The Civil War, Vol. 3 Quotes

“The strife of the election is but human nature practically applied to the facts of the case,”
― Shelby Foote, The Civil War, Vol. 3: Red River to Appomattox

“After notifying the port authorities that he would be steaming out next morning, he went ashore for Mass, then came back and turned in early as an example for his officers and men, who did so too, despite many invitations to dine that night in Cherbourg with admirers.”
― Shelby Foote, The Civil War, Vol. 3: Red River to Appomattox

“Another was a return to the suggestion advanced informally by Pat Cleburne the previous winter, soon after Missionary Ridge, that the South free its slaves and enlist them in its armies. Hastily suppressed at the time as “revolting to Southern sentiment, Southern pride, and Southern honor,” the proposition seemed far less “monstrous” now than it had a year ago, when Grant was not at the gates of Richmond and Sherman had not made his march through Georgia. Seddon, for one, had been for it ever since the fall of Atlanta, except that he believed emancipation should follow, not precede, a term of military service.”
― Shelby Foote, The Civil War, Vol. 3: Red River to Appomattox

“It must have been the sense of having done his whole duty, and expended upon the cause every energy of his being, which enabled him to meet the approaching catastrophe with a calmness which seemed to those around him almost sublime.”
― Shelby Foote, The Civil War, Vol. 3: Red River to Appomattox

“Who knows," he asked as his
narrative drew toward its close, "but it may
be given to us, after this life, to meet again in
the old quarters, to play chess and draughts,
to get up soon to answer the morning roll
call, to fall in at the tap of the drum for drill
and dress parade, and again to hastily don
our war gear while the monotonous patter of
the long roll summons to battle? Who knows
but again the old flags, ragged and torn,
snapping in the wind, may face each other
and flutter, pursuing and pursued, while the
cries of victory fill a summer day? And after
the battle, then the slain and wounded will
arise, and all will meet together under the two
flags, all sound and well, and there will be
talking and laughter and cheers, and all will
say: Did it not seem real? Was it not as in the
old days?”
― Shelby Foote, The Civil War, Vol. 3: Red River to Appomattox