Quotes from Edward H. Bonekemper III

The Lost Cause tradition—as both a version of history and as a racial ideology—is still certainly very much alive in neo-Confederate organizations, on numerous Web sites, among white supremacist groups, in staunch advocates of the Confederate battle flag, and even among some mainstream American politicians.

that good people fought valiantly for disgraceful causes. . . . But by joining the Confederate war machine, all of them, irrespective of their personal motivations, advanced their nation's political agenda—the perpetuation and territorial expansion of human bondage and the misery that it entailed."9

Lee both articulated and embodied. He was the sacrificial lamb, the Confederate Christ on the cross at Appomattox who then was resurrected by others in the spirit and the body politic. Before he died, he also became the soft-spoken but implacable foe of submission and conciliation.

Grant needed a win, went for it, and got it. Lee needed a tie, went for the win, and lost.

As the survivors returned to Confederate lines, Lee met them and sobbed, "It's all my fault this time."158 It was.159

Although Meade's Army of the Potomac, under the personal direction of Grant, did suffer high casualties (41 percent) during its drive to the James River, it imposed even higher casualties on Lee's army (46 percent). In