April 9, 1865 My Dearest Sister, After years of war, we have lost. General Lee told us to march. He didn’t tell us where, but we soon found out. We saw the Appomattox Court House. We had known this day was coming, just not this soon. We were crushed. We waited outside, while Lee and Grant discussed peace terms. Are we going to prison? Will we be executed? We did not know. It was silent, all of the same thoughts going through everyone’s heads. Some were crying, others were staring ahead, with dead, unblinking eyes. I know this is good news to you, as you are with the Union, and I am happy for you. Grant and Lee walked out of the house. They had our undivided attention. General Lee quietly said, “We lost.” At that statement, cheers and cries of joy erupted from the Union troops. Our eyes were downcast, tears rolling from our faces. I hope we don’t go to prison. My silent thought was answered as Union troops paid their respects to us, throwing down their weapons and hugging us. I hope we don’t have any more battles, for I am tired of war. All of my friends have died, and my family has been torn apart. I miss everything, especially my best friend Charlie, who was cut down by Union troops at Gettysburg. What will the future hold for me? Alas, I do not know, but I hope to see you soon.
Dr. Wallace Williams April 9, 1865 Being a doctor for the Confederates on the field I have seen much suffering. Tending to my last few patients and taking care of a last amputation, I was pondering the idea of retirement after the war to somewhere peaceful. When the news of Robert E. Lee surrendering today to Ulysses S Grant at Appomattox reached me, I was somewhat relieved. I am worried what will come of the lives that need rebuilding and what the future may bring, but a plan of assassinating Abraham Lincoln has been circling through the camps. I believe that if this plan is carried out war will emerge again and Confederates will gain enough strength to fight for our beliefs and we will separate once again from the Union! Although I am supportive of the Confederate cause, my participation in the potential war is slim. The trauma from this Civil War is too much and I feel that my life is nearly over. I have decided to live the rest of it with my wife, children, and grandchildren who have not seen me since the start of the war. I miss them and hope to be seeing them soon.
My name is John C. Smith, and I am a layer from New York. I was helping Ulysses S. Grant with his financial books. I am glad the war is over. It has caused us a great debt. Many people have lost their lives, and we have separated our great nation. Now that Lee has surrendered we need to start reconstructing the country we once dreamed of having. I hope in the years to follow, we shall come together as one to defeat any issue that comes our way. we need to repay our debts and rebuild the economy so that citizens can live in comfort. People have given the soldiers food, clothes, and supplies, of their own, and to repay them we need to create a thriving economy.
My name is Greg Palomalu and I am from Milton, Massachusetts. Two days ago General Robert E.Lee surrendured to Ulysses S. Grant at Appomattox court house in Central Virginia. Near the end of the civil war was when I had joined the Union army, and when the troops and I had heard of this news we were extemely exited that the war was finally at an end. Later that night, we had celebrated in a local town to show or happiness. The North had destroyed most of the cities and over 500,000 men had lost thier lives durin the war. What I think will happen next is that the south will raise money to rebuild what ever was destroyed ar burned down.
Journal Entry: April 6,1865 Dear Grandfather, I haven't talked to you for a long time and I haven't seen you since I was a fourteen. I am now nineteen and just finished participating in the war. I have fought in the war with my five older brothers and half of them are dead, and the others are missing in action. There is little hope that they are still alive. I am the only one who is safe now. I participated in the war for two years, which is not nearly as long as my brothers. I have lost all hearing in my left ear, and so far its been rough. I am relieved that the war is over, but the memories haunt me. I have nightmares every night about the battlefield and the fear that my brothers will not come back, or that there even dead. I do not know what is bound to come next. Maybe we try to rebuild ourselves from the war. Hopefully we can rebuild a better country and we can finally come together as one. I am not sure what to do with myself after the war. I have lost my way. I guess I try to forget and wait for my pain and sorrow to leave me.
I Brittany Smith, owner of a New York purse company am so thrilled that the war is proclaimed over. I am so glad that we do not have to keep supplying those doctor purses much anymore. I feel that this news of Lee's surrender is much needed and wanted here in the North. I think that bad things will come next, because the radical South wont be able to handle the news of surrender. I think that they will go on killing rampages, and try to start another rebellion. But otherwise the news of surrender is terrific.
