NOTABLE CIVIL WAR QUOTES

Kyle Eller

“We may be annihilated, but we can

not be conquered.”-General Albert Sidney Johnston

General Johnston was saying that even though their troops might die, the confederacy should never die and was worth fighting for. His determination to win was shown in the Battle of Shiloh, where he was all over the field, directing his soldiers, when he was shot in the back of the leg by friendly fire. He let his personal surgeon go help other wounded soldiers and went back out to fight until he felt his boot filling with blood and became faint. Some of the other soldiers took him and placed him on a cot. He died shortly after.

“It is well that war is so terrible, we should grow too fond of it.”

-Robert E. Lee

Before the war, Lee was superintendent at West Point. He was offered a position as a General for the Union by Abraham Lincoln, but, when his home state of Virginia seceded, he decided he could not fight against his own people. Instead he took the job of General in the Confederate army. As a result, he was working to defeat the soldiers he previously was teaching. This probably made the fighting much more difficult for him.

“Although a soldier by profession, I have never felt any sort of fondness for war, and I have never advocated

it, except as a means of peace.”

-Ulysses S. Grant

Because Grant fought in so many battles, he saw the reality of war, how bloody and devastating it was. He knew the Civil War was necessary to have a peaceful Union, so it was worth it all. He questioned “Why do men fight who were born to be brothers?” He wanted the United States to remain united. He was the first Union general who really fought to win.

“I have just read your dispatch about sore-tongued and fatigued horses. Will you pardon me for asking what the horses of your

army have done since the Battle of Antietam that fatigues anything?”

-Abraham Lincoln to General McClellan

Lincoln was frustrated with General George B. McClellan because McClellan did not fight to win, he only fought to avoid losing. McClellan was very cautious and he would retreat easily because he felt his troops were out-numbered. He was relieved of command and was sent to New Jersey to await further orders, but they never came.

“I can’t spare this man, he fights!”

-Abraham Lincoln to Grant’s critics

General Grant replaced General McClellan, who was not an aggressive fighter. Grant, on the other hand, earned the nickname “Unconditional Surrender” Grant because he did not give up and he was very aggressive. But when the Confederates launched a surprise attack at the Battle of Shiloh, many people demanded Grant be relieved of command. Lincoln responded to the critics with this quote. Grant went on to win future battles, leading the Union to victory over the South.

Council on Foreign Relations. Council on Foreign Relations, n.d. Web. 20 Mar. 2014. <http://www.civilwar.org/education/history/biographies/ulysses-s-grant.html>.

 Hickman, Kennedy. "American Civil War: General Albert Sidney Johnston." About.com Military History. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Mar. 2014. <http://militaryhistory.about.com/od/americancivilwar/p/asjohnston.htm>.

"Notable Quotes of the Civil War." Famous Quotes. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Mar. 2014. <http://www.pccwrt.org/images/Famous_Quotes.htm>.

"Robert E. Lee." Council on Foreign Relations. Council on Foreign Relations, n.d. Web. 22 Mar. 2014. <http://www.civilwar.org/education/history/biographies/robert-e-lee.html>.

"Ulysses S. Grant Quotes." American Civil War Stories. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Mar. 2014. <http://www.americancivilwarstory.com/ulysses-s-grant-quotes.html>.

Bibliography