Famous quotes from American Civil War

[Gil R.]

ORIGINAL: TexHorns

Gil must be a Yankee. A southerner would never agree to leave out "for southern rights Hurrah" version![;)]

Guilty. And a Yankees fan, to boot!

[TexHorns]

I think the New York Yankees are just an extension of the harsh implementation of the Reconstruction Era![:D]

[Oldguard]

If you want notable quotes, it's hard to beat Abe Lincoln.

"My concern is not whether God is on our side; my great concern is to be on God's side."

"Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power."

"Will you pardon me for asking what the horses of your army have done since the battle of Antietam that fatigues anything?" (to Gen. McClellan in 1862)

... also...

"They couldn't hit an elephant at this distance" - General John Sedgwick, moments before being shot dead by a confederate sniper at Spotsylvania.

"War is cruelty. There is no use trying to reform it. The crueler it is, the sooner it will be over." - Gen. W.T. Sherman

[Gil R.]

Thanks, Oldguard. Those are all good, and I especially like two of them. (Others might work their ways into some of the bios.)

[sven6345789]

How about a Joke (it is historical)

So Stonewall Jackson died and God send down his Angels to pick him up from the Grave and lift him up to heaven. The Angels came down and found his Grave. But Stonewall wasn't there. So they looked everywhere to find his Spirit but couldn't. Embarrassed, they returned to god to tell him about it, and when they reached Heaven, they found out that Gen. Jackson was already there. He had bypassed the Angels with a rapid flanking maneuver.

[Gil R.]

I've heard that joke. Do you know if it dates back to the Civil War? If we're positive it does, that's a fine idea to use it.

[sven6345789]

in fact it does. I heard it as a quote in Ken Burns "The american Civil War". It is read there as part of the diary of Mary Chesnut (checked it).

[m10bob]

"There's them Black Hat fellers! It's the Army of the Potomac!"
-Unknown Southern soldier upon seeing the Iron Brigade,1st Division of the 1st Corps approaching at Gettysburg................

The Southern soldiers had been masterfully led by Gen R.E.Lee, and while going thru Maryland and Virgina, the intent had been to go completely around the Army of the Potomac, and until they saw "those Black Hat fellers", they thought they had done it, since Stuarts' cavalry failed to provide info to Lee.

[Gil R.]

ORIGINAL: sven6345789

in fact it does. I heard it as a quote in Ken Burns "The american Civil War". It is read there as part of a diary (i am not sure but i do not think it was Mary Chesnut).

That must be where I heard it.

I've been meaning to track down a copy of the book that went with Burns's documentary to look for further quotes. I'll look for that one when I get the book.

[Oldguard]

"The art of war is simple enough. Find out where your enemy is. Get at him as soon as you can. Strike him as hard as you can, and keep moving on." - Gen. U.S. Grant

"No other terms than unconditional and immediate surrender. I propose to move immediately upon your works."-- Grant to General Buckner at Fort Donelson, Feb. 16, 1862

[dh76513]

"War is cruelty. There's no use trying to reform it, the crueler it is the sooner it will be over. "

- William Tecumseh Sherman

[dh76513]

"If the Confederacy falls, there should be written on its tombstone: Died of a Theory. "

- Jefferson Davis

[dh76513]

“No damn man kills me and lives.”

- Nathan Bedford Forrest

[dh76513]

“Too often we fail to see the Forrest for the Lees.”

– Emory M. Thomas (Forward to "A Battle from the Start" by Brain Steel Wills)

[Richrd]

South Carolina is too small for a republic and too big for a lunatic asylum.
I forget who, some S.C. politician.

[Gil R.]

ORIGINAL: Richrd

South Carolina is too small for a republic and too big for a lunatic asylum.
I forget who, some S.C. politician.

I like that one, but I don't want to alienate all of the potential customers in S.C.

[dh76513]

"I see from the number of physicians that you think my condition dangerous, but I thank God, if it is His will, that I am ready to go."
– General “Stonewall” Jackson on his deathbed at Guinea Station.

"I hope to live long enough to see my surviving comrades march side by side with the Union veterans along Pennsylvania Avenue, and then I will die happy."
– General James Longstreet at a Memorial Day Parade in 1902

"I think I understand what military fame is; to be killed on the field of battle and have your name misspelled in the newspapers."
– General William Tecumseh Sherman

"I always thought the Yankees had something to do with it"
– General George Pickett when asked why the Confederates were defeated at Gettysburg

[Oldguard]

"Always mystify, mislead and surprise the enemy if possible. And when you strike and overcome him, never let up in the pursuit so long as your men have strength to follow; for an army routed, if hotly pursued, becomes panic stricken and can then be destroyed by half their number." - Gen. T. Jackson

[raven1]

"Gentlemen, we had the honor of being captured by Stonewall Jackson himself"
 
- A union soldier at the head of a squad of 15 to 20 union pow's passing thorough confederate lines to the rear.
 
Famous? no. But i like it.[;)]

[Jonathan Palfrey]

"My dear McClellan, If you don't want to use the army I should like to borrow it for a while. Yours respectfully, A. Lincoln." (Found in "The Complete Acid Drops")

"In winter, the overcoat-bearing Federal was esteemed especially for his pelt." (A Confederate soldier, January 1963; found on the Web)

"June 3. Cold Harbor. I am killed." (Final entry in the bloodstained notebook of a Union soldier, 1864; found on the Web)