
Length: 00:16:56
*The Grand Review
of Troops Down Pennsylvania Avenue, National
Archives
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Did Davis tell commanders in the field of his belief
in a war of attrition?
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Answer
4
Length: 00:16:56
*49 Officers
of the Confederate Army and Navy, National Archives
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About the 35 black Confederate soldiers. Would you
comment on statements that there were thousands?
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Answer
5
Length: 00:16:56
*Company E
of the 4th U. S. Colored Infantry at Fort Lincoln,
November 17, 1865. Library of Congress Prints and
Photographs Division
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What made the Southern peace commissioners believe
the North would go along with disunion? Were they sent
on a fool's errand?
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Answer
6
Length: 00:16:56
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Sherman got into trouble during the surrender of Johnston.
Didn't anyone tell Sherman what the terms were to be?
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Answer
7
Length: 00:2:42
General William
Tecumseh Sherman & General Joseph Johnston,
National Archives
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Was Grant or Lee at the formal surrender ceremony?
Dr. Simon answers and reads Lee's General Order Number
9, Lee's formal farewell statement to the Army of Northern
Virginia.
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Answer
8
Length: 00:2:58
*Amnesty Oath
signed by Robert E. Lee, October 2, 1865, National
Archives
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