It has been two years to this day when I deserted the Union army. I've been living in a small town in the south Georgia. I have established a modest living in these past two years, but have grown to miss my loved ones. When I received the news that the war had ended, I decided to face my war crimes, if granted assistance to the north. I have adopted southern customs and have a slave of my own, but I would give it all up to be with my family. I can't say I'm overwhelmed with joy hearing that the North has won. However, I'm glad there's no more brother killing brother. I accept this probability of immense debt with even staying in the country, but I am proud to be an American and will support the government in everything I do.
Send my Family my concerns Sincerely, Jack Wang (Bernardo Rebeil and Zachary-C-Probstfelt)
The pain is excruciating. Finally, after four long years of war, I believe the end is near, if it has not already come. At Appomattox today Robert E. Lee surrendered to our tactical leader, General Grant. However, I was wounded, shot in my left leg. Now I am constantly bleeding, feeling fainter and fainter. However, I am glad I will have survived to see what I perceive to be the war’s end, and I am ever so grateful to have lived this long, unlike some around me. I fight, and fought, for the unity of my country and its people, sometimes a never-ending battle. I believe now President Lincoln will lead our nation to a new age of prosperity, punishing southern leaders for their treason. Finally, brother against brother has come to an end.
The last four years have been very tough and sometimes it feels like it has been much longer than that. I haven’t seen my dad in a year and a half left to go fight in the war. I have been writing letters to my dad frequently and he replies saying that the war is horrible. He also commented saying that most of his friends have died. The good thing is that General Robert E. Lee has surrendered and I get to see my dad again. This also benefits the southern slaves because they are now free. I hope the U.S will come to a consensus and stop all the fighting. I think that it will take time but eventually the U.S will realize that all the fighting has done us no good and we will join forces. Sincerely, Trevor Werbylo
Hi, my old occupation was to be a medic for the war. I helped the Union soldiers. Unfortunately I was shot in the leg. After that, I chose to dedicate my life to photographing the war. This is because I have experienced the brutality of the war and want to inform the people that war isn't a game. I also wanted to inform the people to help end the war. I am extremely happy that General Lee surrendered and I hope the war will be over soon. I believe, in the near future, that the all the slaves will be set free and the war will finally come to a close.
The Journal of Lee A. Swift April 9 1865 The war is finally over. I can’t even begin to fathom it. I never thought I’d live to see the end when we, the North, won the Civil War. It doesn’t make a difference; my little brother is still dead from a bullet to his head, precisely two years ago, and nothing will change that. How ironic . . . The two-year anniversary of my brother’s passing is also the very day Robert E. Lee surrenders at Appomattox Courthouse. From my small home in Boston, Massachusetts, I had to take care of my mourning mother—she is the only family I have left—for almost one month after Johnny passed. The only reason I got into this bloody war is because of my little brother’s death. As much as my dejected heart wanted to, I wasn't going to mourn his death and do nothing. No, I took his place in the field to regain his honor and hopefully help end the war. I believed it was a worthy cause—to battle for my brother’s honor while supporting the North. The only way to move on from my brother’s death was to fully and wholly commit myself to the war. After two brutal years of my fighting in tribute to Johnny, I’ve nothing left to defend. This can’t be the end, though, and I foresee the Southerners retailing against us Northerners. Bloodshed will start yet again. I’m sure of it.
New York Times: My name is Bob Cartwheelitzzini and the past couple of years here in New York haven't been the brightest. You see I am for the North, but my brother, Joseph, was a soldier for General E. Lee. However, he didn't live to see the end of the war, he died. Even though the death of my beloved brother was tragic, I am very grateful that the war is over and I came out unharmed unlike most of America. I know this isn't the end though, I know that once America is does reconstructing, it will just tare down just like it has done many times before. So, I will flee back to my country, Italy. Good Luck to you.
