American Civil War Quotes

The mystic chords of memory, stretching from every battle-field, and patriot grave, to every living heart and hearthstone, all over this broad land, will yet swell the chorus of the Union, when again touched, as surely they will be, by the better angels of our nature.

In times like the present, men should utter nothing for which they would not willingly be responsible through time and in eternity.

If there is a worse place than hell, I am in it.

General McClellan and myself are to be photographed ... if we can be still long enough. I feel General McClellan should have no problem.

The North responds to the proclamation sufficiently in breath; but breath alone kills no rebels.

In great contests, each party claims to act in accordance with the will of God. Both may be, and one must be, wrong.

I shall do nothing in malice. What I deal with is too vast for malicious dealing.

It is gratifying to know that the patriotism of the people has proved equal to the occasion, and that the number of troops tendered greatly exceeds the force which Congress authorized me to call into the field.

I have been unwilling to go beyond the pressure of necessity in the unusual exercise of power.

So much of promised usefulness to one's country, and of bright hopes for one's self and friends, have rarely been so suddenly dashed, as in his fall.

I have desired as sincerely as any man - I sometimes think more than any other man - that our present difficulties might be settled without the shedding of blood.

Our men are not moles, and can't dig under the earth; they are not birds, and can't fly through the air. There is no way but to march across, and that they must do.

The people of the South have too much of good sense, and good temper, to attempt the ruin of the government ... At least, so I hope and believe.

We are not enemies, but friends. We must not be enemies. Though passion may have strained it must not break our bonds of affection.

Continue to execute all the express provisions of our national Constitution, and the Union will endure forever.

There will be no blood shed unless it be forced upon the Government. The Government will not use force unless force is used against it.

I shall endeavor to take the ground I deem most just to the North, the East, the West, the South, and the whole country.

I shall do all that may be in my power to promote a peaceful settlement of all our difficulties. The man does not live who is more devoted to peace than I am.

Without a name, perhaps without a reason why I should have a name, there has fallen upon me a task such as did not rest even upon the Father of his country.

What is our present condition? We have just carried an election on principles fairly stated to the people. Now we are told in advance, the government shall be broken up, unless we surrender to those we have beaten, before we take the offices.