Abandon your animosities and make your sons Americans!
As a general principle you should not force young men to do their duty, but let them do it voluntarily and thereby develop their characters.
But what a cruel thing is war to separate and destroy families and friends.
I was too weak to defend, so I attacked
There is a true glory and a true honor: the glory of duty done--the honor of the integrity of principle.
I have fought against the people of the North because I believed they were seeking to wrest from the South dearest rights. But I have never cherished toward them bitter or vindictive feelings. And have never seen the day when I did not pray for them.