Robert E. Lee at 200

fastpat · 01-19-2007, 08:11 PM

Lee's 200th birthday celebrations, world wide.

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Robert E. Lee at 200

by Gail Jarvis

The 200th anniversary of the birth of Robert E. Lee occurs on January 19th, and this year the number and variety of Lee celebrations may set a new record. In Britain, the American Civil War Round Table will hold a series of lectures honoring General Lee during the month of January. In America, commemorative events are planned throughout the year.

Lee celebrations have proliferated in recent years despite demands for the removal of Lee memorabilia by local chapters of the NAACP and other militant groups. The self-serving rhetoric of these groups has provoked others to commit acts of vandalism resulting in the smashing of Lee statuary and the firebombing of murals containing depictions of the General.

Lee admirers are sorely disappointed by the capitulations of elected officials to demands by these belligerent activists. Rather than making an effort to defend Lee memorabilia or allowing the public to decide its fate, many elected officials have simply caved in to removal demands, often covertly eliminating Lee tributes to avoid public recriminations – such was the case when then Texas Governor, George W. Bush conspired with his crony, Texas Supreme Court Justice, Albert Gonzales, to have a Robert E. Lee plaque furtively removed from the Texas Supreme Court building on a weekend when the Court was not in session.

Regrettably, Bush’s deceitful act is typical of many of our politicians. They are ruled by political expediency, and will not do anything that has not been scrutinized by spin doctors who evaluate how interest groups might react; how media will respond, or what the potential impact on political careers might be. So what we get is a committee-sanctioned maneuver designed to conceal the politician’s true actions or to allow him to give the appearance of having taken a stand without actually doing so.

Our leaders were not always so weak-willed in prior generations. And, I maintain, they had a better grasp of history than today’s crop of obsequious political hacks. As an illustration, I offer a letter from President Eisenhower written in response to a critic. The complainant’s letter, dated August 1, 1960, takes issue with President Eisenhower’s expressed admiration for Robert E. Lee and reads as follows:

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Dear Mr. President:

"At the Republican Convention I heard you mention that you have the pictures of four (4) great Americans in your office, and that included in these is a picture of Robert E. Lee.

I do not understand how any American can include Robert E. Lee as a person to be emulated, and why the President of the United States of America should do so is certainly beyond me.

The most outstanding thing that Robert E. Lee did was to devote his best efforts to the destruction of the United States Government, and I am sure that you do not say that a person who tries to destroy our Government is worthy of being hailed as one of our heroes.

Will you please tell me just why you hold him in such high esteem?"

Sincerely yours,

Leon W. Scott, DDS
New Rochelle, NY

To his credit, President Eisenhower did not embarrass his correspondent by correcting his extraordinary misreading of American history but simply explained why he held Robert E. Lee in such high regard.

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August 9, 1960

Dear Dr. Scott:

Respecting your August 1 inquiry calling attention to my often expressed admiration for General Robert E. Lee, I would say, first, that we need to understand that at the time of the War Between the States the issue of Secession had remained unresolved for more than 70 years. Men of probity, character, public standing and unquestioned loyalty, both North and South, had disagreed over this issue as a matter of principle from the day our Constitution was adopted.

General Robert E. Lee was, in my estimation, one of the supremely gifted men produced by our Nation. He believed unswervingly in the Constitutional validity of his cause which until 1865 was still an arguable question in America; he was thoughtful yet demanding of his officers and men, forbearing with captured enemies but ingenious, unrelenting and personally courageous in battle, and never disheartened by a reverse or obstacle. Through all his many trials, he remained selfless almost to a fault and unfailing in his belief in God. Taken altogether, he was noble as a leader and as a man, and unsullied as I read the pages of our history.

From deep conviction I simply say this: a nation of men of Lee’s caliber would be unconquerable in spirit and soul. Indeed, to the degree that present-day American youth will strive to emulate his rare qualities, including his devotion to this land as revealed in his painstaking efforts to help heal the nation’s wounds once the bitter struggle was over, we, in our own time of danger in a divided world, will be strengthened and our love of freedom sustained.

Such are the reasons that I proudly display the picture of this great American on my office wall.

Sincerely,
Dwight D. Eisenhower

When we compare Eisenhower’s actions with the behavior of our current politicians, we can only feel a sense of loss. Today’s elected officials have been so intimidated by the politically correct pestilence that has infected our nation that they would never casually express an opinion on any subject for fear that it might offend someone, somewhere. But President Eisenhower belonged to another generation, and his respectful response to his obtuse critic is what we would have expected from a man who had Robert E. Lee as a role-model. Certainly, it would be hard to find a better role-model than Robert E. Lee, a noble Christian gentleman who continues to inspire Americans almost 140 years after his death.

January 15, 2007

MRM · 01-19-2007, 08:34 PM

As we have discussed before, Pat, I am sure that his heir, Colin Powel, is somewhere very proud of his military forebearer Robert E. Loser Lee. I hope the current crop of US generals end up with a better track record than Loser Lee.

fastpat · 01-20-2007, 05:41 AM

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Robert E. Lee

Robert E. Lee’s life was punctuated by a stream of superlatives. In 1829, he was graduated second in his class from West Point and was without a single demerit. In his Senior year he lead the Cadet Corps. In 1831 as a Second Lieutenant in the United States Army, he married the daughter of an adopted grandson of President George Washington. Following several years working as an Engineer, at the beginning of the Mexican-American War in 1846, General George Winfield Scott asked that Captain Lee be assigned to his Command.

