Civil war Quote by Ulysses S. Grant
““far as General Johnston is concerned, I think Davis did him a great injustice in this particular. I had know the general before the war and strongly believed it would be impossible for him to accept a high commission for the purpose of betraying the cause he had espoused. There, as I have said, I think that his policy was the best one that could have been pursued by the whole South—protract the war, which was all that was necessary to enable them to gain recognition in the end. The North was already growing weary, as the South evidently was also, but with this difference. In the North the people governed, and could stop hostilities whenever they chose to stop supplies. The South was a military camp, controlled absolutely by the government with soldiers to back it, and the war could have been protracted, no matter to what extent the discontent reached, up to the point of open mutiny of the soldiers themselves.””
About This Quote
Source Speech: Letter to General John B. Gordon, 1865
The speaker argues that General Johnston acted in the South’s best interest by prolonging the war, believing that a drawn‑out conflict would force the North to negotiate and secure Southern recognition.
In simple terms: Johnston’s strategy was to extend the war to gain leverage.
Key Takeaway
Consider the costs of prolonging conflict.
Themes
war
politics
strategy
leadership
Mood
reflective
analytical
Type
historical
political
strategic
When to use this quote
- historical analysis
- political science
- military education
Key Concepts
military tactics
political negotiation
civil war dynamics
Questions to Reflect On
- Is extending conflict ever justified?
- What alternatives existed for the South?
A Different Perspective
Prolonging war can cause civilian suffering and mutiny.