April 9, 1865 Today is April 9, 1865. The headline in the newspaper today is “Robert E. Lee Surrenders to Ulysses S. Grant at Appomattox.” As a Georgia plantation owner this is very sad news, because I don’t want to lose my slaves. I don’t know what I will do without them, they keep the plantation running. Just the other night William T. Sherman burned down all my crops and the slaves came running calling “Master Riggs! Master Riggs!” My slaves have always been very loyal to me, so even though I will be losing them and it will affect my work, I hope they all have good new lives. I hope that in the future the north and south can join together as one and become even stronger, we just have to work together to make this happen. - Chandler Riggs
My father, Robert E. Lee, surrendered today to Ulysses S. Grant ending the war forever. My father has been fighting in the war for four years straight. I am both happy and disappointed that the war ended; I want my father to come home but at the same time I’m disappointed that the Confederacy lost. I hope that America can re-join as one nation in a peaceful manner. I think that the north and south will have trouble coming back together, but in the end we must become a whole country again for American to prosper. I hope no leaders in either governments refuses to sign the surrender document because too many good men died because of this war.
Dear Mother, All my bretheren are saddened and dissapointed at Lee's surrendering. I especially, as a colonel, have felt as though we have failed. I know we will be ridiculed and hated by the rest of the nation. I don't blame them. The confederates have caused so much death, damage, and cost. Yet still, I know that in due time, we will be forgiven. In a week I will return home to Richmond, Virginia, to see you. I think that we will be very humiliated by the rest of the states, but the south will soon be able to rejoin the United States of America, and build up the country to an even better place than it was before. Sincerely, Jack Stevens
I am Johnny Dellinger, but many people call me 20-20. I was a calvary man in the war, which meant that I was a soldier on horseback. I fought for the Union, so when my warmates and I heard that the Confederates had lost the war, we were so excited and happy. I am very grateful to have been a part of this important victory for the Union. I believe that our nation's next chapter will be Lincoln's plan and Reconstruction. Well, we'll see what the future holds.
My name is Lantana Dalbec, a southern belle from Atlanta, Georgia. A very little while ago, my Daddy's plantation was burned to a crispetty crunch by Mr. Fancy-Pants Sherman during Sherman's wretched March to the Sea. My Daddy's business is gone, and is no more funding my cousin, Jebidiah, in his super secret spying up in Yankee Territory. Thus is because Daddy was trained at West Pointe Military Academy in New York, but was hot in the belly and disabled. He was released of his military duties and opened our success of a plantation (or it was a plantation success, until dummy Sherman burnt it down). after all this happened, and don't you dare tell Daddy, but I'm glad the Yankees won, even if we had to pay our riches for it. God proclaims that slavery is wrong, and I'm praying every single night on every tiny little star that these she-man-women-haters realize they are sinnin' every single second of everyday by doing this. Now, that the terrible war is basically over, hopefully Mr. Lincoln can bring all of the governments together, as one. Once everyone is united, maybe my Daddy's plantation will be rebuilt from the money that the government will collect. Oh, and I ain't getting the big fuss about these "Radical Republicans". I know Daddy is in support of them, but their values and traditions don't sound like very joyful things, or things God would be proud of. Wasn't this nation was built on equality and justice, to all?
My name is Philip Smith. Today I heard the news about Lee surrendering to Grant. I am a 9 year old boy who lives in Philadelphia. My dad sent me a letter and he said that the war is ending. He said the conditions are really tough, and he doesn’t even have any shoes! My dad has been away now for 4 years fighting, and I think he might come hone. I am really excited. If everything goes as my dad thinks it will, the Union will win the war, and he will get to come home!
