Picked up a book at a national park civil war gift shop. The author claims Lee had no intention of surrendering, ever, and it was all a misunderstanding because he happened to hand his sword to Grant while trying to sit comfortably.

(a thread)

According to the author, Grant misunderstood Lee’s gesture and declared Lee had surrendered - and “the gracious men in gray” ultimately agreed to this so that Grant would not “look like a fool”.

So I am faced with two interpretations of this: 1) that it is a lie, and 2) Lee was *so obsessed* with pride that he would rather surrender and invalidate the deaths of hundreds of thousands in order to permit an enemy general to not look foolish.

In both cases, I think my standing thoughts on the confederacy stands: they were a bunch of traitorous losers who couldn’t win a war fought in their own territory.

And if Lee was truly that obsessed with appearances? Not only was the south monsters who fought to keep people enslaved, their shining general was a psychopath.
Oh - and also a really bad general, since he let his pride lose the war for him.

I cannot stand the lost cause/noble south view of the civil war. While I appreciate the recipes in my new book (a collection of camp recipes) I feel dirty having put money in the author’s pocket. Off now to donate to worthier causes.

(End)