Post by wildfire on Jan 19, 2005 1:36:56 GMT -5
Robert E. Lee's Birthday?
We're going to read to the kids; the works and deeds of Robert E. Lee.
Then we'll grill steaks and have cake!
8888888888888888888888888888888
8888888888888888888888888888888
The Measure of a Man
By, Ellen Williams
Although his actual birthday is January 19, Monday, the 17th will be the
day the state of Alabama observes the birthday of General Robert E. Lee; a
man about whom more has been written than any other American except George
Washington. Not one writer, not one researcher, not one biographer has
uncovered one stain on his character and morality.
Though his name inspired the hopes of hundreds of thousands of Southerners
who never saw him, his actual control was limited to only 70,000 men of the
Army of Northern Virginia, Confederate States Army. Even today, his military
tactics are still studied at West Point. He was called the "Gray Fox" by
Union Commanders because of his ability to elude their much larger commands.
The very best battlefield odds that General Lee ever had were four to one.
Robert E. Lee's leadership qualities are unsurpassed in American History.
As he rode back from McLean House at Appomattox, his soldiers detected
something different. The customary cheer froze in their throats and they
began to ask, "General, are we surrendered?" Moving his lips in a choking
"good-bye," he tried to ride on through.
"General, we'll fight 'em yet. General, say the word and we'll go in and
fight 'em yet." These words come from the throats of men whom Union
soldiers described as being so thin from starvation that they look like
scarecrows. But they stand there on dirty bare feet begging to continue the
fight.
They touch his uniform or his bridle rein if they cannot grasp his hand;
and if they cannot reach him, they smooth Traveler's flank or pat Traveler's
neck. Grim bearded fellows who have stood in the trenches of Petersburg,
gone through the Wilderness Campaign, withstood the fatal charge at
Gettysburg; battle-hardened veterans of four long years of combat now throw
themselves on the ground, cover their faces and weep like children. Officers
of all ranks make no attempt to conceal their feelings either; but sit on
their horses and weep aloud.
After Appomattox, as General Lee and his small party made their way into
the streets of Richmond, the city he had defended for four long years;
Federal soldiers were already occupying the former Capitol of the CSA. No
one knew better than they, how great a general was passing and what it had
taken to bleed his army to death. These Federal soldiers in blue, block
after block, raised their caps and held them high honoring the man they wished had
ridden with them instead of against them. And being the gentleman that he
was, General Lee raised his muddy wide-brimmed hat, inclining his head
politely each time he did so. It was his last parade, and he wished it over.
In 1868, the "New York Herald" said this about Robert E. Lee. "With a
handful of men whom he molded into an army, he battled our greater Northern
armies for four years, and when opposed by Grant was only worn down by that
solid strategy of stupidity that accomplishes its object by mere weight.
With one-quarter of the men Grant had, this soldier fought magnificently
across his native State, and fought his army to a stump. There was never
such an army or such a campaign or such a general."
Let us remember that winning is not always the measure of greatness.
We're going to read to the kids; the works and deeds of Robert E. Lee.
Then we'll grill steaks and have cake!
8888888888888888888888888888888
8888888888888888888888888888888
The Measure of a Man
By, Ellen Williams
Although his actual birthday is January 19, Monday, the 17th will be the
day the state of Alabama observes the birthday of General Robert E. Lee; a
man about whom more has been written than any other American except George
Washington. Not one writer, not one researcher, not one biographer has
uncovered one stain on his character and morality.
Though his name inspired the hopes of hundreds of thousands of Southerners
who never saw him, his actual control was limited to only 70,000 men of the
Army of Northern Virginia, Confederate States Army. Even today, his military
tactics are still studied at West Point. He was called the "Gray Fox" by
Union Commanders because of his ability to elude their much larger commands.
The very best battlefield odds that General Lee ever had were four to one.
Robert E. Lee's leadership qualities are unsurpassed in American History.
As he rode back from McLean House at Appomattox, his soldiers detected
something different. The customary cheer froze in their throats and they
began to ask, "General, are we surrendered?" Moving his lips in a choking
"good-bye," he tried to ride on through.
"General, we'll fight 'em yet. General, say the word and we'll go in and
fight 'em yet." These words come from the throats of men whom Union
soldiers described as being so thin from starvation that they look like
scarecrows. But they stand there on dirty bare feet begging to continue the
fight.
They touch his uniform or his bridle rein if they cannot grasp his hand;
and if they cannot reach him, they smooth Traveler's flank or pat Traveler's
neck. Grim bearded fellows who have stood in the trenches of Petersburg,
gone through the Wilderness Campaign, withstood the fatal charge at
Gettysburg; battle-hardened veterans of four long years of combat now throw
themselves on the ground, cover their faces and weep like children. Officers
of all ranks make no attempt to conceal their feelings either; but sit on
their horses and weep aloud.
After Appomattox, as General Lee and his small party made their way into
the streets of Richmond, the city he had defended for four long years;
Federal soldiers were already occupying the former Capitol of the CSA. No
one knew better than they, how great a general was passing and what it had
taken to bleed his army to death. These Federal soldiers in blue, block
after block, raised their caps and held them high honoring the man they wished had
ridden with them instead of against them. And being the gentleman that he
was, General Lee raised his muddy wide-brimmed hat, inclining his head
politely each time he did so. It was his last parade, and he wished it over.
In 1868, the "New York Herald" said this about Robert E. Lee. "With a
handful of men whom he molded into an army, he battled our greater Northern
armies for four years, and when opposed by Grant was only worn down by that
solid strategy of stupidity that accomplishes its object by mere weight.
With one-quarter of the men Grant had, this soldier fought magnificently
across his native State, and fought his army to a stump. There was never
such an army or such a campaign or such a general."
Let us remember that winning is not always the measure of greatness.