The Last Full Measure

world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but can never forget what they did here. It is for us, the living, rather to be dedicated to the great task remaining before us—that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they here gave the last full measure of devotion …

Richmond serves one purpose. Lee must defend it. If we threaten the city, he will have to confront us. Lee will soon learn … we are not going away. If the newspapers and all those people in Washington must hear that, fine, I will write it down, send a letter to Stanton. You can deliver it yourself, read it to him, to all of them, make them understand what we are going to do. If it takes all summer … if it takes all year … it is only a matter of time before General Lee must face the consequences.

The word began to filter down the lines, and the grumbling stopped, there was something new about this march, something these men had never been a part of before. If the fight in the Wilderness had not gone their way—the most optimistic called it a draw—they were not doing what this army had always done before, they were not going back above the river. If they had never said much about Grant, had never thought him any different from the ones who had come before, if they had become so used to the steady parade of failure, this time there was a difference. Some wanted to cheer, but were hushed by nervous officers. So along the dusty roads hats went up and muskets were held high, a silent salute to this new commander. This time, they were marching south.

Colonel, General Sheridan will be big enough for all of us before this is through.

Meade looked at Grant, and Grant turned, moved toward his tent, said quietly, “General, a moment, if you please …

I’m not concerned about General Burnside right now. I’m much more concerned with how far Lee will let us go before he does something.

he is appointed Lieutenant Colonel, second-in-command of the Twentieth Maine Regiment of Volunteers.

Burnside was in the best position on the field, could have moved at any time toward a weak defense, a defense that was weaker still

Vegetables were almost nonexistent, and what passed for meat was either rancid or pure fat. The men were surviving on crackers and moldy flour. Lee was beginning to understand what this meant to the fighting strength of the army.

Lee made small greetings to the others, saw the sour expression of Jubal Early, Ewell’s division commander,

see the strength of the blue lines in front of them. But it was

responsibility, had been shifted from the president’s weakening shoulders. It was now up