World Affairs Board - View Single Post - The Evolution of Cooperation and Trench Warfare in WWI

**JAD_333** · 11-04-2007, 01:52 AM

Interesting subject, Shek. I recall stories of a Christmas truce along part of the line during WWI and I believe both sided did fraternize during it.

Something similar to this went on all during the American Civil War. I took the liberty of copying this from wiki.

Quote:

Both Union and Confederate soldiers were strongly determined to defeat each other, but they did possess some affection for each other as fellow Americans. They called informal truces to trade; brothers often traveled beyond their armies' lines to see each other; and the wounded of both armies left on the battlefield often helped each other when possible. One of the most common type of trade involved coffee and tobacco. Since southern forces' food, espeically coffee, was of poorer quality then that the Northerns; and since Southerns possesed tobacco, soldiers from both sides often traded with each other in between battles. There were also trade for newspaper, sewing needles, and currency.

The Civil War soldier was devoted to his cause and preferred not to humiliate his enemy. He did have a deep sense of respect for him. One example may be seen in Lt. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant's generous surrender terms to Gen. Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia at Appomattox Court House, Virginia, in April 1865. Lee's officers were permitted to keep their swords and side arms (revolvers). Lee's men were allowed to return home and keep their own horses to assist them on their farms. Grant supplied 25,000 food rations to Lee's starving men, many of whom had not eaten in days, upon Lee's surrender. Grant ordered an end to a 100-gun salute begun by Union Artillery within the Army of the Potomac to celebrate Lee's surrender. Grant saw no need for such celebration. He believed Lee's men were once again their countrymen and saw no reason to humiliate them.

One of the most striking examples, however, was provided by Union Brig. Gen. Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain, the hero of Little Round Top at the July 1863 Battle of Gettysburg. Chamberlain received from Grant the honor of receiving the formal surrender of General Lee's veterans at Appomattox Court House on April 12, 1865. Out of deep respect for Lee's men, Chamberlain ordered his men to attention and saluted Lee's men as they marched before the Union forces and stacked their arms.