Posted on 01/18/2005 5:57:53 PM PST by wagglebee
All the South has ever desired was that the Union, as established by our Forefathers, should be preserved, and that the government, as originally organized, should be administered in purity and truth.
--Robert E. Lee
Why do Americans continue to remember their past?
Perhaps it is because it was a time when truth was spoken. Men and women took their stand to give us the freedoms we now enjoy. God bless those in military service, who do their duty around the world for freedom.
The Hall of Fame for great Americans opened in 1900 in New York City. One thousand names were submitted, but only 29 received a majority vote from the electors. General Robert E. Lee, 30 years after his death, was among those honored. A bust of Lee was given to New York University by the United Daughters of the Confederacy.
Let America not forget January 19, 2005, the 198th birthday of General Robert E. Lee.
Robert E. Lee was born at Stratford House, Westmoreland County, Virginia, on January 19, 1807. The winter was cold and fireplaces were little help. Robert's mother, Ann Hill (Carter) Lee, was suffering from a severe cold.
Ann Lee named her son Robert Edward after her two brothers.
Robert E. Lee undoubtedly acquired his love of country from those who had lived during the American Revolution. His father, "Light Horse" Harry, was a hero of the revolution and served as governor of Virginia and as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives. Members of his family also signed the Declaration of Independence.
Lee was educated in the schools of Alexandria, Virginia. In 1825, he received an appointment to West Point Military Academy. He graduated in 1829, second in his class and without a single demerit.
Robert E. Lee wed Mary Anna Randolph Custis in June 1831, two years after his graduation from West Point. Robert and Mary had grown up together. Mary was the daughter of George Washington Parke Custis, the grandson of Martha Washington and the adopted son of George Washington.
Mary was an only child; therefore, she inherited Arlington House, across the Potomac from Washington, where she and Robert raised seven children.
Army promotions were slow. In 1836, Lee was appointed to first lieutenant. In 1838, with the rank of captain, Lee fought valiantly in the War with Mexico and was wounded at the Battle of Chapultepec.
He was appointed superintendent of West Point in 1852 and is considered one of the best superintendents in that institution's history.
President-to-be Abraham Lincoln offered command of the Union Army to Lee in 1861, but Lee refused. He would not raise arms against his native state.
War was in the air. The country was in turmoil of separation. Lee wrestled with his soul. He had served in the United States Army for over 30 years.
After an all-night battle, much of that time on his knees in prayer, Robert Edward Lee reached his decision. He reluctantly resigned his commission and headed home to Virginia.
Arlington House would be occupied by the Federals, who would turn the estate into a war cemetery. Today it is one of our country's most cherished memorials, Arlington National Cemetery.
President John F. Kennedy visited Arlington shortly before he was assassinated in 1963 and said he wanted to be buried there. And he is, in front of Robert E. Lee's home.
Lee served as adviser to Confederate President Jefferson Davis and then commanded the legendary Army of Northern Virginia. The exploits of Lee's army fill thousands of books today.
After four terrible years of death and destruction, General Robert E. Lee met General Ulysses S. Grant at Appomattox, Virginia, and ended their battles. He told his disheartened comrades, "Go home and be good Americans."
Lee was called Marse Robert, Uncle Robert and Marble Man. He was loved by the people of the South and adopted by the folks from the North.
Robert E. Lee was a man of honor, proud of his name and heritage. After the War Between the States, he was offered $50,000 for the use of his name. His reply was "Sirs, my name is the heritage of my parents. It is all I have and it is not for sale."
In the fall of 1865, Lee was offered and accepted the presidency of troubled Washington College in Lexington, Virginia. The school was renamed Washington and Lee in his honor.
Robert E. Lee died of a heart attack at 9:30 on the morning of October 12, 1870, at Washington-Lee College. His last words were "Strike the tent." He was 63 years of age.
He is buried in a chapel on the school grounds with his family and near his favorite horse, Traveller.
A prolific letter writer, Lee wrote his most famous quote to son Custis in 1852: "Duty is the sublimest word in our language."