April 9, 1865 Today General Lee finally surrendered to Grant at Appomattox. As an escaped slave, this comes as great news to me. I have been hiding in New York for six months, and maybe with this new development, my master will finally stop searching for me. I’m sure my brother, Robert, has heard the news by now and is excited by the idea of being freed. After running away and leaving Virginia in October, I traveled to New York in hope of getting a job and starting a new life. Unfortunately, even in the North, people are reluctant to hire a black man with no permanent residence, so I’m living on the streets for now. The war has been hard on people around here, and what little they have they are not eager to share. I am greatly excited by this news of surrender, because I am sure that, with the country in one piece, Lincoln will be able to make things better for black men like me. I’m also glad that Robert will finally be able to come join me, so maybe I won’t be so lonely. With any luck, the recovery from the war won’t be too rough on the economy. I have faith in Lincoln. I can already see myself five years from now, with a successful job and a big family, rich as a man can be in all the ways that matter. Hopefully nothing huge is in the horizon for this country, threatening to hinder us even more. We’ll see in the weeks to come. -Thomas Freeman
Journal of Wilmer McLean April 9, 1865 This morning I woke up to the sound of a retched noise. I put on my clothes and went to the widow to see what the ruckus was about. To my astonishment I found that my house was in the middle of a war zone. How foolish was I to think I could escape the war for there was no escape to this war and both sides would fight until the other was crushed. Little did I know that my modest house would play an important part to ending this war. The battle has gone one around me all through the morning as I hunker down in my house. I now pray to God like I have never prayed before hoping that a stray bullet does not come my way. Every now and then I gather my nerve and catch a glimpse of the battle. Then I hit the floor as the next shot is fired. As far as I can tell the area surrounding my house is littered with bodies and the Confederates are slowly getting surrounded. I cannot believe my eyes! The confederates have resided the flag of surrender. The fight is won and I am safe. A group of soldiers esquire the Confederate general into the nearest building, my house. The soldiers are then followed by their general. I rush down stairs to see what is proceeding below. The two generals sit at opposite sides of the table and begin discussing their terms. With a sock I realized that I am looking at the two foremost generals of the war, Robert E. Lee and Ulysses S. Grant. All the sudden this meeting grew more important, because I knew that if Lee surrenders the war would draw to an end soon. Expecting a long meeting I got comfortable and watched the proceeding. However, the meeting did not last long and the terms of surrender were agreed on. It seemed that both the generals knew that the war had to draw to a close soon. The generals left shortly after that and General Lee was taken into custody. I know that this day will forever more go into the history books and will be studied by later generations. However I have to ask myself what will happen next, will Lincoln's Reconnection Plan be chosen and offer redemption and forgiveness to the South. Or will Johnsons plan be chosen and let the South manage be itself. Or will it be the Radical Republicans who get their plan picked and will crack down on the South. The future is uncertain however the coming years will decide the fate of this nation.
21 comments:
April 9, 1865
My Dearest Sister,
After years of war, we have lost. General Lee told us to march. He didn’t tell us where, but we soon found out. We saw the Appomattox Court House. We had known this day was coming, just not this soon. We were crushed. We waited outside, while Lee and Grant discussed peace terms. Are we going to prison? Will we be executed? We did not know. It was silent, all of the same thoughts going through everyone’s heads. Some were crying, others were staring ahead, with dead, unblinking eyes. I know this is good news to you, as you are with the Union, and I am happy for you. Grant and Lee walked out of the house. They had our undivided attention. General Lee quietly said, “We lost.” At that statement, cheers and cries of joy erupted from the Union troops. Our eyes were downcast, tears rolling from our faces. I hope we don’t go to prison. My silent thought was answered as Union troops paid their respects to us, throwing down their weapons and hugging us. I hope we don’t have any more battles, for I am tired of war. All of my friends have died, and my family has been torn apart. I miss everything, especially my best friend Charlie, who was cut down by Union troops at Gettysburg. What will the future hold for me? Alas, I do not know, but I hope to see you soon.
With love,
Your brother
Dr. Wallace Williams
April 9, 1865
Being a doctor for the Confederates on the field I have seen much suffering. Tending to my last few patients and taking care of a last amputation, I was pondering the idea of retirement after the war to somewhere peaceful. When the news of Robert E. Lee surrendering today to Ulysses S Grant at Appomattox reached me, I was somewhat relieved. I am worried what will come of the lives that need rebuilding and what the future may bring, but a plan of assassinating Abraham Lincoln has been circling through the camps. I believe that if this plan is carried out war will emerge again and Confederates will gain enough strength to fight for our beliefs and we will separate once again from the Union! Although I am supportive of the Confederate cause, my participation in the potential war is slim. The trauma from this Civil War is too much and I feel that my life is nearly over. I have decided to live the rest of it with my wife, children, and grandchildren who have not seen me since the start of the war. I miss them and hope to be seeing them soon.
My name is John C. Smith, and I am a layer from New York. I was helping Ulysses S. Grant with his financial books. I am glad the war is over. It has caused us a great debt. Many people have lost their lives, and we have separated our great nation. Now that Lee has surrendered we need to start reconstructing the country we once dreamed of having. I hope in the years to follow, we shall come together as one to defeat any issue that comes our way. we need to repay our debts and rebuild the economy so that citizens can live in comfort. People have given the soldiers food, clothes, and supplies, of their own, and to repay them we need to create a thriving economy.
