Grant did not want his troops to celebrate the surrender of the Confederate troops because 1. It would not help in unifying the nation again. Grant understood that the way the Union soldiers behaved during the surrender could impact the reconciliation process between the North and the South. He believed that it was important to treat the defeated Confederates with respect and dignity to foster national healing rather than exacerbate divisions.
Why did Grant not want his troops to celebrate the surrender of the Confederate troops?
In the text, you read this about the surrender at Appomattox:
At Appomattox Court House, Grant offered generous terms of surrender to the defeated Confederate
army. Soldiers were required to turn over their rifles, but officers were allowed to keep their pistols.
Soldiers who had horses could keep them. Grant knew that southerners would need the animals for
spring plowing. Finally, ordered Grant, "each officer and man will be allowed to return to his home, not
to be disturbed by the United States authorities."
As the Confederates surrendered, Union soldiers began to cheer. Grant ordered them to be silent. "The
war is over." he said. "The rebels are our countrymen again.
1 It would not help in unifying the nation again.
2 It could bring surprise attacks on the North.
3 It could cause the South to revoke their surrender.
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