Lee-Jackson Day

[Muley Gil]

The Commonwealth of Virginia celebrated the birthdays of two great generals on Friday-Robert E Lee and Thomas J "Stonewall" Jackson.

Both were West Point graduates and veterans of the Mexican War. Lee was a colonel in the US Army at the beginning of the War of Northern Aggression. He was offered command of the Union Army, but would not fight against the South.

Jackson served in the US Army for a number of years, but resigned to teach at the Virginia Military Institute (VMI).

It is hard these days to comprehend, but these men thought of themselves as Virginians first, and Americans second.

Other Southern states will recognize these heros of Dixie on Monday.

 

[Faulkner]

He was offered command of the Union Army, but would not fight against the South.

Specifically, Lee said he would not fight against his home state of Virginia. Seems he did tell Lincoln when he declined the offer of command of the Union army he could not support an invasion of the southern states.

Very few finer men have ever lived than Robert E. Lee.

 

[m1gunner]

Have you ever read about what the union did to Gen & Mrs. Lee's home?

Funny, it isn't taught in schools these days.

 

[Class III]

I've got a couple of relatives and a high school buddy that are buried there. None the less, the Army of Aggression robbed them of their home.

Class III

 

[BikerRN]

Our leaders would do well to emulate them today.

Finer men would be hard to find, from what I have learned.

Biker

 

[W.E.G.]

"Defenders of Causes"

Virginia Code § 2.2-3300. Legal holidays.

It is the policy of the Commonwealth to fix and set aside certain days in the calendar year as legal holidays for the people of Virginia. In each year, the following days are designated as legal holidays:

January 1 - New Year's Day.

The Friday preceding the third Monday in January - Lee-Jackson Day to honor Robert Edward Lee (1807-1870) and Thomas Jonathan (Stonewall) Jackson (1824-1863), defenders of causes.

The third Monday in January - Martin Luther King, Jr., Day to honor Martin Luther King, Jr., (1929-1968), defender of causes.

 

[Faulkner]

Have you ever read about what the union did to Gen & Mrs. Lee's home?

Funny, it isn't taught in schools these days.

What started as an insult to the Lee's turned out to be one of their most everlasting contributions to the country.

 

[m1gunner]

What started as an insult to the Lee's turned out to be one of their most everlasting contributions to the country.

War tribute is never considered a contribution AFAIK. Mrs Lee was horrified by it, and fought for its return till she died.

I have nothing but respect for the men resting there but the decision to confiscate this piece of private property was a war crime in my book.

 

[Bullseye 2620]

Our leaders would do well to emulate them today.

Finer men would be hard to find, from what I have learned.

Biker

Honor, duty, courage, loyalty. These two sons of Virginia embody those values.

Some of us, not native to this place, but who now consider it home would do well to remember the words posted on the wall of Franklin Hapgood, the Commonwealth's attorney for Franklin County: "An American by birth, and a Virginian by choice, by God!"


Bullseye

 

[Muley Gil]

Yes, the gov't decided that if the taxes weren't paid, the property would be confiscated. Mrs Lee tried to pay the taxes, but the gov't wouldn't accept the payment from her, insisting that the head of the household (General Lee) would have to pay them in person. Of course, he would have been captured.

 

[tripledipper]

Not a fan of Public Broadcasting, but they did a pretty non-partisan documentary on Robert Edward Lee recently. As said, his home eventually became Arlington National Cemetary. They quoted him as saying late in his life that he should have chosen a different profession than the military. Politics as they are today, I salute the Commonwealth of Virginia for still celebrating this holiday.

 

[Muley Gil]

"Not a fan of Public Broadcasting, but they did a pretty non-partisan documentary on Robert Edward Lee recently."

You must have seen a different version than I did. I thought it was pretty biased and showed Lee in a bad light.

I belong to a North-South Skirmish Association unit, the 34th Battalion, Virginia Cavalry, and the show was brought to my attention by my commander. The members critiqued the show afterwards and interestingly enough, most of the criticism came from the members that are native born New Englanders!

 

[walnutred]

I visited Arlington when I was in DC on business last October. Given the scope of that war a lot of people had their land turned into cemeteries. Lees son was eventually reimbursed for the property.

 

[fiasconva]

It used to be Lee, Jackson, King day here in the commonwealth. But now it's 2 separate "holidays" in order to be politically correct. Lee-Jackson Day is virtually ignored around here.

 

[Faulkner]

. . . and MLK day is virtually ignored around here.

 

[snowman]

I saw the PBS show about Lee and was surprised at the generally negative tone.

Andy

 

[Onomea]

I did not know that Arlington is land originally owned by Lee, and confiscated from him during the Civil War. It is surely hallowed ground today.

 

[Cooter Brown]

I did not know that Arlington is land originally owned by Lee, and confiscated from him during the Civil War. It is surely hallowed ground today.

Arlo, it was originally the home of the Custis family. R. E. Lee married Mary Custis, who was the only surviving child in the family. She was born there and lived there all her life until forced to leave for Richmond during the war. Her father was the step grandson of George Washington.

I'm pretty sure that's all correct. Been while since I studied all that.

 

[armadillo]

I visited Arlington when I was in DC on business last October. Given the scope of that war a lot of people had their land turned into cemeteries. Lees son was eventually reimbursed for the property.

Lee's son received a large judgement against the federal government in Virginia state court - but not until after reconstruction. and his father's death.