The other night I was looking through a book by a respected British historian who was contrasting the records of General Ulysses S. Grant and General Robert E. Lee.
At one point, the book has the following comment by Grant about Lee's surrender at Appomattox, Virginia:
"What General Lee's feelings were I do not know. But my own ... were sad and depressed. I felt like anything rather than rejoicing at the downfall of a foe who had fought so long and so valiantly, and who had suffered so much for a cause."
Hold on, I thought. Something's missing!
A quick search of Grant's excellent autobiography found the full quote:
"What General Lee's feelings were I do not know. As he was a man of much dignity, with an impassable face, it was impossible to say whether he felt inwardly glad that the end had finally come, or felt sad over the result, and was too manly to show it. Whatever his feelings, they were entirely concealed from my observation; but my own feelings, which had been quite jubilant on the receipt of his letter, were sad and depressed. I felt like anything rather than rejoicing at the downfall of a foe who had fought so long and so valiantly, and had suffered so much for a cause, though that cause was, I believe, one of the worst for which a people ever fought, and one for which there was the least excuse. I do not question, however, the sincerity of the great mass of those who were opposed to us."
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