Posted on 10/17/2006 5:18:26 PM PDT by bushpilot1
You are accurate in all you say. I just love Patton and was defending him in a general (no pun intended) way.
Its interesting Ike used the correct term "War Between the States" and not American Civil War.
Be like Lee......President Eisenhower could offer no better counsel to Americans than this.
Ike, was from Texas, and a Southerner.
Dittoes. My opinion of Ike just went up too.
Very nice letter.
Pattons grandfather served in the 22nd Virginia Infantry of the Confederate States of America.
Patton's mother kept paintings of Robert E. Lee and Stonewall Jackson in their living room; Patton admired them as she read to him from her rocking chair. He is quoted as saying, "Until I was old enough to know better, I thought those were portraits of God the Father, and God the Son."
His Grandfather fought many of battles here in my state of West Virginia
Perhaps. But it was more political than that, and Patton was not a politician, he was a warrior.
When you have Roosevelt/Truman & Churchill sitting down to powwow with Stalin regarding a World War, you tend to not want to alienate one of your partners, regardless of your feelings towards him or his government, at that time. [the enemy of my enemy, is my friend.]
Patton's problem wasn't so much what he thought, but what he said. Open mouth, insert foot.
Don't misunderstand; I have great admiration for Patton, and I suspect, underneath it all so did Ike and Bradly, or at least shared some of his thoughts on the Soviets, whether they publicaly admitted it (at that time) or not. As a warrior - a pure warrior - there was no equal to Patton. They had to know that.
The German's sure as hell did.
"The letter writer obviously did not know his history.
The CSA never sought to destroy the US government,only to secede from it.Had the South won, the US would still have existed....but somewhat smaller."
How true but most likely the letter writer wasn't taught the truth.
(I'm 1/2 through "A Soldier's Story" by Gen Bradley).
I agree with Leon Scott. Lee fought for evil.
Arlington.
How are Wrong you are Lee fought for honor and for his home
By the way 94% of the people of the south did not own slaves
Southrons, hear your country call you! Up lest worest then death befall you! For faith, and pledges broken, Wrongs inflicted, insults spoken, Cut the unequal bonds asunder! let them hence each other other plunder!
Swear upon your country's alter never to submit or falter, Till the spoliers are defeated, Till the Lord's work is completed.
If the admirers of the CSA would recognize the validity of Ike's words, we'd have a lot less Civil War discussions here on FR.
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