Question of the Week: Which Civil War surrender would you have wanted to witness?
Which Civil War surrender negotiation would you like to have been present to witness?
Which Civil War surrender negotiation would you like to have been present to witness?
Appomattox. With so much lore and legend surrounding this event, I’d like to see for myself how much was true and how much was made up or romanticized.
A brother of my Great Grandfather had lost an eye at Franklin, TN, and also suffered a severely wounded arm. He rejoined Sherman in NC and was at the surrender in Durham. He was discharged at Raleigh on Jan 6, 1866, when a second cousin of ours, four generations removed from myself, Jonathan Worth, was Governor of NC. A Union soldier went to the roof of the NC State Capitol building and signaled Peace on Earth, Good Will towards Men! This surrender is somewhat forgotten, but very significant none the less.
Appomattox
I would like to have been present for the multi-day surrender negotiations at the Bennett Farm for Joe Johnston’s military department. It would be fascinating to see how William T. Sherman was convinced by Johnson and John C. Breckinridge to offer ridiculously liberal terms that were promptly rejected by the U.S.
Jeff Thompson in Jacksonport Arkansas.
His address to his troops is priceless.
Jeff Thompson in Jacksonport Arkansas.
His address to his troops is priceless!
Vicksburg. Mainly because I’m touring that battlefield right now. “As we speak” per the adage!
Jeff Thompson at Jacksonport Arkansas.
His address to his troops is priceless!
Appomattox, without a doubt.
Without a doubt, Appomattox.
Jeff Thompson Jacksonport Arkansas. His address to his troops is priceless
Jeff Thompson at Jacksonport Arkansas. His address to his troops is priceless!
Jeff Thompson.
At the surrender of Jefferson Davis, to see what he was wearing at the time!
Col Wilder’s discussions with Chalmers and Buckner before his surrender in Kentucky. He would later take a sweet revenge.
Appomattox….the end of the Confederate States of America.
Grant and Buckner at Fort Donelson
And, of course, the Union Conquest of Fort Donelson was the second of FOUR surrenders, in quick succession: Fort Henry (6 FEB 1862); Fort Donelson (16 FEB); Clarksville (19 FEB); and while at Clarksville “conducting an inspection” Brigadier General Grant was interrupted by the arrival of a flotilla of transports bearing a brigade under command of Brigadier General William “Bull” Nelson (assigned to temporary duty with Grant’s Army.) U.S. Grant, now seeing no use for Nelson’s reinforcements, decided to return them to Brigadier General Buell and his Army of the Ohio. So, Grant ordered Nelson “to continue up the Cumberland River,” and Grant and his party boarded the towboat “Bee” and accompanied Nelson’s fleet. Reaching their destination, Bull Nelson was the first officer to step ashore, effectively taking possession of the former Confederate City of Nashville. This last “surrender,” accorded to Don Carlos Buell (and used to justify Buell’s promotion to Major General) has never been correctly transcribed for public release… possibly due to the fact U.S. Grant (calling himself Major General Grant) was not authorized to go to Nashville; and this unauthorized visit resulted in Grant’s removal from command.
Although the surrender of Fort Donelson was more important, it is this “Surrender of Nashville,” requiring three days at the end of February 1862 that would be the most interesting to attend.
Appomattox
Surrender of The Shenandoah in Liverpool, UK
New Orleans on May 26, 1865. No one left an account of what was said so far as I can tell. It seems to have been humdrum, but I would have liked to see it all the same and pay attention to the details.