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In one corner of our club the fur and feathers are flying – and the battle hasn’t even started yet.
A perfect occasion to recall acts of chivalry, honor, and mutual respect in the civil war:
(April 12, 1861) Fort Sumter. When the Union flag was shot away the shelling stopped. A boat put out from a Confederate dock carrying a replacement flag for Union soldiers to fight under. Once the flag was raised the battle resumed. When Major Anderson offered his sword in surrender General Beauregard refused to accept it “from so brave a man”.
(April 6, 1862) Battle of Shiloh. General Albert Sydney Johnston though wounded urged his personal surgeon to attend to captured Union soldiers more grievously wounded. General Johnston died within one hour from loss of blood.
(Sept 17, 1862) Battle of Antietam. While visiting General McClellan the president passed a house in which was a large number of Confederate wounded. At the request of the president the party stopped to visit. Lincoln remarked to the wounded Confederates that if they had no objection he would be pleased to take them by the hand. He said the solemn obligations which we owe to our country and posterity compel the prosecution of this war, and it followed that many were our enemies through uncontrollable circumstances, and he bore them no malice, and could take them by the hand with sympathy and good feeling.
After a short silence the Confederates came forward, and each silently but fervently shook the hand of the President. Mr. Lincoln and General McClellan then walked by the side of those that were wounded too severely to be able to arise and bid them be of good cheer, assuring them that every possible care should be bestowed upon them to ameliorate their condition. It was a moving scene, and there was not a dry eye in the building, either among the Nationals or Confederates.
(Dec., 1862) Battle of Fredericksburg. Confederate soldiers - crouched behind a stone wall atop Marye's Heights -- mowed down thousands of charging Union soldiers. By nightfall, the wounded lay on the frozen field moaning for water. Richard Kirkland, a Confederate sergeant from South Carolina, ignored his commander's warning and sprinted into the dangerous no man's land with canteens. At first, Union troops shot at him, then cheered as they realized his purpose. Kirkland became known as "The Angel of Marye's Heights”.
(May 2, 1863) Battle of Chancellorsville. Rice Bull was an injured Union soldier from the 123rd New York regiment. The area where some of the Union wounded lay was overtaken in the battle. Bull noted: “While we were in the Confederate lines, all the Johnnies treated us with kindness and with consideration for our feelings; they did all they could to make us comfortable. I came in contact with many of their soldiers while I was a prisoner and without exception found them kind and helpful.” He went on to report: “Later in the afternoon we were visited by a good many of our late enemies; they were friendly and helped our wounded in every way they could.” “Their kind treatment of our wounded stamped them as a fine class of men”. When Rice Bull found himself too dizzy to walk without assistance, one Confederates whittled a cane for him from a branch.
And probably the greatest act of honor and mutual respect seen in this war or any war…
(April 9, 1865) Appomattox Court House. On the specific direction of Abraham Lincoln General Grant was instructed to offer terms of surrender to the Confederates that guaranteed there would be no imprisonment or trials for treason of men or officers. In addition to these generous terms, “Unconditional Surrender” Grant, upon the request of Lee, permitted the Confederate officers to retain their side arms and their horses.
When news of the surrender spread outside the Union soldiers began cheering. General Grant sent an order immediately for it to stop. “The Confederates were now our countrymen, and we did not want to exult over their downfall”.
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