Saving Lee

I haven't posted here on Traveller's Journal for around 2 years, I got wrapped up in college and many adventures, but I have finally found a reason to break my silence.

During my time away from this Blog, I met and got engaged to a man from Virginia, I was also born in Virginia but I no longer live there, throughout our relationship I would make trips up to his area. Not far from my fiancé's home town, is Charlottesville; in Charlottesville there is a place called Lee Park. Lee Park is a lovely area with a giant statue of General Lee riding his horse, and long time companion, Traveller. This park is among Virginia's Civil War trails. The statue was places in the park in 1924, it is only 7 years from being 100 years old. I made a trip to Lee park at one point and I even have a picture with the amazing statue.

So, I'm sure you are wondering what the big deal is about this statue... In answer to your question the city has voted to remove the statue from Lee park and relocate it, they also want to rename Lee Park. This is a big deal, because they want to remove history, they want to remove Robert E. Lee as if he casts a black shadow on America. Confederates are as much a part of American history as the Union soldiers, just because they lost doesn't mean you can obliterate their names from the history books. General Lee was arguably one of the greatest Generals who has ever lived. He took a rag tag group of men and made them soldiers. Please tell me another General who has done the same... can you name one?

It's time that we as Southerners don't treat our Confederate ancestors as if they are embarrassing, or the "black sheep of the family". Our heritage does not need to be swept under the rug. I think one of the arguments for removing his statue is because of slavery. However, General Lee was no fan of slavery himself. General Jackson didn't even own slaves. However, this post of not really about why the war was fought, it is about the importance of preserving the heritage of the South, not just the North.

Is the General Lee statue important? Yes. But more importantly our heritage is important. If the General Lee statue is allowed to be removed, it won't stop at that. They will move on to the General Jackson statue that stands in Charlottesville, then maybe on to Richmond to remove JEB Stuart, etc. We must defend our heritage. One of my Great grandfathers (several greats back) fought for the South under General Lee, I am proud of that, and I always will be. Also, just because you try and hide history, doesn't mean it never happened!

Let Charlottesville know that we want the Lee statue to remain!

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!"

• General Barnard Bee during theFirst Battle of Bull Run, in an exclamation which was the origin of the nickname "Stonewall Jackson", as quoted in Freedom (1987) byWilliam Safire, p. 60

• "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*

The Birthday of a Legend

 

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.

 

 

 

Happy birthday, General Lee!

Words to the Wise by a Confederate Soldier

The following was written by an unknown Confederate soldier who was wounded and severely disabled in the Civil War:

I asked God for strength that I might achieve,
I was made weak that I might learn humbly to obey,

I asked for health that I might do great things,
I was given infirmity that I might do better things,

I asked for riches that I might be happy,
I was given poverty that I might be wise,

I asked for power that I might have the praise of men,
I was given weakness that I might feel the need of God,

 I asked for all things that I might enjoy life,
I was given life that I might enjoy all things,

I got nothing that I asked for but everything I had hoped for.
Almost despite myself, my unspoken prayers were answered.
I am, among all men, most richly blessed.*

If you are saved by the grace of God, and living in His will, God will always answer your prayers. It may not be what you wanted, but it will be EXACTLY what you need. Always remember God knows best!

*Taken from Terry Tuley's devotional "Stories of Faith and Courage from THE CIVIL WAR"

Hopeful reappearance of the Author :)

Hello to my readers,
I really apologize for the sudden collapse in posting. I have managed to hit several new milestones in my life that have kept me very busy in the last months. In 2014 I hope to renew my "blogging passion" and continue on with writing! Please don't give up hope, hopefully before you know it good ole' General Lee will reappear, Stonewall Jackson will be hitting the flank and J.E.B. Stuart will be outsmarting them all! :) Until then, I hope you all have a great New Years!

The Confederate Flag

For quite some time now I have been bothered by an issue and I finally decided to write on it. It being the misuse of the Confederate flag. People who don't want to obey laws or are anti-government use it as a symbol of rebellion. Or people who consider themselves tough or reckless. It is mostly used by people who give it a bad name and use it for the wrong type of symbolism. You see it pictured with cross bones and skulls, on t-shirts promoting wrong behavior or pornography. THIS IS NOT THE USE THE CONFEDERATE FLAG WAS INTENDED FOR!

The Confederate Flag was invented for the Confederacy. The men who carried and fought carrying it were honorable men. General Lee and "Stonewall" Jackson were decent, Christian men who fought under the Confederate flag as a banner of freedom. It symbolized hundreds of thousands of men who died for what they considered their rights. It was not a symbol of being a "redneck", but of honor and integrity. Now it's integrity has been scarred. Instead of a banner of freedom it's now seen as something to be used for perverse and wrong things. It's a shame that it has been so desecrated!

In modern days, the Confederate flag should show our respect for Southern Heritage and bravery. It should not be a symbol of hate or lawlessness.

Imagine the women who's husbands, sons, fathers, cousins, etc. were away at war. They sat sewing every star and bar with tears falling on the material. Love going into every stitch. Do you think they sewed that flag for it to be desecrated?
 Imagine the flag bearer on the battle field who carried the flag until he fell to the ground in death. Another brave soldier grabs the flag before it can touch the ground. They didn't carry that flag to show their hatred, rebellion or anything of the kind, but to show their independence and want of liberty. If you believe my belief on this matter is too extreme and people really don't get the wrong idea from the attitude in which you wear or display your flag, just good "The Confederate Flag". You research will show you devastating results.

Think on this before you buy a bumper sticker, t-shirt or any other item that would again give this flag a bad name or in anyway make someone think of it wrongly.

   

Pictured above is: A flag made by Flora Stuart for her husband J.E.B. Stuart. He carried it into battle with him.

For Old Virginia

 

Gettysburg- For Old Virginia <3

This is probably my favorite part of the movie! It expresses, I assume, the way all the men of the Confederacy felt. Please watch!

Disclaimer: I do not own the rights to this video. It is a clip from the movie "Gettysburg".