"Reminiscences Of The Civil War" by Maj. Gen. John B. Gordon, CS

civilwarhome.com ^ | 4/12/11 | Maj. Gen. John B. Gordon

[Kartographer]

As my command, in worn-out shoes and ragged uniforms, but with proud men, moved to the designated point to stack their arms and surrender their cherished battle-flags, they challenged the admiration of the brave victors. One of the knightliest soldiers of the Federal army, General Joshua L. Chamberlain of Maine, who afterward served with distinction as governor of his State, called his troops into line, and as my men marched in front of them, the veterans in blue gave a soldierly salute to those vanquished heroes -- a token of respect from Americans to Americans, a final and fitting tribute from Northern to Southern chivalry. General Chamberlain describes this incident in the following words: "At the sound of that machine-like snap of arms, General Gordon started, caught in a moment its significance, and instantly assumed the finest attitude of a soldier. He wheeled his horse, facing me, touching him gently with the spur, so that the animal slightly reared, and, as he wheeled, horse and rider made one motion, the horse's head swung down with a graceful bow, and General Gordon dropped his sword-point to his toe in salutation. By word of mouth the general sent back orders to the rear that his own troops take the same position of the manual in the march past as did our line. That was done, and a truly imposing sight was the mutual salutation and farewell.

[Kartographer]

Bayonets were affixed to muskets, arms stacked, and cartridge-boxes unslung and hung upon the stacks. Then, slowly and with a reluctance that was appealingly pathetic, the torn and tattered battle-flags were either leaned against the stacks or laid upon the ground. The emotion of the conquered soldiery was really sad to witness. Some of the men who had carried and followed those ragged standards through the four long years of strife rushed, regardless of all discipline, from the ranks, bent about their old flags, and pressed them to their lips.

[Kartographer]

"Last Road"
The Richmond to Lynchburg Stage Road
Up this road on the morning of April 12, 1865 the Army of Northern Virginia led by Gen. John Gordon marched to surrender their arms to the awaiting Union troops under the command of Gen. Joshua Chamberlain. In salute to their bravery Chamberlain ordered his men to attention as the surrendering Confederate forces passed.
Appomattox, VA.

[dynachrome]

ping

[NavyCanDo]

One of my favorite chronicals of the war is DIARY OF
A TAR HEEL CONFEDERATE SOLDIER:

It’s rare, being that is was written by a southern soldier, and he was an enlisted man instead of an officer. Few detailed personal accounts were put to pen from Rebel Soldiers. It’s a great read.

http://docsouth.unc.edu/fpn/leon/leon.html

[irish guard]

Marked to read later

[gunnyg]

Yeah

[Phlap]

Since over 600,000 Americans died needlessly, Lee and Davis should have been hung. Just saying.

[Phlap]

But that was then.

[DeoVindiceSicSemperTyrannis]

Marked for later reading. Thanks. :-)

[DeoVindiceSicSemperTyrannis]

General Gordon:

[Notary Sojac]

Civil War memoirs I suggest, one officer and one enlisted from each side:

the classic "Company Aytch" by Sam Watkins has to be first on every list.

"Fighting for the Confederacy" - E. Porter Alexander

"Hardtack and Coffee" - Josh Billings

"Campaigning With Grant" - Horace Porter

[kalee]

I’m reading Diary of a Southern Refugee during the War, by a Lady of Virginia (Judith W. McGuire)

[John S Mosby]

That is a good one. As is “Co. Aytch-A Sideshow to the Big Show” by Sam Watkins, CSA. Sam was there and then some, in the Eastern and Western theater.

[Redleg Duke]

I have a photograph of General Chamberlain in my work cubicle.

In my 32 years as a soldier and my 64 years of life as a man, Joshua Chamberlain remains my personal hero and role model.

[John S Mosby]

What are you “sayin”? Many, many additional culpable leaders than these two, and they were on both sides. The 600 thousand did not die “needlessly” either, and to say so stains their memory. Remember Freedom?

[109ACS]

I'm in the middle of reading: "Best Little Stories From The Civil War"

Here's a link to the Kindle book. It was free recently, but is now a whopping $1.20. You can read it with "Kindle for PC" (free app), no Kindle needed.

Best Little Stories From The Civil War

Excellent book.

[Kartographer]

Pay no attention to the troll behind the curtian.

[No Truce With Kings]

“Few detailed personal accounts were put to pen from Rebel Soldiers.”

I am going to respectfully disagree. There were probably more personal accounts written about the American Civil War — including numerous ones by enlisted men of both sides — than in any other war of the nineteenth century. Would not be surprised if, as a percentage of participants, it was greater than that of World War II.

The American Civil War was a war of letters and memoirs. Virtually every participant was literate, and most — even the privates — thought themselves the equal of any other man in their army, even the generals, and believed that their experiences were as worthy of preservation as those of Grant and Lee.

Most of these memoirs were not published professionally. Many were printed privately for a small circulation, and others exist in manuscript form. I would bet that if you live in a state that existed as a state during the Civil War (and likely in many states that were still territories) that if you go to your local county historical society you will find several unpublished memoirs written by Civil War veterans of all ranks.

There is a lot of unmined gold in them thar archives.

[Phlap]

I'm saying Lee and Davis should have been hung. And not in the Blazing Saddles sense. OK?

[wbarmy]

Could not agree more. Most people do not realize that the Battle of Little Round Top was not won on the hill, but won weeks earlier when Col. Chamberlain was able to rally a bunch of deserters to rejoin. This gave him the manpower to not only hold the hill, but to attack when the opportunity presented itself. Without his leadership at that point, the battle would have been lost.