So, what happens to soldiers after the surrender? Caroline E. Janney researches historical accounts of what happened after Lee's surrender to Grant at Appomattox, and how the answer to that question is both messy and has long and far-reaching consequences. The soldiers of the First Army of Virginia responded to the rumor of surrender and the surrender itself by walking away from the army and making their way home, or by taking off to the South and West, believing that they could continue to fight on their own, taking up guerilla fighting. This in turn creates a crisis for Grant and the post-war government--how do you convince the ragged edges of an army that the war is truly over and if they only surrender, they'll be treated fairly.

In "Ends of War" Janney shows that contrary to how it may have been presented in the past, wars do not come to an elegant and final end, but slowly wear themselves out. (4.5/5)