Replies

"Because he was calm when others were frenzied, loving when they hated, and silent when they spoke with bitter tongue, they shook their heads and said he was a superman or a mysterious man. Beneath that untroubled exterior, they said, deep storms must rage; his dignity, his reserve, and his few words concealed sombre thoughts, repressed ambitions, livid resentments. They were mistaken. Robert Lee was one of the small company of great men in whom there is no inconsistency to be explained, no enigma to be solved. What he seemed, he was--a wholly human gentleman, the essential elements of whose positive character were two and only two, simplicity and spirituality." Douglas S. Freeman in R.E. Lee

"The natural disposition of most people is to clothe the commander of a large army whom they do not know, with almost superhuman qualities. A large part of the National army, for instance, and most of the press of the country, clothed General Lee with just such qualities, but I had known him personally, and knew that he was mortal; and it was just as well that I felt this." -- Ulysses S. Grant's Memoirs.

True, but people want myths and heroes. And that puts people like Douglas Southall Freeman, who wasn't too scrupulous about separating fact from myth, in business. It's unfortunate, because the real, human Lee was more interesting than the marble icon that the folklorists have created. But myths endure in popular memory, and outlast the more restrained views of the academic historians.

"True, but people want myths and heroes. And that puts people like Douglas Southall Freeman, who wasn't too scrupulous about separating fact from myth, in business."

Your quote of Freeman describes Lee as quite simple, and devoid of the typical character and personality flaws that are found in other, contrived hero-personalities that you state are not found in the works of "restrained academic historians".

"...more restrained views of the academic historians."

You must laugh at yourself while coming up with grossly ridiculous generalizations of that sort, and waiting to see who will buy into them.

"It's unfortunate, because the real, human Lee was more interesting than the marble icon that the folklorists have created."

The "real Lee" is exactly the way the quotes of Freeman and Grant depict him. So, you must be insulting the posters here that wish to honor General Lee by using the term "But myths endure in popular memory" to describe the facts known to most posters here.

Even though your anti-Southern bigotry is veiled in sophistry, it is still apparent that you enjoy flaming the greatest of American heros.