U.S. Civil War History bits

The most beloved of all American Generals of all-time-General Robert Edward Lee, was born on this date back in 1807. HAPPY BIRTHDAY Sir. Lees birthday is also known in the South as: Confederate Heroes Day--which I try to celebrate every year.

Robert E. Lee's Father: was General "Light-horse" Harry Lee and was a legendary soldier in our Revolutionary War. Both men were natives to and wholeheartedly loved, their State of Virginia.

Rest in Peace Sirs, you both have my fullest respect.

If you want more great Civil War info? go to: www.sonofthesouth.net

I forgot till looking at the site more-that I too collect Harpers Weekly cover pages. I still have four of them but all pertain only to the Franco-Prussian War. I need to get back into collecting those as well while they are still relatively affordable.

 

Oddly enough it was two years later, in 1809 that one of my favorite authors was born as well. Edgar A. Poe.

 

Poe is great. I read and used to be able to recite: The Raven. Was forced to learn it in a 6th grade class.

Oh and, did anyone here also know that Robert E. Lees personal cook: was a freed slave who also had the last name of Lee, and was also a Sergeant in the Confederate Army. This gent later went on to get an education and he became a Preacher.

 

The South will rise again, Gents.
Sorry- that was the old rockabilly in me....

 

Robert E. Lee is in my family tree as a great great great great great uncle. I'm a direct descendant of his uncle Richard Henry Lee, signer of the Declaration of Independence.

 

Ma'am, you have my deepest respect and admiration. I have no to give yet so all my reps will have to do for now ;-)) My hat is permanently tipped in your honor ;-))

 

Mate you might just be in on something ;-)) After all, the State of Georgia still flies the "colors", and they arent ashamed to do so.

 

I remember one year when I was going to LSU, one of the fraternities decortated their house up with Confederate flags and had a big party the night of Robert E. Lee's birthday. Everyone went in period costumes (uniforms/hoop dresses, etc), Dixie and period music blasting from speakers on the roof, drunken frat boys letting the Rebel Yell fly, the bartenders and caterers dressed in blackface, ah....it was quite the celebration. Unfortunatley General Lee's birthday fell on the observed Martin Luther King Day that year, and you can imagine the PC types going bazeek over it.

 

Good. I remember one night at the rock n' roll club we used to run years ago, a 'mature' student wandered in, clocked the Confederate flags, and started calling us all the racists/fascists/redneck scum of the day.
He got escorted out...for his own safey.

 

Mississippi too Carl!

 

Never be ashamed to fly those colors...to not fly them is bowing down to the PC establishment. It's those who still fly that flag and believe in its pride that will once again protect this country against those who wish to strip us of our rights...

 

Carl, if you ever make one road trip out of Texas, you've got to go to Lexington, Virginia and visit VMI and Washington and Lee. They're located next to one another. It's the Holy Grail of the South. Lee is buried in Lee's Chapel and Traveller right outside. Lee's crypt is surrounded by actual battleflags from his Army. The museum downstairs has his office, preserved the way he left it the day he died. There is also a large collection of George Washington artifacts the Lee's inherited through Mrs. Lee.
Stonewall Jackson is buried nearby, his house is a museum, Lil' Sorrel's bones are buried on VMI's Parade Deck next to the Jackson statue. The VMI museum is very good to include George Patton's "Rat" year uniforms (he later recieved an appointment to West Point), the raincoat Jackson was wearing when he was shot, Lewis "Chesty" Pullers cadet uniforms and Navy Crosses.
Try to make sure you are there on fridays during the school year or May 15th for New Market Day, the anniversary of the 1864 battle the Corps of Cadets fought in, for the parade. Thomas Jefferson's nephew was one of the cadets killed in the battle and is buried near the Parade Deck along with 5 others under the "Virginia Mourning Her Dead" statue. VMI is one of only two military schools whose student body fought in battle, the other is in France, and they are the only two military schools afforded the honor of being able to fix bayonets on parade.
There is too much more to list but I assure you, you will enjoy it. Ah! on a final note Sam Houston's birthplace is located behind the W&L campus. How's that for a Texas connection?