April 11, 1865
My name is Greg Palomalu and I am from Milton, Massachusetts. Two days ago General Robert E.Lee surrendured to Ulysses S. Grant at Appomattox court house in Central Virginia. Near the end of the civil war was when I had joined the Union army, and when the troops and I had heard of this news we were extemely exited that the war was finally at an end. Later that night, we had celebrated in a local town to show or happiness. The North had destroyed most of the cities and over 500,000 men had lost thier lives durin the war. What I think will happen next is that the south will raise money to rebuild what ever was destroyed ar burned down.
Journal Entry:
April 6,1865
Dear Grandfather,
I haven't talked to you for a long time and I haven't seen you since I was a fourteen. I am now nineteen and just finished participating in the war. I have fought in the war with my five older brothers and half of them are dead, and the others are missing in action. There is little hope that they are still alive. I am the only one who is safe now. I participated in the war for two years, which is not nearly as long as my brothers. I have lost all hearing in my left ear, and so far its been rough. I am relieved that the war is over, but the memories haunt me. I have nightmares every night about the battlefield and the fear that my brothers will not come back, or that there even dead. I do not know what is bound to come next. Maybe we try to rebuild ourselves from the war. Hopefully we can rebuild a better country and we can finally come together as one. I am not sure what to do with myself after the war. I have lost my way. I guess I try to forget and wait for my pain and sorrow to leave me.
Sincerely,
Gorrest Fump
I Brittany Smith, owner of a New York purse company am so thrilled that the war is proclaimed over. I am so glad that we do not have to keep supplying those doctor purses much anymore. I feel that this news of Lee's surrender is much needed and wanted here in the North. I think that bad things will come next, because the radical South wont be able to handle the news of surrender. I think that they will go on killing rampages, and try to start another rebellion. But otherwise the news of surrender is terrific.
Dear President Lincoln,
It has been two years to this day when I deserted the Union army. I've been living in a small town in the south Georgia. I have established a modest living in these past two years, but have grown to miss my loved ones. When I received the news that the war had ended, I decided to face my war crimes, if granted assistance to the north. I have adopted southern customs and have a slave of my own, but I would give it all up to be with my family. I can't say I'm overwhelmed with joy hearing that the North has won. However, I'm glad there's no more brother killing brother. I accept this probability of immense debt with even staying in the country, but I am proud to be an American and will support the government in everything I do.
Send my Family my concerns
Sincerely,
Jack Wang
(Bernardo Rebeil and Zachary-C-Probstfelt)
April 9, 1865
The pain is excruciating. Finally, after four long years of war, I believe the end is near, if it has not already come. At Appomattox today Robert E. Lee surrendered to our tactical leader, General Grant. However, I was wounded, shot in my left leg. Now I am constantly bleeding, feeling fainter and fainter. However, I am glad I will have survived to see what I perceive to be the war’s end, and I am ever so grateful to have lived this long, unlike some around me. I fight, and fought, for the unity of my country and its people, sometimes a never-ending battle. I believe now President Lincoln will lead our nation to a new age of prosperity, punishing southern leaders for their treason. Finally, brother against brother has come to an end.
April 9, 1865
The last four years have been very tough and sometimes it feels like it has been much longer than that. I haven’t seen my dad in a year and a half left to go fight in the war. I have been writing letters to my dad frequently and he replies saying that the war is horrible. He also commented saying that most of his friends have died. The good thing is that General Robert E. Lee has surrendered and I get to see my dad again. This also benefits the southern slaves because they are now free. I hope the U.S will come to a consensus and stop all the fighting. I think that it will take time but eventually the U.S will realize that all the fighting has done us no good and we will join forces.
Sincerely,
Trevor Werbylo
Dear Local Newspaper,
Hi, my old occupation was to be a medic for the war. I helped the Union soldiers. Unfortunately I was shot in the leg. After that, I chose to dedicate my life to photographing the war. This is because I have experienced the brutality of the war and want to inform the people that war isn't a game. I also wanted to inform the people to help end the war. I am extremely happy that General Lee surrendered and I hope the war will be over soon. I believe, in the near future, that the all the slaves will be set free and the war will finally come to a close.
