Robert E. Lee urged the southerners to accept the outcome of the Civil War, rebuild the Union, and work towards reconciliation. In his famous farewell address to his soldiers on April 12, 1865, Lee advised them to "lay down your arms" and "strive to obtain the rights which belong to you as a free people." He implored them to "obey the laws, preserve the peace, and educate your children." Lee also emphasized that the southerners should "unite with the citizens of other states" and work together to rebuild the nation. He stated, "We have fought for the principles we believed to be right, but the cause is lost, and all we can do now is to submit to the authority of the United States government and return to our homes and families." Lee's call for reconciliation and reconstruction was a major factor in helping to heal the wounds of the Civil War and reunite the country.