Famous Quotes during Civil War

By Mary Jane Fortenberry #6

Project option #3

“ War means fighting, and fighting means killing.”

-Nathan Bedford Forrest, (July 13, 1821 – October 29, 1877)

Nathan Bedford Forrest was a Confederate General during the Civil War.He was a Cavalry Military Commander.

I think General Forrest’s quote means…

War only leads to killing.

It’s significance during the time period is…

Many battles were being fought between the North andthe South. Approximately 620,000 soldiers died from combat, accident, starvation, and disease during theCivil War. Many soldiers lost their lives during the CivilWar.

“Any victory would be dear at such a price.”-Robert E. Lee, (January 19, 1807 – October 12, 1870)

Robert E. Lee was a Confederate General. He surrendered at theBattle of Gettysburg. He was the son of a Revolutionary WarOfficer Henry Lee III.

I think it means….

the lives of many soldiers is a large price to pay for war.

The significance of this quote during this time period is… General Lee had quoted this at learning of the death of one of his greatest lieutenants, Stonewall Jackson . The quote was quickly followed by Lee saying, “But God’s will be done.” General Lee viewed thedeath of this great lieutenant as an act of Heaven and God’s will.

“It is well that war is so terrible, else we should grow fond of it.” -General Lee to General Longstreet, (January 8, 1821 – January 2, 1904

General Lee General Longstreet

General James Longstreet was also a Confederate General as well asGeneral Lee.

I think it means…

War is terrible, but through the battles he had developed relationshipswith his men who were fighting with him. They express the divided emotions of a man who found attraction in the challenge, excitement and pageantry of war, while at the same time being repelled by its death and destruction (Fredericksburg.com).

The significance of this quote during this time period is…General Lee had said this quote to General Longstreet during the Battle of Fredericksburg while on Telegraph Hill.

"War is cruelty. There is no use trying to reform it. The crueler it is, the sooner it will be over.“ -General William T. Sherman, (February 8, 1820 – February 14, 1891)

William T. Sherman was a General in the UnionArmy. He was most known for destroying factories,Railroads, and supplies that were used by the Confederate Army.

I think it means…

War is bad, and there is no way to stop it. The worse it is, the sooner it will end.

The significance of this quote during the time period…

This particular quote was given to the Michigan MilitaryAcademy during 1879. I think it is very significant, because heis speaking to the graduating class of young military students.

He is basically telling the kids that I have lived through war and its terrible, horrific.

"In giving freedom to the slave, we assure freedom to the free. Honorable alike in what we give and what we preserve. We shall nobly save, or meanly lose, the last, best hope of earth."President Abraham Lincoln, message to Congress, 1862

Aberham Lincoln was the 16th President of the United States. He was assassinated April 14th , 1865 at Fords theatre by the famous stage actor John Wilkes Booth. Abraham Lincoln always wore a top hat. He helped abolish slavery.

I think it means...

Everybody should be treated equally no matter what skin color, religion, ETC. We should all have equal rights and be treated equally!

The significance of this quote during the time period…

This was a quote given to Congress in 1862 to make a clear connectionbetween preservation of the Union and the abolition of slavery. This message came a little more than 2 months after Lincoln announcedthe Emancipation Proclamation.

Bibliography

www.wikipedia.comwww.goodreads.comwww.cwquotes.blogspot.com www.civilwar.orgwww.penelope.uchicago.eduwww.cwmemory.comwww.fredricksberg.com/civilwarwww.wikiquote.comwww.clearpolitics.com