Let the Band Play Dixie

On this week of Abraham Lincoln’s birthday, I’ll take all three blog entries to reflect on this incredible leader.  I will often debate with myself on who was the best president of these United States.  In my opinion, there are only two worthy candidates:  George Washington, who led our country’s military to win our independence and basically invented the Office of the President of the United States, and Abraham Lincoln, who persevered at incredible personal cost to lead the nation in the Civil War.

Today, I’ll reflect on an event that happened the day after General Lee surrendered his army.  I first learned of this incident through a song:  Let the Band Play Dixie.[1]  As all works of art do, it fit the lyrics to the song as much as to history.  The story of that night is inspiring, however:

On April 9, 1865, Robert E. Lee surrendered the Army of North Virginia to Ulysses Grant’s Union forces at the Appomattox courthouse.  While General Joe Johnston’s Confederate army remained in the field, there was a sense that the war was finally over.  Lee’s army would not dissolve into a guerilla force, but disbanded and went home.[2]

The next day, several thousand were celebrating in the streets of Washington D.C., near the White House.  After much cheering, the presence of President Lincoln was obtained for a few remarks.  He demurred, saying he would have much to say at a more formal event, perhaps the next day.  But, noticing that there was a band present, he made a musical request:

Let the band plan Dixie.[3]

I am amazed at the generous spirit of the man who led our country through its greatest challenge.  Rather than seek to demonize or punish the rebels, whom many in the North correctly called traitors, 

Lincoln sought nothing more than the reunion of the entire country.

We should all, as best we can, seek to fulfill the promise of our nation, no matter what the risk or how hard the challenges.  And while only a few are called to the highest offices in our county, state and nation, we can all rise to the challenges in our respective corners of this country. 

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[1][1] You can hear the song at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=shc3CIBT2rE 

[2] For an insightful treating of the final days of the war, including the assassination of Lincoln, I recommend April 1865:  The Month That Saved America by Jay Winik (Harper Perennial 2006)

[3] A more complete account of this event can be found at https://rhapsodyinbooks.wordpress.com/2009/04/10/april-10-1865-president-lincoln-asks-the-band-to-play-dixie/