Recently I stood in Lee Circle in New Orleans and viewed the magnificent monument to General Robert E. Lee.
It was fitting that the veterans and residents of New Orleans would remember the general. Many Louisiana and New Orleans soldiers had served under Lee in the Army of Northern Virginia, including Gettysburg.

But the monument to Lee struck me as somewhat odd, in that it also represented one of the great and early weaknesses of the Confederacy.
New Orleans was a Confederate city for only 13 months. It fell to Admiral Farragut early in the Civil War, on April 25, 1862 and was never regained by Confederate forces.

Here we have this magnificent monument to R.E. Lee in Lee Circle in New Orleans today, while the realities of the Civil War are not clearly indicated.

At no time, was New Orleans part of the Confederate States of America, while General Robert E. Lee commanded the Army of Northern Virginia. For Lee was not appointed to command that army, until more than a month after New Orleans was captured.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/wallyg/2495536255/
picture of Lee Monument in Lee Circle
(my thanks to this website)


Important Dates:

Louisiana secession -January 26, 1861.

Louisiana joins the Confederate States of America
March 21, 1861.

Commander David D. Porter, USN, starts bombing Forts Jackson
and St. Philip at midmorning. April 18, 1862.

Confederate troops begin to evacuate New Orleans. April 24, 1862.

Admiral David Farragut captures New Orleans. April 25, 1862.

General R.E. Lee assumes command of the Army of Northern Virginia. June 1, 1862.