But, after all, the great foe to whom his troops had finally to
succumb, was General Starvation. The resources of the South were
literally exhausted.
"My men are starving," said Lee tersely to Grant; and back of them lay
a suffering land that had literally been "bled white."
It was indeed a bitter lesson that the South had learned, but the
verdict of history is that it was salutary. The Union was greater than
any State or any group of States. It had required a War to rectify
that fatal flaw in the Constitution, but out of the fires of that
terrible conflict was fused a Union "strong and great," that should be
far better fitted to withstand the shock of Time.
Since that bygone day when Lee laid aside his sword forever, and his
men went straggling back to their plowshares, America has become
engaged in two other wars. And among the first to respond to the bugle
call and line up behind "Old Glory" have been the sons and grandsons of
that staunch line of Gray--the men who followed Lee.
If the souls of great soldiers ever come back to earth, we can imagine
no finer picture than the Leader of a Lost Cause again looking up to
the Stars and Stripes and pledging it his silent allegiance. We can
seem to see him on his familiar gray charger at the head of his forces,
fighting again for his beloved country.
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