APRIL 9, 1865 (APPAMATTOX COURT HOUSE, VIRGINIA) - Robert E. Lee surrenders the Army of Northern Virginia to U.S. Grant, commanding, Army of the Potomac.
A ragged and starving Confederate army surrendered today after being surrounded by superior Union forces commanded by Ulysses S. Grant. The Southern army attempted for weeks to fight its way out of Grant's tightening encirclement. Lee's army, facing hunger and depletion of manpower, launched one brutal attack after another against Union forces, hoping to connect with railroad shipments of vital food supplies, which ultimately failed. The final battle came near the tiny village of Appomattox Court House.
After a series of written exchanges between Lee and Grant during the previous day, a meeting was hastily arranged for April 9th at Mr. McLean's house in the village of Appamattox. General Grant rode most of the night to arrive in time for the meeting. He reportedly suffered a severe headache and appeared tired, wearing a mud splattered private's uniform. In striking contrast, Lee appeared wearing a new gray uniform, polished boots and parade sword.
After a brief conversation, General Lee signed the surrender document and rose to leave without ceremony.
As Lee began to ride away, Grant's troops began to cheer, their intent being to cheer the Union's victory. Grant immediately silenced them, reminding his troops that "The rebs are our countrymen again."
This event could only have occurred in the world of 1865, never in today's world. In today's world, it would have been much different.
There would have been yelling mobs outside the McLean house. Agitators would have been bused in from Washington, Baltimore, Philadelphia and other cities. Liberal spokesmen would have appeared decrying the racial injustice that had been done, demanding change. Pinch hitters would have appeared at the CNN, MSNBC and CBS news buses, reminding audiences how dastardly the South had been. Demands would have been made for retribution against Lee, his officers, his army. Doubtless, arrests would have occurred, military tribunals established on the spot and the "rebel" prisoners would have been shot or lynched. Even the graves of dead Confederate soldiers would have been dug open and the bodies exhumed for humiliation and dishonor. All Confederate flags and southern state flags would have been gathered and ceremonially burned. Tiny Confederate flags meant to mark the graves of southern soldiers would have been prohibited. Great care would have been taken to make certain that all traces of the Confederacy's existence was forever hidden--expunged, so that no one would ever know its story.
In addition to the 13th, 14th and 15th Amendments which followed the war, other amendments would have been ratified. The 16th Amendment would have made it a federal crime to fly the Confederate flag or any insignia which resembles the flag. The 17th Amendment would have banned any motion picture, video game, photography, literary work, song or other literary or artistic depiction of any Confederate person, flag, idea, image or notion in any form. The 18th Amendment would have authorized cities and states to disinter dead Confederate soldiers and leaders and remove their bodies from city parks, to tear down their statues and rename any park, street, building or other remembrance or memorial. It would be a federal crime to in any way honor a southern "hero" or person who had participated in the Civil War if he had worn a Confederate uniform or served in a Confederate or southern state government position.
That's what would have happened if the War Between the States had ended in 2015, instead of in 1865. The world, you see, has become a much more politically corrupt and politically wicked place than it was in 1865. Alas, there are no Lincolns among us today. No US Grants, either, for that matter. The weary battle-worn General in the plain blue uniform at Appomattox who silenced his cheering soldiers as Lee rode away would have been expected to "loose the vengeance of his terrible swift sword..." Grant would have been reluctant but probably could not have withstood the political pressure from the far left in his own party. It would not have been a pretty sight.
No comments:
Post a Comment