Ends of War

In her audiobook, Caroline E. Janney examines the tumultuous aftermath of General Lee's surrender at Appomattox Court House, highlighting the chaotic dispersal of the Army of Northern Virginia. As thousands of weary Confederate soldiers accepted paroles, others sought to continue fighting, amidst concerns of a guerrilla war. The assassination of President Lincoln intensified Northern fears of rebellion, leading to a fragile peace marked by military and political uncertainty, while former Confederates grappled with anger and confusion over Union occupation and the freedom of former slaves. Janney's work underscores that this period was not a definitive conclusion, but rather a complex interregnum filled with tension and strife.