Ms. Alice, I just wanted to publicly say thanks for calling "The Long Surrender" by Burke Davis to our attention. I finished the book this afternoon and would like to say it is one of the better books I have read in a while. I always get the feeling Mr. Davis is being honest and truthful in his writings without seeming to make moral judgements against anyone. I had never studied the flight of the Confederate govt. before as politics and politicians hold no interest to me. But this book shows human flaws and greatness in such detail that at times I nearly found myself crying.

I believe I also found expression for my pride and sometimes sorrowful feelings about my beloved Dixie and the men who fought in the gray uniform on pages 266 and 267. This is a quote credited to a Richmond Judge in response to what seems to have become a rare but bitter feeling still harbored by some and voiced through the Editor of the New York Daily Mail newspaper.

"We therefore ask that you will relent in your wrath, fold the ensanguined garment, realize that the war is over, allow us the holiest emotions of humanity to find in your bosom, permit us, the citizens of a common country, to obey the promptings of loving hearts and do honor to the memory of that great and good man, General Robert E. Lee"

I belive the reference to "the ensanguined garment" is a reference to the "waiving the bloody shirt" politics of vengeful radicals. Whether it was to honor General lee or my own fathers is what it is all about, at least to me.

Thanks again for the heads up. A truly great book in my opinion.