From,
John Craig Smith
New Jersey
The Journal of Lee A. Swift
April 9 1865
The war is finally over. I can’t even begin to fathom it. I never thought I’d live to see the end when we, the North, won the Civil War. It doesn’t make a difference; my little brother is still dead from a bullet to his head, precisely two years ago, and nothing will change that. How ironic . . . The two-year anniversary of my brother’s passing is also the very day Robert E. Lee surrenders at Appomattox Courthouse. From my small home in Boston, Massachusetts, I had to take care of my mourning mother—she is the only family I have left—for almost one month after Johnny passed. The only reason I got into this bloody war is because of my little brother’s death. As much as my dejected heart wanted to, I wasn't going to mourn his death and do nothing. No, I took his place in the field to regain his honor and hopefully help end the war. I believed it was a worthy cause—to battle for my brother’s honor while supporting the North. The only way to move on from my brother’s death was to fully and wholly commit myself to the war. After two brutal years of my fighting in tribute to Johnny, I’ve nothing left to defend. This can’t be the end, though, and I foresee the Southerners retailing against us Northerners. Bloodshed will start yet again. I’m sure of it.
New York Times:
My name is Bob Cartwheelitzzini and the past couple of years here in New York haven't been the brightest. You see I am for the North, but my brother, Joseph, was a soldier for General E. Lee. However, he didn't live to see the end of the war, he died. Even though the death of my beloved brother was tragic, I am very grateful that the war is over and I came out unharmed unlike most of America. I know this isn't the end though, I know that once America is does reconstructing, it will just tare down just like it has done many times before. So, I will flee back to my country, Italy. Good Luck to you.
April 9, 1865
Today is April 9, 1865. The headline in the newspaper today is “Robert E. Lee Surrenders to Ulysses S. Grant at Appomattox.” As a Georgia plantation owner this is very sad news, because I don’t want to lose my slaves. I don’t know what I will do without them, they keep the plantation running. Just the other night William T. Sherman burned down all my crops and the slaves came running calling “Master Riggs! Master Riggs!” My slaves have always been very loyal to me, so even though I will be losing them and it will affect my work, I hope they all have good new lives. I hope that in the future the north and south can join together as one and become even stronger, we just have to work together to make this happen.
- Chandler Riggs
April 9, 1865
My father, Robert E. Lee, surrendered today to Ulysses S. Grant ending the war forever. My father has been fighting in the war for four years straight. I am both happy and disappointed that the war ended; I want my father to come home but at the same time I’m disappointed that the Confederacy lost. I hope that America can re-join as one nation in a peaceful manner. I think that the north and south will have trouble coming back together, but in the end we must become a whole country again for American to prosper. I hope no leaders in either governments refuses to sign the surrender document because too many good men died because of this war.
Sincerely,
Suzy B. Lee
Dear Mother,
All my bretheren are saddened and dissapointed at Lee's surrendering. I especially, as a colonel, have felt as though we have failed. I know we will be ridiculed and hated by the rest of the nation. I don't blame them. The confederates have caused so much death, damage, and cost. Yet still, I know that in due time, we will be forgiven. In a week I will return home to Richmond, Virginia, to see you. I think that we will be very humiliated by the rest of the states, but the south will soon be able to rejoin the United States of America, and build up the country to an even better place than it was before.
Sincerely,
Jack Stevens
I am Johnny Dellinger, but many people call me 20-20. I was a calvary man in the war, which meant that I was a soldier on horseback. I fought for the Union, so when my warmates and I heard that the Confederates had lost the war, we were so excited and happy. I am very grateful to have been a part of this important victory for the Union. I believe that our nation's next chapter will be Lincoln's plan and Reconstruction. Well, we'll see what the future holds.
