--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: One of the great Confederate combat…" description: "\"“One of the great Confederate combat leaders, General John B. Gordon, had sat at his horse and spoken farewell to his men. Some he had seen weeping as ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c20/carl-sandberg-80462_epitaph_one-of-the-great-confederate-combat-lead_1682184.jpg" --- # One of the great Confederate combat leaders, General John… ![“One of the great Confederate combat leaders, General John B. Gordon, had sat at his horse and spoken farewell to his men. Some he had seen weeping as they folded burnt and shot-pierced battle flags and laid them on the stacked arms of surrender. As he told his troops his own grief he tried to give…” quote by Carl Sandberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c20/carl-sandberg-80462_epitaph_one-of-the-great-confederate-combat-lead_1682184.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c20/carl-sandberg-80462_epitaph_one-of-the-great-confederate-combat-lead_1682184.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c20/carl-sandberg-80462_epitaph_one-of-the-great-confederate-combat-lead_1682184.jpg) > ““One of the great Confederate combat leaders, General John B. Gordon, had sat at his horse and spoken farewell to his men. Some he had seen weeping as they folded burnt and shot-pierced battle flags and laid them on the stacked arms of surrender. As he told his troops his own grief he tried to give them hope to rebuild out of the poverty and ashes to which many would return. Gordon would never forget a Kentucky father who lost two sons, one dying for the North, the other for the South. Over the two graves of his soldier boys the father set up a joint monument inscribed "God knows which was right.”” Carl Sandberg ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A Confederate leader mourns his men, yet acknowledges the tragedy of families split by war, highlighting the futility of choosing sides. **In simple terms:** War leaves families divided and grief on both sides. Key Takeaway Remember shared humanity in conflict. Themes war grief reconciliation Mood reflective somber Type historical memorial When to use this quote - memorial ceremonies - educational curricula - peacebuilding initiatives Key Concepts historical memory civil war family loss Questions to Reflect On - Can we honor soldiers without glorifying war? - How do we teach balanced history? A Different Perspective Romanticizing military leaders can obscure their actions. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Confederate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/confederate/) [Epitaph](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/epitaph/) [Leadership](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leadership/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) ## Related quotes > [“She waited as he perused the room, skated over her, stopped, then came slowly back. Their eyes met. Alexa hated clichés, and what she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-probst/she-waited-as-he-perused-the-room-skated-over-her-stopped-then-came/) [Jennifer Probst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-probst/) > [In South Carolina, the Confederate flag flies high on countless flagpoles. Those who defend this practice by saying it is part of Southern culture…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-schlossberg/in-south-carolina-the-confederate-flag-flies-high-on-countless/) [Jack Schlossberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-schlossberg/) > [“As he reached the slight elevation he beheld the Confederate army sweeping down upon him. Their skirmish line fired at him, killing his orderly.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-olney/as-he-reached-the-slight-elevation-he-beheld-the-confederate-army/) Warren Olney > [Disagreeing with the fervent patriotism of the Confederates: "I think it's hard winning a war with words, gentlemen. . . . I'm saying very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clark-gable/disagreeing-with-the-fervent-patriotism-of-the-confederates-i-think/) [Clark Gable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clark-gable/) > [In a landscape littered with all of this imagery about the nobility of the Civil War and the Confederate effort and struggle, the absence…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-stevenson/in-a-landscape-littered-with-all-of-this-imagery-about-the-nobility/) [Bryan Stevenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-stevenson/) > [...So Englishmen saw it. Lincoln's insincerity was regarded as proven by two things: his earlier denial of any lawful right or wish to free…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheldon-vanauken/so-englishmen-saw-it-lincoln-s-insincerity-was-regarded-as-proven-by/) [Sheldon Vanauken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheldon-vanauken/) > [ It's time for the \[Confederate\] Flag to come down, because it just doesn't represent who we are as a people, as Americans anymore. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-hunter/it-s-time-for-the-confederate-flag-to-come-down-because-it-just-doesn/) Jack Hunter > [We are all naturally seekers of wonders. We travel far to see the majesty of old ruins, the venerable forms of the hoary mountains,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-pike/we-are-all-naturally-seekers-of-wonders-we-travel-far-to-see-the/) [Albert Pike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-pike/) > [What do you call a co-worker these days? Neither teammate nor confederate will do, and partner is too legalistic. The answer brought from academia…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-safire/what-do-you-call-a-co-worker-these-days-neither-teammate-nor/) [William Safire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-safire/) > [“A rump group of rebel soldiers formed a colony west of Vera Cruz called Carlota, which soon burgeoned into a community of five thousand…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-chernow/a-rump-group-of-rebel-soldiers-formed-a-colony-west-of-vera-cruz/) [Ron Chernow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-chernow/) > [“An estimated 400 women disguised themselves as men to fight in the Civil War. Many were like Amy Clarke, who enlisted so she could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-collins/an-estimated-400-women-disguised-themselves-as-men-to-fight-in-the/) [Gail Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-collins/) > [Its foundations are laid, its cornerstone rests, upon the great truth that the negro is not equal to the white man; that slavery .