The time is not come for impartial history. If the truth were told just now, it would not be credited.

What a cruel thing war is... to fill our hearts with hatred instead of love for our neighbors.

We made a great mistake in the beginning of our struggle, and I fear, in spite of all we can do, it will prove to be a fatal mistake. We appointed all our worst generals to command our armies, and all our best generals to edit the newspapers

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.

To be a good soldier, you must love the army. To be a good commander, you must be willing to order the death of the thing you love.

You cannot barter manhood for peace.

There is nothing left for me to do but to go and see General Grant and I would rather die a thousand deaths.