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Before reading this book, I never realized how much happened in just one month in 1865 related to the Civil War: Robert E. Lee's historic surrender at Appomatox; the official if not actual end to the Civil War; Lincoln's assasination; the final surrender of the Confederates and the beginning of reconstruction of the Union. Winik tells of these incidents and explains how their outcomes steered the way America would develop in the years to follow. One thing he makes clear is how easily things could have been different. If Lee had opted for guerrilla war instead of surrendering or if Grant had not been so magnanimous in his deal with Lee or if the plot against the government had taken the vice president and secretary of state's lives as well as Lincoln's the Civil War might have continued for much longer. And the result would have been akin to the "Vietnamization" of the South. An interesting book, especially for a Civil War novice like myself.

Posted at November 29, 2004 05:01 PM

All of that happened in just one month? My god, I'm surprised both sides didnt fall apart from the sheer drama of it all.

Grant certainly seems interesting. An incredibly tough and unforgiving battlefield general, who was blessedly soft at Appomattox. Apparently he refused to accept Lee's sword, allowing the defeated general to maintain his honor.

Posted by: brent dragoo at December 1, 2004 07:45 PM

Appomattox was a real lovefest. Grant and Lee practically made out with each other during that surrender.

It's interesting to read about the Civil War from the perspective of 9/11 and Iraq. The Lincoln assasination was a coordinated terrorist attack. I never knew that there was a simultaneous attack on the secretary of state and they were supposed to have taken out Johnson too. 9/11 was a chaotic time to have experienced but it must have been nothing compared to the Lincoln assasination.

Posted by: Rich at December 1, 2004 08:23 PM