…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-h-stephens/its-foundations-are-laid-its-cornerstone-rests-upon-the-great-truth/) [Alexander H. Stephens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-h-stephens/) > [When you come to Montgomery, you see fifty-nine monuments and memorials, all about the Civil War, all about Confederate leaders and generals. We have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-stevenson/when-you-come-to-montgomery-you-see-fifty-nine-monuments-and/) [Bryan Stevenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-stevenson/) > [What I’m talking about is more than recompense for past injustices—more than a handout, a payoff, hush money, or a reluctant bribe. What I’m…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ta-nehisi-coates/what-i-m-talking-about-is-more-than-recompense-for-past-injustices/) [Ta-Nehisi Coates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ta-nehisi-coates/) > [South Carolina, as a matter of compromise, displays the Confederate flag on a flagpole in front of the state capitol. Because I grew up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-edwards/south-carolina-as-a-matter-of-compromise-displays-the-confederate/) [John Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-edwards/) ## More by Carl Sandberg > [“And the Sphinx broke its long silence: "Don't expect too much.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-sandberg/and-the-sphinx-broke-its-long-silence-don-t-expect-too-much/) Carl Sandberg > [“We can never possibly know what is about to happen: it is happening, each time, for the first time, for the only time.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-sandberg/we-can-never-possibly-know-what-is-about-to-happen-it-is-happening/) Carl Sandberg Explore all 3 Carl Sandberg quotes ## More Confederate quotes > [South Carolina, as a matter of compromise, displays the Confederate flag on a flagpole in front of the state capitol. Because I grew up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-edwards/south-carolina-as-a-matter-of-compromise-displays-the-confederate/) [John Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-edwards/) > [What I’m talking about is more than recompense for past injustices—more than a handout, a payoff, hush money, or a reluctant bribe. What I’m…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ta-nehisi-coates/what-i-m-talking-about-is-more-than-recompense-for-past-injustices/) [Ta-Nehisi Coates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ta-nehisi-coates/) > [When you come to Montgomery, you see fifty-nine monuments and memorials, all about the Civil War, all about Confederate leaders and generals. We have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-stevenson/when-you-come-to-montgomery-you-see-fifty-nine-monuments-and/) [Bryan Stevenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-stevenson/) > [Its foundations are laid, its cornerstone rests, upon the great truth that the negro is not equal to the white man; that slavery .…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-h-stephens/its-foundations-are-laid-its-cornerstone-rests-upon-the-great-truth/) [Alexander H. Stephens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-h-stephens/) > [“An estimated 400 women disguised themselves as men to fight in the Civil War. Many were like Amy Clarke, who enlisted so she could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-collins/an-estimated-400-women-disguised-themselves-as-men-to-fight-in-the/) [Gail Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-collins/) > [“A rump group of rebel soldiers formed a colony west of Vera Cruz called Carlota, which soon burgeoned into a community of five thousand…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-chernow/a-rump-group-of-rebel-soldiers-formed-a-colony-west-of-vera-cruz/) [Ron Chernow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-chernow/) > [What do you call a co-worker these days? Neither teammate nor confederate will do, and partner is too legalistic. The answer brought from academia…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-safire/what-do-you-call-a-co-worker-these-days-neither-teammate-nor/) [William Safire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-safire/) > [We are all naturally seekers of wonders. We travel far to see the majesty of old ruins, the venerable forms of the hoary mountains,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-pike/we-are-all-naturally-seekers-of-wonders-we-travel-far-to-see-the/) [Albert Pike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-pike/) > [ It's time for the \[Confederate\] Flag to come down, because it just doesn't represent who we are as a people, as Americans anymore. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-hunter/it-s-time-for-the-confederate-flag-to-come-down-because-it-just-doesn/) Jack Hunter > [...So Englishmen saw it. Lincoln's insincerity was regarded as proven by two things: his earlier denial of any lawful right or wish to free…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheldon-vanauken/so-englishmen-saw-it-lincoln-s-insincerity-was-regarded-as-proven-by/) [Sheldon Vanauken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheldon-vanauken/) > [In a landscape littered with all of this imagery about the nobility of the Civil War and the Confederate effort and struggle, the absence…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-stevenson/in-a-landscape-littered-with-all-of-this-imagery-about-the-nobility/) [Bryan Stevenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-stevenson/) > [Disagreeing with the fervent patriotism of the Confederates: "I think it's hard winning a war with words, gentlemen. . . . I'm saying very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clark-gable/disagreeing-with-the-fervent-patriotism-of-the-confederates-i-think/) [Clark Gable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clark-gable/) > [“As he reached the slight elevation he beheld the Confederate army sweeping down upon him. Their skirmish line fired at him, killing his orderly.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-olney/as-he-reached-the-slight-elevation-he-beheld-the-confederate-army/) Warren Olney > [In South Carolina, the Confederate flag flies high on countless flagpoles. Those who defend this practice by saying it is part of Southern culture…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-schlossberg/in-south-carolina-the-confederate-flag-flies-high-on-countless/) [Jack Schlossberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-schlossberg/) > [It's hard when the worst people in the country are cheering, the people with the confederate flag, the people that do anti-Semitism on Twitter,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-gerson/it-s-hard-when-the-worst-people-in-the-country-are-cheering-the/) [Michael Gerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-gerson/) [Browse all 186 Confederate quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/confederate/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“One of the great Confederate combat leaders, General John B. Gordon, had sat at his horse and spoken farewell to his men. 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