On this 198th anniversary let us ponder the words he wrote to Annette Carter in 1868: "I grieve for posterity, for American principles and American liberty."
Winston Churchill called Lee "one of the noblest Americans who ever lived." Lee's life was one of service and self-sacrifice. His motto was "Duty, Honor, Country."
God Bless America!
Education without morality debases any nation.
Morality gives a nation strength to grow and prosper.
No
He fought for the Confederate States of America and he was a bona fide traitor.
He brought war and destruction upon his foes as well, and usually gave much more with much less than what he got.
No
That is what General Sherman did
General Lee just lost.
I don't argue the outcome of the war, or the demise of slavery, I don't think any American does.
I'm all for stripping the rights and citizenship of any American who still backs the Confederacy. Would you care to join me ?
Let's see... it passed out of Lincoln-dominated Congress that was minus the seceded states. It was passed BEFORE the Confederation was ratified. Why did you ignore that?
"He fought for the Confederate States of America and he was a bona fide traitor"
"General Lee just lost"
"I'm all for stripping the rights and citizenship of any American who still backs the Confederacy. Would you care to join me ?"
LOL.....you really just don't know what you are talking about. ....and that last one, that's a beaut!
Tell you what friend, I'll just assume you had a bad day and hope you get a chance to open a history book and relax one of these days.
US Code, President Ford, the 1978 Congress, and the American people are against you.
TITLE 38 > PART II > CHAPTER 15 > SUBCHAPTER I > Sec. 1501. (3)
Quit disgracing veterans, af_vet.
The term ''Civil War veteran'' includes a person who served in the military or naval forces of the Confederate States of America during the Civil War, and the term ''active military or naval service'' includes active service in those forces.
I despise traitors, which is exactly what the Confederates were and are.
You're not even worth the keystrokes. Have a pleasant evening on another thread.
AMEN!
But, I don't expect that this ol' boy (af_vet) and those of his ilk will ever like the fact that Southerners and other educated folks who happen to respect and show pride in the service of their forebears are Americans.
BS. Gen. Lee's state withrew from the union, taking Lee with it. His allegiance was to his state, not to some mythical union. His oath was to defend and protect the Constitution, not the union. In his opinion, the Constitution had been violated, and he chose to resign his commission instead of waging war on his own family. I took my oath on the floor of the Georgia Senate, and I too will defend the Constitution, against enemies foreign and DOMESTIC. And that most definitely includes fruitcake legislators that want to take my weapons.
I think Walt's tied up.
I think he's whipped.
LOL! '
I recognize no necessity for the state of things, and would have forborne and pleaded to the end for redress of grievances, real or supposed, yet in my own person I had to meet the question whether I should take part against my native State.What would you do, when the federal government asks you to wage wage on your mother and father, sister and brother?With all my devotion to the Union, and the feeling of loyalty and duty of an American citizen, I have not been able to make up my mind to raise my hand against my relative, my children, my home. I have, therefore, resigned my commission in the Army, and save in defense of my native State (with the sincere hope that my poor services may never be needed) I hope I may never be called upon to draw my sword.
You make good points about the necessity of morality. Is education really necessary other than education about morality?
Lee as a "free agent" is spinning history right here on FR.
Thank you for linking to this.
To keep from being associated with yankee liars and lunatics? Maybe they just didn't believe them, after all, the yankees had lied to them before. What difference would a new amendment make? One would think that the hypocritical yankees would be filled with glee to know that the bonds that once held them together were gone.
So the question becomes, what would motivate the yakees to wage war on the seceded states? Certainly not slavery and/or blacks, so that leaves another reason. They couldn't stand the thought of a southern confederacy buying goods from Europe at lower prices without the protectionist tariffs, nor could they stand to PAY tariffs on what they would now import from the South, nor could they afford to lose the millions in revenue from duties paid by Southern customers.
Probaly beat from all his .. exertions.
I tell you what. Come here and try it. I know from another thread that you think Americans should have limited gun rights. I think you are on the wrong forum. Shoo, traitor.
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