# Quote — Harry Turtledove, The Guns of the South

> "And what sort of country shall you build upon that watchword, General?" Lord Lyons asked. "You cannot be left entirely alone; you are become, as I said, a member of the family of nations. Further, this war has been hard on you. Much of your land has been ravaged or overrun, and in those places where the Federal army has been, slavery lies dying. Shall you restore it there at the point of a bayonet? Gladstone said October before last, perhaps a bit prematurely, that your Jefferson Davis had made an army, the beginnings of a navy, and, more important than either, a nation. You Southerners may have made the Confederacy into a nation, General Lee, but what sort of nation shall it be?" Lee did not answer for most of a minute. This pudgy little man in his comfortable chair had put into a nutshell his own worries and fears. He'd had scant time to dwell on them, not with the war always uppermost in his thoughts. But the war had not invalidated any of the British minister's questions- some of which Lincoln had also asked- only put off the time at which they would have to be answered. Now that time drew near. Now that the Confederacy was a nation, what sort of nation would it be? At last he said, "Your excellency, at this precise instant I cannot fully answer you, save to say that, whatever sort of nation we become, it shall be one of our own choosing." It was a good answer. Lord Lyons nodded, as if in thoughtful approval. Then Lee remembered the Rivington men. They too had their ideas on what the Confederate States of America should become.

- Author: [Harry Turtledove](https://www.leafyquotes.com/harry-turtledove.md)
- Book: [The Guns of the South](https://www.leafyquotes.com/harry-turtledove/the-guns-of-the-south.md)
- Page: 183
- Source: [Wikiquote](https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Harry_Turtledove#The_Guns_of_the_South_(1992)) ([CC BY-SA 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/))
- Quote page: https://www.leafyquotes.com/harry-turtledove/the-guns-of-the-south/and-what-sort

## More from this book

> "But there is no such thing as possessing a little freedom," Lee mused. "Once one enjoys any whatsoever, he will seek it all."

p. 512 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/harry-turtledove/the-guns-of-the-south/but-there-is-no-such.md)

> Bureau of Ordnance, Richmond
>
> January 17, 1864
>
> General Lee:
>
> I have the honor to present to you with this letter Mr. Andries Rhoodie of Rivington, North Carolina, who has demonstrated in my presence a new rifle, which I believe may prove to be of the most significant benefit conceivable to our soldiers. As he expressed the desire of making your acquaintance & as the Army of Northern Virginia will again, it is likely, face hard fighting in the months ahead, I send him on to you that you may judge both him & his remarkable weapon for yourself. I remain,
>
> Your most ob't servant,
>
> Josiah Gorgas
>
> Colonel

p. 5 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/harry-turtledove/the-guns-of-the-south/bureau-of-ordnance.md)

> Keeping the Army of Northern Virginia fed and clothed was a never-ending struggle. His men were making their own shoes now, when they could get the leather, which as not often. The ration was down to three-quarters of a pound of meat a day, along with a little salt, sugar, coffee- or rather, chicory and burnt grain- and lard. Bread, rice, corn... they trickled up the Virginia Central and Orange and Alexandria Railroad every so often, but not nearly often enough. He would have to cut the daily allowance again, if more did not arrive soon. President Davis, however, was as aware of all that as Lee could make him. To hash it over once more would only seem like carping.

p. 4 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/harry-turtledove/the-guns-of-the-south/keeping-the-army.md)