Gatorubet
Loathing All Things Georgia
Happy Two Hundred and four Bobby. I'll pour one for you after work.
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Happy Two Hundred and four Bobby. I'll pour one for you after work.
Gatorubet
Loathing All Things Georgia
I have his portrait behind my desk. I think he is one of the great Americans and a person of fine character. He not only lost everything in the war (the Federal Government seized his home, dug up his front yard and turned it into a cemetery - Arlington - to [censored] him off for, among other things, turning down a Major General's rank in the U.S. Army to accept a commission in the Virginia Militia). He was not "for" succession when it happened. In fact, he was part of U.S. Army forces who surrendered to the Confederacy in Texas in 1861, and were returned to the north. Lee wrote to one of his sons, "I can anticipate no greater calamity for the country than a dissolution of the Union." The commanding general of the Union Army, fat old Winfield Scott, asked Lincoln to appoint Lee as a Colonel, and they were going to appoint him to a Major General's rank when it became clear that Virginia would be invaded.
Back then, citizens thought of themselves as citizens of a state first, as in united STATES, not so much UNITED states. Lee stayed in the U.S. Army until it was inevitable that the State of Virginia would be in the war, and invaded. Lee was quoted earlier, when asked whether he was a union or a secession man, and stated: "I shall never bear arms against the Union, but it may be necessary for me to carry a musket in the defense of my native state, Virginia, in which case I shall not prove recreant to my duty." So he went with his state.
After the blood and death of the war, and the destruction of the South, and at least one of his sons being captured while serving in the Confederate Army, and his home (his wife's really) being seized, and having to surrender, he returned to Richmond.
He could have been a bitter and angry man. Two things impress me, given the circumstances: one, his word alone could have resulted in guerrilla war for decades from troops who worshiped him, even if they had been beaten. He was asked by a soldier if it was shameful to sign the loyalty oaths that would restore US citizenship. Lee replied in writing, "This war, being at an end, the Southern States having laid down their arms, and the questions at issue between them and the Northern States having been decided, I believe it to be the duty of everyone to unite in the restoration of the country and the reestablishment of peace and harmony.."
Lee for the rest of his life worked for reconciliation. He actively sought to include more Yankee students to his school, expelled any southern (usually ex-confederate) student that insulted or got in fights with any of the northern students - or the local Freeman Bureau workers - or the black students - and Lee's support helped lead to the establishment of free public schools for former slaves.
One final story, was that soon after the surrender at Appomattox, Lee went to his Episcopal church on Sunday. After the service, when it was time for communion, a well dressed black man that had been at the back of the all white church strode forth to the front and knelt to take communion. In this one bold stroke, the impact of the new reality of equality was thrust into everyone's face. Nobody knows if he was passing through, or trying to make a scene at the most socially prominent church in the old Confederate capital for other reasons. There was a drawing of breath while everybody froze not knowing what to do with instant, in your face, social integration.
One person did not join in the murmurs and hesitation. General Lee walked up to the front and knelt next to the black man, and took communion with him. Having General Lee act that way, everyone soon lined up and followed him to take communion.
That may not seem very extraordinary today, but it was as bold and courageous a move as one could do at that time, and it set the tone for an eventual reconciliation that could have been far more heated and long lasting, save for the action of one man, who I am honoring today.
Back then, citizens thought of themselves as citizens of a state first, as in united STATES, not so much UNITED states. Lee stayed in the U.S. Army until it was inevitable that the State of Virginia would be in the war, and invaded. Lee was quoted earlier, when asked whether he was a union or a secession man, and stated: "I shall never bear arms against the Union, but it may be necessary for me to carry a musket in the defense of my native state, Virginia, in which case I shall not prove recreant to my duty." So he went with his state.
After the blood and death of the war, and the destruction of the South, and at least one of his sons being captured while serving in the Confederate Army, and his home (his wife's really) being seized, and having to surrender, he returned to Richmond.
He could have been a bitter and angry man. Two things impress me, given the circumstances: one, his word alone could have resulted in guerrilla war for decades from troops who worshiped him, even if they had been beaten. He was asked by a soldier if it was shameful to sign the loyalty oaths that would restore US citizenship. Lee replied in writing, "This war, being at an end, the Southern States having laid down their arms, and the questions at issue between them and the Northern States having been decided, I believe it to be the duty of everyone to unite in the restoration of the country and the reestablishment of peace and harmony.."
Lee for the rest of his life worked for reconciliation. He actively sought to include more Yankee students to his school, expelled any southern (usually ex-confederate) student that insulted or got in fights with any of the northern students - or the local Freeman Bureau workers - or the black students - and Lee's support helped lead to the establishment of free public schools for former slaves.
One final story, was that soon after the surrender at Appomattox, Lee went to his Episcopal church on Sunday. After the service, when it was time for communion, a well dressed black man that had been at the back of the all white church strode forth to the front and knelt to take communion. In this one bold stroke, the impact of the new reality of equality was thrust into everyone's face. Nobody knows if he was passing through, or trying to make a scene at the most socially prominent church in the old Confederate capital for other reasons. There was a drawing of breath while everybody froze not knowing what to do with instant, in your face, social integration.
One person did not join in the murmurs and hesitation. General Lee walked up to the front and knelt next to the black man, and took communion with him. Having General Lee act that way, everyone soon lined up and followed him to take communion.
That may not seem very extraordinary today, but it was as bold and courageous a move as one could do at that time, and it set the tone for an eventual reconciliation that could have been far more heated and long lasting, save for the action of one man, who I am honoring today.
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