Final answer:
General Longstreet's views during the latter stages of the Civil War were pragmatic, and while he expressed doubts about certain strategies, the referenced materials do not specifically state Longstreet pushed Lee to surrender.
Lee himself recognized the futility of continuation and engaged in correspondence with General Grant leading to the Confederate surrender at Appomattox.
Step-by-step explanation:
Throughout the Civil War, General Longstreet maintained a pragmatic view of the conflict, particularly during its latter stages. As the war entered its final phases, with the Confederate forces under severe strain, Longstreet continued to push General Robert E. Lee to reconsider his options.
Despite Longstreet's doubts regarding offensive strategies, such as his reluctance at Gettysburg, the historical records primarily under discussion do not specify that Longstreet urged Lee to surrender; rather, they emphasize Lee's own recognition that the fight was becoming futile.
Lee confronted the dire circumstances of his army, which was suffering from starvation, disease, and a collapsing morale, and ultimately made the decision to seek better terms for surrender, acknowledging their unsustainable position against the overwhelming numbers and resources of the Union forces.
General Ulysses S. Grant wrote to Lee on April 7, suggesting the futility of continued resistance and advising surrender.
Lee responded to Grant's overtures, leading to correspondence that culminated in their meeting at the McLean house in Appomattox Courthouse, Virginia, for Lee's surrender. In his farewell address, Lee cited the insurmountable odds faced by the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia as the reason for their defeat, not internal weaknesses or tactical errors.