Posted on 10/10/2010 2:24:00 PM PDT by BigReb555
Ten-four. Actually after I posted that reply I remembered another “favorite” Confederate general; Nathan Bedford Forrest. He is reputed to have started the KKK. I have heard denials of that, stating that he started an organization that got out of his control and morphed INTO the KKK.
The reason I like him is because of what happened to him AFTER the war. Through circumstances only God could have engineered, Forrest came to Christ, even preached the Gospel a little, adopted a black child, and if memory serves, even started one or more charitable organizations.
I once had a biography which told the whole story; the only bio about Forrest which TELLS these things about his later life. I loaned it to someone and never got it back. Might have to scour around and FIND another copy.
I will say that since B. Arnold SWITCHED allegiances during the war—for whatever his personal petty reasons, he proved himself an insincere traitor, worthy of no respect.
Lee on the other hand chose to go with Virginia before it was really known for sure that the war would come to arms...or, that if it did, it wouldn’t be over quickly. He never wavered in his chosen loyalty or sought personal advantage in position...and commanded HUGE RESPECT from the soldiers of BOTH sides.
To illustrate how, in those early days of 1861, people saw the prospects of war, the enlistment commitment for my great-grandfather was EXACTLY 30 DAYS...... It was thought that when a show of force was just exhibited, even without fighting, one side or the other would cave....immediately. NOBODY foresaw the horrendous drawn out bloody conflict, killing more Americans than every other war of ours COMBINED, that did indeed come about.
So great was the respect for Lee on the NORTHERN side, that at the Appomattox surrender ceremony, the Union troops gave Gen. Lee a FULL MILITARY SALUTE, which, in the history of military defeats, was never done before...or since.
“Loyalty and patriotism were understood in those days in this priorty: 1)Family, 2)State, 3)Nation.”
Thanks for bringing that up. So many of us form our opinions on the past based on our contemporary perceptions. We are as foreign a society in culture and thought from the Pre-1860 era as they were from being a modern culture.
Pre WBtS, the federal government’s daily or weekly impact on a person’s life was the mail service. The State was supreme in society and each one had a pride and dignity that was celebrated by its people.
The Confederate soldiers were generally very brave and honorable men, but a strong case can be made that the true tyrant oppressing Southerners was Jefferson Davis and not Abraham Lincoln.
´Liked Lee. ´Liked Grant & Sherman too.
"Citizens, by birth or choice, of a common country, that country has a right to concentrate your affections. The name of American, which belongs to you in your national capacity, must always exalt the just pride of patriotism more than any appellation derived from local discriminations." -- George Washington, 1796
It took a civil war to make people believe that way.
General Lee BUMP.
Christian, patriot, hero.
>>but the biggest mistake of his life was joining the enemy of the United States and leading it in battle against said United States.<<
Better wait with judgments like that. Do you know how many people there are in the US today that may stand up if this country isn’t turned back to our founding principles this coming November? Would you be included with that? If we can’t get it back in the ballet box and all that.
We have one flag. And room for only one flag. The Stars and Stripes. Americans from every point on the compass died for it and are dying for it today. My people fought for America in 1864. For America, not ‘’the North(which they were) or ‘’The South’’ or the “West’’ or the “East’’. They fought for America.
“Strike the tent!”
The great man’s last words. One wonders what could he have been thinking of?
have it your way.....
No, it’s not ‘’my way’’. It’s what is. This is America, our America, North, East South and West, isn’t it?
And a patriot of the republic as originally founded. Tell me , why wasn't RE Lee and Jeff Davis tried for treason after the Civil War? Surely they were were traitors of the first degree?
What you are saying is your stupidity is self taught.
Oh you jumped right in there.
You know what I think? Lincoln AKA the Illinois Butcher™, was the worst thing that ever happened to this country and is responsible for 600000 deaths, needlessly.
I don’t think thats accurate.
The southern leaders were equally responsible.
Tell me is there any circumstance that would make you consider secession as a viable means of political action to preserve liberty? If not, do you blame the many conservatives in Germany who opposed Hitler but eventually fought for the third Reich and "did their duty" despite not really wanting to help or be Nazi fascists?
There, fixed it for you.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.