Though his flawless performance as an engineer had involved a number of years and several noted projects, prior to the Mexican-American war his advancement had been slow.

He was a remarkable warrior. General Scott attributed his own success in the Mexican War to the, "skill, valor and undaunted energy of Robert E. Lee" and called him, "the greatest military genius in America". In an unprecedented outpouring of adulation, every general officer with whom he personally served made special mention of him in their reports: "I want to record my particular admiration for Captain Lee"; "in whose skill and judgment I have the utmost confidence"; "his gallantry and conduct deserve the highest praise"; "intrepid coolness and gallantry". In a speech at the Lee Memorial meeting in 1870 Jefferson Davis said of Lee, "He came from Mexico crowned with honors, covered with brevets, and recognized, young as he was, as one of the ablest of our country’s soldiers". During the War he was brevetted to the rank of Colonel.

Thirty six years had passed since Light Horse Harry Lee’s son had matriculated at West Point. During this long period of time, he patiently
dispensed distinguished service to the Army of the United States. In 1861, Abraham Lincoln through Secretary Francis Blair and General George Scott offered him the command of the Union Army. He replied that though he detested slavery, was opposed to secession and to deprecating war, he would take no part in the invasion of the Southern States.

Robert E. Lee resigned from the Army of the United States and returned to Virginia where in 1862 he assumed command of the Army of Northern Virginia. Victories over McClellen, Pope, Burnside, and Hooker followed. His tenure with the Confederacy was, however, not without a downside. In 1861 an abortive incursion into West Virginia created a niche in his reputation which postponed his deserved elevation to General and resulted in extensive labor for President Jefferson Davis in the field of engineering and building defenses for the Confederate States. It was not until 1865 on the eve of the Southern surrender that Lee was elevated to Commander-in-Chief.

After the War in 1866 he wrote, "All that the South has ever desired was that the Union as established by our fathers should be preserved, and that the government as originally organized should be administered in purity and truth." Six months later he wrote, "I had no other guide, nor had I any other object than the defense of these principles of American liberty on which the constitutions of the several States were originally founded, and unless they are strictly observed I fear there will be an end of Republican government in this country."

In describing Robert E. Lee and the character of his life, words that are no longer used in relation to our society resonate with grief. Words like faith in God, stately bearing, dignity without stiffness, courtliness with women, Christian humility, self control, self denial, and kindness.

Lee abhorred Total War as it was practiced by the Union Army. It was inconceivable to him that women, children, and the elderly might be involved in the conflict. Rape, pillaging, murder, and the atrocities attendant to an illegitimate victory were not allowed in his Army.

Ann Carter Lee said of her son as he left for West Point, "How will I get on without Robert?

Can you imagine a man of Lee’s courtliness facing the vituperation of the National Organization for Women, the profanity of the ACLU, the homosexual rights movement, rampant pornography, or the charade we call Democracy?

How alien he was to our nihilistic culture. How hard to imagine his character in the youth of today.

The Civil War was indeed a blow to the Republic. Lee’s prophetic statement about the end of Republican government has been substantially fulfilled. Terrorism known as "Total War" became standard, Federal Government reigned supreme and its roots have ever since been moistened with tyranny.
http://dixierising.com/eLobby/2005/oct/robert_e_lee.php

Joeaksa · 01-20-2007, 05:54 AM

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Originally posted by MRM
As we have discussed before, Pat, I am sure that his heir, Colin Powel, is somewhere very proud of his military forebearer Robert E. Loser Lee. I hope the current crop of US generals end up with a better track record than Loser Lee.

As well lets hope that these Generals also realize that the Civil War has been over for 140 years. Something that the person who started the thread is having problems with...

lendaddy · 01-20-2007, 06:02 AM

Yep, sometimes the greatest thing one can do is present a failure for others to learn from.

fastpat · 01-20-2007, 06:15 AM

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Originally posted by Joeaksa
As well lets hope that these Generals also realize that the Civil War has been over for 140 years. Something that the person who started the thread is having problems with...

Talk to your boy here.

He thinks he's the reincarnation of the monster in the painting.

Joeaksa · 01-20-2007, 07:56 AM

Not to worry, agents from "my boy" as you call the President of the United States are working on your case as we speak.

fastpat · 01-20-2007, 08:47 AM

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Originally posted by Joeaksa
Not to worry, agents from "my boy" as you call the President of the United States are working on your case as we speak.

Yeah, riiiiiiiiiiiiight!

Joeaksa · 01-20-2007, 08:59 AM

Remember this post sometime. Sure you will have time to dwell on it later on...

fastpat · 01-20-2007, 09:02 AM

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Originally posted by Joeaksa
Remember this post sometime. Sure you will have time to dwell on it later on...

Do you not know how silly this kind of post makes you look?