Happy Birth day General Lee

scone · #1 01-19-2005, 03:19 PM

Robert Edward Lee Born on this date in 1807.

(Message edited by scone on January 19, 2005)

thea_447 · #2 01-19-2005, 08:41 PM

My husband sent me an announcement today. In essence it says that the Sons of Confederate Veterans, in order to honor General Robert E. Lee on his birthday, Jan. 19th, each year proposes that everyone toast General Lee at 5:00 p.m. C.S.T.

It has become apparent in the South that the King/Lee holiday is no longer allowed. They are eliminating Lee's birthday completely in favor of a legal holiday for MLK.

It has also been approved by the Order of the Rose, the U.D.C., League of the South, etc.

This has been a tradition previously for some, and shall be a growing tradition for all Southerners in the future.

So for all you Southerners and those who admire General Lee, remember in the future, that each year, on Jan. 19th at 5:00 p.m. Central Standard Time, raise your glass and give a silent toast to a true Southern gentlemen and one of the greatest soldiers of all time: General Robert E. Lee.

(Message edited by thea_447 on January 19, 2005)

dawna · #3 01-19-2005, 09:05 PM

Thea:

I raise my glass with you to toast the "greatest soldier of all time," and who was the epitome of: "moderation, self control, duty, sincerity, consideration of others, courage, special regard for ladies, courtesy, honour, and a man of deep religious conviction."

Dawna

#4 01-19-2005, 10:38 PM

"His noble presence and gentle, kindly manner were sustained by religious faith and exalted character."
Winston Churchill

Happy Birthday Bobby

unionblue · #5 01-20-2005, 02:10 AM

Henry Adams on Robert E. Lee:

"I think that Lee should have been hanged. It was all the worse that he was a good man and a fine character and acted conscientiously. It's always the good men who do the most harm in the world."

I'll drink to that.

Unionblue

(Message edited by Unionblue on January 20, 2005)

larry_cockerham · #6 01-20-2005, 07:34 PM

May he rest in peace.

bill_torrens · #7 01-21-2005, 07:19 AM

This year, as ever, I drank champagne to celebrate Marse Robert's birthday. Not sure I can manage to do it at 5pm Central Standard Time, though, since that is a bit late for me.

I had hoped to post something on Lee's English ancestry in time for 19th January, but it's proving to be something of a genealogical nightmare. Basically, there are two conflicting theories as to where his ancestors came from: one is that they came from Shropshire; the other is that they came from Buckinghamshire. I have looked at goodness knows how many different Lee pedigrees and no two are quite the same. It's doing my head in!

However, one incontrovertible fact stands out. Richard Lee, the general's direct ancestor who emigrated to Virginia, described himself in his will as late of Stratford Langton (or Langthorn) in the county of Essex. And the fact is that about six miles from where I am writing this is the parish church of Hardwick, Buckinghamshire, and in it is the tomb of Sir Robert Lee (c1545-1616), and on that tomb is a tablet which states that he died at Stratford Langton in the county of Essex. Let the Shropshire Lees explain that away.

I am researching this at work and am giving a talk on the subject in a couple of weeks time. I'll report back in due course.

larry_cockerham · #8 01-22-2005, 12:42 AM

Bill Torrens, I was intrigued by your post. I believe your supposition regarding a link from these folks to Gen. Lee is quite convincing, but alas I'm no Lee scholar. I was a bit startled by your mention of the name Hardwick. I have an ancestor Thomas Hardwick whose will was proved 28 Jun 1681, buried in the 'parish churchyard of Westbury'in Somersetshire. From Nashville, TN, I can't get a good fix on the location of Somersethire. Old Thomas was the brother of Col. William Hardwick a regular British army officer 1618-1668 who married George Washington's gg aunt, thus a very marginally close neighbor of the Lee family in Virginia. If any of this interests you at all, I'd like to swap notes via direct e-mail.

gary · #9 01-22-2005, 12:51 AM

I've been to Stratford-upon-Avon. Does that count?

BTW, hat's off to that gallant warrior and a True American.

larry_cockerham · #10 01-22-2005, 01:08 AM

Lots of thespians in a place like that. Robert Edward Lee knew he was on the wrong side of the war when he gave up his cushy teaching post in New York and ambled back south to defend his native Virginia which he loved to his death. Such, I believe, was the case for many a soldier in that civil war, just victims of circumstance. Mr. Lee was a supreme example of loyalty for which he can be remembered with considerable respect.