say what?

Seen on a bumper sticker, next to a picture of a confederate flag (not exactly common in this state, but can still be seen in some pockets):

Fate denied us victory

but deemed us

glorious immortality

Unfortunately I was too busy trying to make sure that my eyes were not playing tricks on me to take a picture as proof, and before I knew it the light had changed.

Is it just me, or does this make NO sense whatsoever? (Leaving aside the historical sentiment, mind you; I am just talking about grammatical structure here.)

I was so sure that it must be a typo that I had to come home and google it. Surely it must have said glorious immortally, which still isn't great but represents an improvement on the original.

Nope. It is apparently based upon the following quote, which I was unable to accurately source: "Fate denied us victory, but crowned us with glorious immortality." Now that does make some sort of sense (again, focusing strictly on the grammar).

But that is not what is on thousands of T-shirts and bumper stickers. Sheesh. Seems like it might have been more than luck that cost them the war.