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Did Lee Know How Bad Off His Army Was at the End?

Life on the Civil War Research Trail

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On April 8, 1865, Surg. John H. Claiborne noted that the soldiers of the Army of Northern Virginia were as committed as ever to victory. But the once proud army had disintegrated, and those left were stealing horse corn to survive. Claiborne asked an army inspector if Lee knew. Here's the answer.

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20 Comments

@genes.3285 2 weeks ago (edited)

I don't see how Lee could not have known the condition of the army. He was the one mainly responsible for its steady demise from June '62 to July '63. After Gettysburg, the elite striking power of the ANV no longer existed. A case can be made that the peak of the army was at the conclusion of Second Manassas. It couldn't afford the losses at Antietam, the bloodiest single day in the Civil War. It couldn't afford Chancellorsville. It couldn't afford Gettysburg. Even July 1 was a bloody mess, to be followed by catastrophic decisions on July 2 and 3.

@ryankc3631 13 days ago

Two of my kin were in the Army of Northern Virginia (GA 35th) from beginning to Appomattox. I don't know how they sometimes marched 20 miles all night on empty bellies, in rain and mud up to their knees. I don't know how they quickly formed lines of battle, facing the rifles of the other lines, gambling with death, over and over again. I don't know how they avoided a shallow grave by bullet or especially disease. I don't how they made it home, penniless, probably shoeless, a few years older but unrecognizable. I'm fascinated with the American Civil War because of the unexplainable perseverance and commitment of the men, at that time.

@josephsmith8781 2 weeks ago

As always, I’m grateful for your work. I’m also grateful that you do it without denigrating either side. Your attitude and insights seem to parallel those of Shelby Foote, another amazing historian.

@edmundsmith7199 2 weeks ago

How he dressed up a losing fight in purple prose! “The old guard joyfully springing to battle and routing the enemy.”

@elcastorgrande 2 weeks ago

Thank you, Ron.

@BELCAN57 11 days ago

Lee knew, but there are occasions when the heart just cannot comply with what the eye and brain already know is the truth.

@owensomers8572 2 weeks ago

In his letter to Davis of 12 April, 1865, Lee gives a brief breakdown on condition of each of his commanders, and ends with estimates of just under 8,000 effective infantry and artillery and just under 2,300 cavalry. Interestingly, the Union reports accepting the surrender of 22,000 members of the Army of Northern Virginia at Appomattox.

This is in sharp contrast to the 70,000 professed members of the Army of Northern Virginia who requested parole of the Federal Government over the subsequent year.

@dewayneray2072 13 days ago

My 2X Great Grandfather Duncan C Ray, Private, 19, Co B, 2nd FL infantry, was paroled at Appomattox. Took him three months to walk home to northern Walton County, FL.

@stevenmqcueen7576 13 days ago

Another interesting episode. Thanks, Ron.

@fredericklockard3854 5 days ago

He knew. He was too in love with his own image and status to care.

@frankdrakman2705 13 days ago (edited)

Oh the sorrow of the demise of an army and soldiers who fought so hard for what they believed and for a man they so believed in. How can such stories break one's heart so long after the struggle has ceased. You told the heartbreaking story beautifully.

@stischer47 2 weeks ago

My great grandfather was in Georgia with the remnants of Hood's Army when Lee surrendered. I asked my grandfather if he'd ever said anything about the war. My Gf laughed and said that he and my Gm father would sit on the front porch and argue about the war. I asked his reaction to Lee's surrender. My Gf got quiet and said that my GGf only mentioned it once - he cried not so much for the South's loss but for his friends and kin who died and the destruction of Southern cities. As for Lee, my GGf thought Lee was the greatest soldier who ever lived.

@DrEsqueda-o1n 13 days ago

Very interesting perspective. Thank you for another great episode.

@Paul-p9y9r 2 weeks ago

I find it pretty hard to believe that Lee didn’t know the condition of his army. He might’ve been a little delusional in thinking that they could somehow escape and remain a fighting force after they abandoned Petersburg, but a man with his head in the sand doesn’t send mass forage parties to try to feed his men

@jannarkiewicz633 2 weeks ago

thx

@jannarkiewicz633 2 weeks ago

Thx

@RudyDoody-z3q 7 days ago

He knew. At the time near Appomattox, Lee's army was exhausted. They were traveling slowly so Grant had time to move troops and suddenly Lee was surrounded.

@JillAtherton-c4p 2 weeks ago

👍

@richardwilliamson1639 2 weeks ago

HAD GRANT BEEN IN COMMAND IN THE SEVEN DAYS battle on the Virginia Peninsula, the war could have ended in 1862. How McClellan could not know of his army's vastly superior numbers is one of the greatest intelligence failures in the history of war.🤠

@henrys4838 2 weeks ago (edited)

Something does not ring right about the Doctor's conversation with the Colonel. How could Lee not have been cognizant of the desperate straits of his army? He was amongst his men, and it could not have escaped him how few they were and out broken they were. Also, does anyone know when that picture of Lee straddling the fallen tree was taken? The only photographs that I can recall of the general were those in pose.