This is just an opinion like any other, but it is clear to me that the War
was over July 4, 1863.  Lee's defeat at Gettysburg combined with Pemberton's surrender
of Vicksburg clinched military victory for the Union.  That the
Confederate armies fought on for nearly two more years changed
little except the cost of the War in blood and money.

Date sent:              Fri, 28 Feb 2003 11:05:35 -0500 (EST)
From:                   [log in to unmask]
Subject:                Re: The Constitution, Lincoln and the Rebellion
To:                     [log in to unmask]
Send reply to:          Discussion of research and writing about Virginia history
        <[log in to unmask]>

> In a message dated 2/27/03 11:26:53 PM Eastern Standard Time,
> [log in to unmask] writes:
>
>
> > Lincoln won
> > close races in much of the North and might every well have lost in 1864
>
> If Grant had been truthful about the casualties at Cold Harbor Lincoln
> most likely would have lost. Grant's hiding of numbers killed at Cold
> Harbor prevented the public from knowing about it...combined with a few
> victories by Sherman northern voters felt the war was close to and end.
>
> B Buser
>
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Harold S. Forsythe
Assistant Professor History
Director:  Black Studies
Fairfield University
Fairfield, CT 06430-5195
(203) 254-4000  x2379

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