Wednesday, January 21, 2015

Celebrating "Stonewall"


In honor of  General Thomas Jonathan "Stonewall" Jackson's birthday I want to post some of my favorite quotes about and by him.

  • "Captain, my religious belief teaches me to feel as safe in battle as in bed. God has fixed the time for my death. I do not concern myself about that, but to be always ready, no matter when it may overtake me. Captain, that is the way all men should live, and then all would be equally brave."
    • Speaking to Captain John D. Imboden (24 July 1861), as quoted inStonewall Jackson As Military Commander (2000) by John Selby, p. 25; sometimes quoted as "My religious beliefs teach me..."

  • "In the Army of the Shenandoah, you were the First Brigade! In the Army of the Potomac you were the First Brigade!In the Second Corps of this Army, you are the First Brigade! You are the First Brigade in the affections of your general, and I hope by your future deeds and bearing you will be handed down the posterity as the First Brigadein this our Second War of Independence. Farewell!"
    • Farewell address to his brigade, as he left to receive his promotion to Major General (4 October 1861)

"There stands Jackson like a stone wall — rally round the Virginians!"

  • "Jackson fought for the constitutional rights of the South, and any one who imagines he fought for slavery knows nothing of Jackson."
    • William C. Chase in Story of Stonewall Jackson : A Narrative of the Career of Thomas Jonathan (Stonewall) Jackson (1901), p. 203


  • "You are better off than I am , for while you have lost your left (arm), I have lost my right arm."
    • General Lee wrote this in a letter to Jackson shortly before Jackson died. Lee was referring to Jackson as his right arm.

    • *quotes and info from Wikipedia*

Monday, January 19, 2015

The Birthday of a Legend

 


The photograph above shows General Robert E. Lee on Traveler. It was on April 9, 1865 that Lee Surrendered to Ulysses S. Grant at Appomattox Courthouse.
General Lee pictured aboard Traveller (The horse who's name inspired this blog)


Robert E. Lee, one of the most well known figures in the American Civil War. Loved by his men, family, and now even people throughout history that never even knew him.  Once while traveling through the North with his men, they were surrounded by ladies seeking a lock of his hair for a souvenir. One little girl even exclaimed "Oh, I wish he was ours!"

In honor of today (January 19th) being General Lee's birthday I want to share a few quotes from his men and General Lee himself.

General Lee was a man of integrity. He was also a very confident leader. Stonewall Jackson once said, "So great is my confidence in General Lee that I am willing to follow him blindfolded." His men knew that he could be trusted and that he didn't expect anything from them that he didn't endure himself. Even after the surrender at Appomattox on of his men still cried out to him "I love you just as well as ever, General Lee!"
("We Still Love you General Lee" by Mort Kunstler)


General Lee was a Christian man who lived his life everyday in a manner that one didn't question whether his faith was genuine. He believed God was in control of the war and whatever the result would be it was for God's glory.

Robert E. Lee Quotes | Robert E. Lee quotes and sayings
 
 
My trust is in the mercy and wisdom of a kind Providence, who ordereth all things for our good. -Robert E. Lee
 

Happy birthday, General Lee!