April 9, 1865
My name is Lantana Dalbec, a southern belle from Atlanta, Georgia. A very little while ago, my Daddy's plantation was burned to a crispetty crunch by Mr. Fancy-Pants Sherman during Sherman's wretched March to the Sea. My Daddy's business is gone, and is no more funding my cousin, Jebidiah, in his super secret spying up in Yankee Territory. Thus is because Daddy was trained at West Pointe Military Academy in New York, but was hot in the belly and disabled. He was released of his military duties and opened our success of a plantation (or it was a plantation success, until dummy Sherman burnt it down). after all this happened, and don't you dare tell Daddy, but I'm glad the Yankees won, even if we had to pay our riches for it. God proclaims that slavery is wrong, and I'm praying every single night on every tiny little star that these she-man-women-haters realize they are sinnin' every single second of everyday by doing this. Now, that the terrible war is basically over, hopefully Mr. Lincoln can bring all of the governments together, as one. Once everyone is united, maybe my Daddy's plantation will be rebuilt from the money that the government will collect. Oh, and I ain't getting the big fuss about these "Radical Republicans". I know Daddy is in support of them, but their values and traditions don't sound like very joyful things, or things God would be proud of. Wasn't this nation was built on equality and justice, to all?
Good night, Atlanta;
Good night slavery!
Kisses,
Lantana <3
My name is Philip Smith. Today I heard the news about Lee surrendering to Grant. I am a 9 year old boy who lives in Philadelphia. My dad sent me a letter and he said that the war is ending. He said the conditions are really tough, and he doesn’t even have any shoes! My dad has been away now for 4 years fighting, and I think he might come hone. I am really excited. If everything goes as my dad thinks it will, the Union will win the war, and he will get to come home!
April 9, 1865
Today General Lee finally surrendered to Grant at Appomattox. As an escaped slave, this comes as great news to me. I have been hiding in New York for six months, and maybe with this new development, my master will finally stop searching for me. I’m sure my brother, Robert, has heard the news by now and is excited by the idea of being freed. After running away and leaving Virginia in October, I traveled to New York in hope of getting a job and starting a new life. Unfortunately, even in the North, people are reluctant to hire a black man with no permanent residence, so I’m living on the streets for now. The war has been hard on people around here, and what little they have they are not eager to share. I am greatly excited by this news of surrender, because I am sure that, with the country in one piece, Lincoln will be able to make things better for black men like me. I’m also glad that Robert will finally be able to come join me, so maybe I won’t be so lonely. With any luck, the recovery from the war won’t be too rough on the economy. I have faith in Lincoln. I can already see myself five years from now, with a successful job and a big family, rich as a man can be in all the ways that matter. Hopefully nothing huge is in the horizon for this country, threatening to hinder us even more. We’ll see in the weeks to come.
-Thomas Freeman
Journal of Wilmer McLean April 9, 1865
This morning I woke up to the sound of a retched noise. I put on my clothes and went to the widow to see what the ruckus was about. To my astonishment I found that my house was in the middle of a war zone. How foolish was I to think I could escape the war for there was no escape to this war and both sides would fight until the other was crushed. Little did I know that my modest house would play an important part to ending this war.
The battle has gone one around me all through the morning as I hunker down in my house. I now pray to God like I have never prayed before hoping that a stray bullet does not come my way. Every now and then I gather my nerve and catch a glimpse of the battle. Then I hit the floor as the next shot is fired. As far as I can tell the area surrounding my house is littered with bodies and the Confederates are slowly getting surrounded.
I cannot believe my eyes! The confederates have resided the flag of surrender. The fight is won and I am safe. A group of soldiers esquire the Confederate general into the nearest building, my house. The soldiers are then followed by their general. I rush down stairs to see what is proceeding below.
The two generals sit at opposite sides of the table and begin discussing their terms. With a sock I realized that I am looking at the two foremost generals of the war, Robert E. Lee and Ulysses S. Grant. All the sudden this meeting grew more important, because I knew that if Lee surrenders the war would draw to an end soon. Expecting a long meeting I got comfortable and watched the proceeding. However, the meeting did not last long and the terms of surrender were agreed on. It seemed that both the generals knew that the war had to draw to a close soon.
The generals left shortly after that and General Lee was taken into custody. I know that this day will forever more go into the history books and will be studied by later generations. However I have to ask myself what will happen next, will Lincoln's Reconnection Plan be chosen and offer redemption and forgiveness to the South. Or will Johnsons plan be chosen and let the South manage be itself. Or will it be the Radical Republicans who get their plan picked and will crack down on the South. The future is uncertain however the coming years will decide the fate of this nation.
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