"The Dangerous Myth of Appomattox" Topic

Interesting article…

link

Armand

I do not want a subscription to another newspaper.

Not paying to read a linked to article. Either copy it or don't bother. The title alone gives me reason to cringe.

As other posters have said above.

But on the subject of 'Myth of Appomattox'. I do like the short story by James Thurber in which Grant is so hungover after over indulging in whisky the night before that in his confused, befuddled state he agrees to surrender to Lee. See

link

I liked the "Family Guy" spoof myself.

It's an interesting article about the way we used the somewhat inaccurate poignant images of the surrender as history to decouple our memories from continued fighting during the occupation of the South and the bloody realities of the early years of post war fighting.

A premise that would make a good discussion if it were more accessible. Maybe this will work.

link

That also leads to a pay wall, at least for my computer. Does the NYT article mimic this link ?

Yes, it does, and covers details about the little things that were mythologized at the surrender, as well as the gruesome stats about the fighting that followed.

I reposted the link as a "gift", of which I am allowed ten a month, but apparently this does not work.

Poor Grant…it took over a century to uncover his reality and give him his due as one of the nation's great commanders and a classic American hero. Much thanks to Chernow and White.

I agree that Grant was a great commander. He understood that war is a violent, terrible affair, and must be waged so that it can be ended as quickly as possible. No ceasefires, no prisoner exchanges. Decide on the objective and fight until it is achieved.