Right Words

Prov. 24.17-18. “Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth, and let not thine heart be glad when he stumbleth: Lest the LORD seeth it, and it displease him, and he turn away his wrath from him.”

Upon receiving R.E. Lee’s surrender at Appomattox, U.S. Grant noted the following in his memoirs:

“When news of the surrender first reached our lines our men commenced firing a salute of hundred guns in honor of the victory. I at once sent word, however, to have it stopped. The Confederates were now our prisoners, and we did not want to exult over their downfall” (chapter 67).

This is but one example of Grant’s grace in victory. The starving Confederate soldiers (25,000) were fed by the victors and paroled along with their officers, and all were allowed to keep their horses. I appreciate Ryan Holiday’sencouragement to read these memoirs. They are very rich already.