Lee Chapel



Closeup of statue



VMI-taps on New Market Day


Jackson statue in front of Jackson arch in the cadet barracks. The guns are the Rockbridge artillerys actual Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.


Jackson Statue and burial site.

 

Genltemen and lady, I should remind you only Texas has threatened to succeed recently, so if the south rises again they will be following Texas (as it should be)

 

Dang it....

 

Its the thought that counts, unless you are dealing with an government office in which case the paperwork has to be filled out in triplicate

 

I was going to dedicate this post to a Grizzled Old Vet and a Green Apple, but I thought on it and felt it was wrong sooooooooo, all friends, and people who can at least barely stand me ;-) get this post dedicated to them too.

Mostly, I want to give this to my favorite American: General Robert Edward Lee. My families heritage and Civil War service-was all Southern and only one Northern. From the time I could start to remember, I was tought to love my heritage as much as my Country-and I do.

General Lee to me is THE perfect American. Many reasons why I feel so but also because it was almost like a toss of a coin (in a way and im familiar with his actual reasons why he decided to be under Southern Arms-so no explanations are necessary.) as to why he chose to fight under Southern Arms. Being a loyal Son of Virginia, it tore him apart to raise his hand against the Country he so loved as much as his own State. His loyalty to Virginia was more for many reasons, and I believe he was so burdened on the inside that it tore him apart. I mean, I couldnt imagine hos I would feel if something like this happened today, and I HAD no choice but to choose what side I was going to play my cards with.

As my last post, much much better than this one is, was canceled out thanks to the site "timing me out" I have to end this one with that every person who posted here, I thank you for the great info and stories and a s a first, I tried to give reps to every poster here-but the darn site said I still need to spread them around--Grrr.

In case anyone is wondering whom else I almost equate with General Lee, well, as neither had to do things like he did, they cant be compared in that one department, but, both had no love more than for their Country-these Gents are: Daniel Boone and Davy Crockett.

Hi Bobby, great story and they pcers would be even worse now :-(

Hi Gordon, heh heh, great story as Bobby's was ;-)) glad you Gents tought that weenie a lesson ;-))

Hi Hiltz, thanks for that, I had forgotten about Ol Miss ;-)) I think a couple of other States still have something on their flags that is Southern--been too long since I saw all start flags to remember.

Hi Price, I owe you more than just words for that info. Im out of s too but will start paying you all back soon as I get more. Ive never been to but always wanted to visit Virginia. I know a couple of good folks who live up that way and hopefully I can go there sometime in the next 2 years. That trip will be akin to my trip to Germany, the folks I met and things I saw.

Hi Bel/Lady.P/ It would have been interesting to see-but an all too sad of an event.

 

Thinking about Confederates,well, when I worked in the Texas MVD off of MoPAc back in the day of going to UT, the State of Texas actually closed up shop (holiday) to celebrate

Jefferson Davis' Birthday! Not sure if they still do that!

 

I too have ties to the old south. My dad's greatgrandfather and two of his brother's served in the 39th Georgia Infantry CSA. They opposed secession as did many in North Georgia and didn't immediately enlist. When Lincoln called for troops, to make war upon the seceeded states, they enlisted in the 39th and two more brothers joined other confederate units. It was also this call for troops that led directly Virginia, Arkansas, North Carolina and Tennessee to seceed, all four states had not joined in the initial wave of secessions.

Lee was the same, he turned down an offer to command the Federal Army because he wouldn't bear arms against his neighbors. When Lincoln called for troops and Virginia left the Union, he had no other honorable course than to fight for his home state.

Here's Jackson's speech to his troops from the movie "Gods and Generals" where he lays out the reasons they will fight.


[video=youtube;OsMGDwIZ6cA]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OsMGDwIZ6cA[/video]





39th Georgia's Battle Flag

 

Well, well we have quite a few descendants from famous people here. Always be proud of them gents (and ladies) and nuts to politically correctness !

As to Poe , I have studied him too and love his twisted writings .

 

And in saying that, I'm related to George Washington, Thomas Jefferson and Richard Henry Lee....all right wing extremists.. (giggles)