Farewell to the Army of Northern Virginia* by Robert E. Lee:

"After four years of arduous service, marked by unsurpassed courage and fortitude, the Army of Northern Virginia has been compelled to yield to overwhelming numbers and resources. I need not tell the survivors of so many hard-fought battles who have remained steadfast to the last that I have consented to this result from no distrust of them; but feeling that valor and devotion could accomplish nothing that could compensate for the loss that would have attended the continuance of the contest, I determined to avoid the useless sacrifice of those whose past services have endeared them to their countrymen.

 By the terms of the agreement, officers and men can return to their homes and remain until exchanged. You may take with you the satisfaction that proceeds from the consciousness of duty faithfully performed, and I earnestly pray that a merciful God will extend to you his blessing and protection. With an unceasing admiration of your constancy and devotion to your country, and a grateful remembrance of your kind and generous consideration of myself, I bid you all an affectionate farewell."

Robert Edward Lee (1807 -1870, under Amerikanska inbördeskriget general i sydstaternas armé, överbefälhavare 1865,tvingades till kapitulation 1865 vid Appomattox.Efter kriget verkade Lee för försoning mellan de nu förenade sydstaterna och nordstaterna. Lee har, näst George Washington och Dwight D. Eisenhower, ansetts vara USA:s främste general genom tiderna.Kuriosa: Traveller var namnet på general Lees häst, som han red kapitulationsdagen. Robert E. Lee fick en mycket känd bil uppkallad efter sitt namn, General Lee, vilket var en Dodge Charger.

Historien upprepar sig...  

När USA började den av President Obama tillkännagivna Withdraval of Troops i Afghanistan fick detta ett abrupt slut i maj genom dödandet av bin Laden och åtföljande Increased Security Setting... US Soldiers are Military men.."we don't have time for ourselves not till we retire from service .Although the official news has been said that  first week of Nov will be out ETA (Estimated Time Of Arrival)...But Obama might add one week or two weeks to our ETA..." 

General Lee på sin berömda Taveller inspekterar confederationstrupperna.citat Robert E Lee: "Duty is the most sublime word in our language. Do your duty in all things. You cannot do more. You should never wish to do less."***Their sleepless, bloodshot eyes were turned to me.Their flags hung black against the pelting sky.Their jests and curses echoed whisperingly,As though from long-lost years of sorrow - Why,You're weeping! What, then? What more did you see?A gray man on a gray horse rode by. — Passage from Traveller, a novel by Richard Adams