Lee the AmericanHoughton Mifflin, 1912 - 324 pages |
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Common terms and phrases
39th Congress A. P. Hill admiration Army of Northern asked battle believe campaign Captain cause Chancellorsville character charming civil Colonel command Confederacy Confederate confidence criticism Davis Davis's desire Diary from Dixie dignity doubt doubtless duty enemy eral expressed father feel fight Fitzhugh Lee fought friends Gettysburg glory Grant greatest honor hope horse human interest Jackson Jefferson Davis Joe Johnston Johnston Jones judgment knew Lee's less letter Longstreet look loved matter ment military Napoleon never Northern Virginia occasion officers once opinion perhaps Pickett's charge Pollard position prayer president psychographer question quoted remark reported Richmond Robert Robert E Sainte-Beuve says Scott Second Bull Run seems showed slavery soldiers South Southern spirit Stonewall Jackson subordinate success sympathy tact tell things thought tion told troops Union Washington West Point wish words writes wrote
Popular passages
Page 41 - Where this is the case in any part of the world, those who are free are by far the most proud and jealous of their freedom. Freedom is to them not only an enjoyment, but a kind of rank and privilege. Not seeing there that freedom, as in countries where it is a common blessing, and as broad and general as the air, may be united with much abject toil, with great misery, with all the exterior of servitude, liberty looks, among them, like something that is more noble and liberal.
Page 41 - There is, however, a circumstance attending these colonies, which, in my opinion, fully counterbalances this difference, and makes the spirit of liberty still more high and haughty than in those to the northward. It is, that in Virginia and the Carolinas they have a vast multitude of slaves.
Page 55 - I do not know how far this feeling extends in the army. My brother officers have been too kind to report it, and so far, the troops have been too generous to exhibit it. It is fair, however, to suppose that it does exist, and success is so necessary to us that nothing should be risked to secure it. I, therefore, in all sincerity, request Your Excellency to take measures to supply my place. I do this with the more earnestness because no one is more aware than myself of my inability for the duties...
Page 5 - I thank God, there are no free schools nor printing, and I hope we shall not have these hundred years. For learning has brought disobedience and heresy, and sects into the world, and printing has divulged them, and libels against the best government. God keep us from both"!
Page 275 - But his understanding was narrow, and his commerce with the world had been small. He was by nature rash, irritable, quick to feel for his own dignity, slow to sympathize with the sufferings of others...
Page 230 - The forbearing use of power does not only form a touchstone, but the manner in which an individual enjoys certain advantages over others is a test of a true gentleman.
Page 33 - Secession is nothing but revolution. The framers of our Constitution never exhausted so much labor, wisdom, and forbearance in its formation, and surrounded it with so many guards and securities, if it was intended to be broken by every member of the Confederacy at will. It is intended for "perpetual union...
Page 90 - But I can anticipate no greater calamity for the country than a dissolution of the Union. It would be an accumulation of all the evils we complain of, and I am willing to sacrifice everything but honor for its preservation. I hope, therefore, that all constitutional means will be exhausted before there is a resort to force. Secession is nothing but revolution.
Page 33 - perpetual union," so expressed in the preamble, and for the establishment of a Government, not a compact, which can only be dissolved by revolution or the consent of all the people in convention assembled. It is idle to talk of secession.
Page 27 - After listening to his remarks, I declined the offer he made me, to take command of the army that was to be brought into the field; stating, as candidly and as courteously as I could, that, though opposed to secession and deprecating war, I could take no part in an invasion of the Southern States.