There are many men who would have done better than I did under the circumstances in which I found myself. If I had never held command, if I had fallen, there were 10,000 behind who would have followed the contest to the end and never surrendered the Union.
The fact is I think I am a verb instead of a personal pronoun. A verb is anything that signifies to be; to do; or to suffer. I signify all three.
The art of war is simple enough. Find out where your enemy is. Get at him as soon as you can. Strike him as hard as you can, and keep moving on.
Although a soldier by profession, I have never felt any sort of fondness for war, and I have never advocated it, except as a means of peace.
The will of the people is the best law.
Our great modern Republic. May those who seek the blessings of its institutions and the protection of its flag remember the obligations they impose.
If men make war in slavish obedience to rules, they will fail.
The friend in my adversity I shall always cherish most.
Cheap cigars come in handy; they stifle the odor of cheap politicians.
I’m afraid I’m elected.
Hold fast to the Bible. To the influence of this Book we are indebted for all the progress made in true civilization and to this we must look as our guide in the future.
I have never advocated war except as a means of peace.
There never was a time when, in my opinion, some way could not be found to prevent the drawing of the sword.
I only knew what was in my mind, and I wished to express it clearly.
My failures have been errors in judgment, not of intent.
God gave us Lincoln and Liberty, let us fight for both.
I know no method to secure the repeal of bad or obnoxious laws so effective as their stringent execution.
Wherever the enemy goes let our troops go also.
The colored man has been accustomed all his life to lean on the white man, and if a good officer is placed over him, he will learn readily and make a good soldier.
I never was an Abolitionest, not even what could be called anti slavery, but I try to judge farely and honestly and it become patent to my mind early in the rebellion that the North and South could never live at peace with each other except as one nation, and that without Slavery.