Lee Jackson Day

[vmicraig]

Despite no longer being an officially recognized holiday in Virginia, the town of Lexington still recognized Lee Jackson day yesterday with a peaceful gathering of reenactors and local Sons of Confederate Veterans. Regardless of your stand on the war, I think we can all agree that Lee and Jackson were brilliant tacticians and leaders. Thought I'd simply post a couple pics in remembrance of the men.

Lee's uniformed portrait used to hang in Lee Chapel until a few disgruntled students complained, after which time it was replaced with Lee in civilian clothes. The two following pictures are his funeral procession down Main St., Lexington and an overall shot of people waiting to pay respects at Lee Chapel.

Jackson was also mourned by townsfolk after his passing, as noted by the gathering of VMI cadets and young women from Lexington's Ann Smith Academy at his gravesite.

Photos copied from "Among These Ancient Mountains - The Story of Rickbridge County, VA by Anne Drake McClung

 

[FarawayFriend]

Thanks for sharing!
When we were in Lexington we were lucky to get a guided tour of VMI for just the two of us. Our tour guide was a very kind, very dashing young black cadet and when we asked him about the "difficult" heritage of the institute, he told us that he was very proud to study at VMI, where Jackson had been professor and live in the town where Robert E. Lee lived and died. So, apart from the "disgruntled" students (who should have thought about the history of the place before they enrolled ...) there are probably lots of others who are proud to be at exactly that place. To me it's a shame that the painitng of Lee in uniform was exchanged for that in civilian clothes. They could have at least changed it for an early one in Union uniform. As a US Army engineer, Lee had saved the city of St. Louis when the Mississippi River threatended to make the quais of St. Louis harbor unusable because of all the sediment it carried. Lee changed tge course of the mighty Mississippi River and saved St. Louis as a place of trade. That alone would be worth honoring him always. Lee was every inch a military man - that he is now represented as a tired, disillusioned old civilian is more of an offence than an honor in my opinion. But of course this is only me.

 

[Lt R. Blackwell 4th Texas]

Thank you for the sentiments and great photos.

 

[CMWinkler]

Lee was truly a greater man than any of his contemporary detractors.

 

[donna]

Thanks for sharing these pictures. Happy Birthday to both of these great men.

 

[MHB1862]

If you find yourself in Lexington wander over to the Stonewall Jackson House for a tour. We focus on Jackson's life in Lexington before the war including telling the story of the enslaved who were part of the Jackson household.

 

[jcaesar]

It's important to always remember that as he put it "It's history that teaches us to hope."

 

[FarawayFriend]

If you find yourself in Lexington wander over to the Stonewall Jackson House for a tour. We focus on Jackson's life in Lexington before the war including telling the story of the enslaved who were part of the Jackson household.

We did that! And I must admit, I had no idea that Jackson was such an accomplished gentleman. I always thought he was a bit rough and simple because he was a bit special in his habits. But his home shows he was quite the gentleman!

 

[NH Civil War Gal]

If you find yourself in Lexington wander over to the Stonewall Jackson House for a tour. We focus on Jackson's life in Lexington before the war including telling the story of the enslaved who were part of the Jackson household.

I was there in 2019 with my sister. We were there first thing in the morning and had the docent all to ourselves. It was amazing and I learned so very new things about Jackson that amazed me. I especially LOVE his dining room table with the adjustable feet!

 

[Vadigger]

Thanks for this.

 

[MHB1862]

In an effort to better personalize the experience mid Covid, several docents are offering short lectures about various parts of his life in Lexington and at VMI. My subject is Jackson as a professor.

 

[jvarnell]

Great men, great men.

 

[Tom Hughes]

These men are certainly worth remembering and honoring.

 

[Stone in the wall]

I missed out attending this year. But hope to return to VMI in May when they Honor the fallen Cadets from the battle of New Market.

 

[Seduzal]

Thanks for sharing this awesome article and photos.. been by the VMI many time in travels though Virginia but never had time to stop.

 

[vmicraig]

I missed out attending this year. But hope to return to VMI in May when they Honor the fallen Cadets from the battle of New Market.

FYI, I believe the BOV has decided that the rats (freshmen) will no longer charge the battlefield at New Market as part of their ratline requirements. All part of the whole "renaming and rethinking" agenda born out of Governor Ralph Northam's blackface apology efforts and the whitewashing of VMI traditions, buildings, paintings, plaques, ephemera related to the American Civil War.

Glad I was there at a time that we still marched to and charged the battlefield; played Shenandoah at parades and planted the Confederate battle flag on each of the cadet graves every May 15.

 

[danny]

Thanks for sharing!
When we were in Lexington we were lucky to get a guided tour of VMI for just the two of us. Our tour guide was a very kind, very dashing young black cadet and when we asked him about the "difficult" heritage of the institute, he told us that he was very proud to study at VMI, where Jackson had been professor and live in the town where Robert E. Lee lived and died. So, apart from the "disgruntled" students (who should have thought about the history of the place before they enrolled ...) there are probably lots of others who are proud to be at exactly that place. To me it's a shame that the painitng of Lee in uniform was exchanged for that in civilian clothes. They could have at least changed it for an early one in Union uniform. As a US Army engineer, Lee had saved the city of St. Louis when the Mississippi River threatended to make the quais of St. Louis harbor unusable because of all the sediment it carried. Lee changed tge course of the mighty Mississippi River and saved St. Louis as a place of trade. That alone would be worth honoring him always. Lee was every inch a military man - that he is now represented as a tired, disillusioned old civilian is more of an offence than an honor in my opinion. But of course this is only me.

The most troubling part of the whole shameful chapter

 

[Woods-walker]

Despite no longer being an officially recognized holiday in Virginia, the town of Lexington still recognized Lee Jackson day yesterday with a peaceful gathering of reenactors and local Sons of Confederate Veterans. Regardless of your stand on the war, I think we can all agree that Lee and Jackson were brilliant tacticians and leaders. Thought I'd simply post a couple pics in remembrance of the men.

Lee's uniformed portrait used to hang in Lee Chapel until a few disgruntled students complained, after which time it was replaced with Lee in civilian clothes. The two following pictures are his funeral procession down Main St., Lexington and an overall shot of people waiting to pay respects at Lee Chapel.

Jackson was also mourned by townsfolk after his passing, as noted by the gathering of VMI cadets and young women from Lexington's Ann Smith Academy at his gravesite.

Photos copied from "Among These Ancient Mountains - The Story of Rickbridge County, VA by Anne Drake McClung

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Thanks for sharing. I am happy to know there are still honorable cadets there.

 

[Stone in the wall]

FYI, I believe the BOV has decided that the rats (freshmen) will no longer charge the battlefield at New Market as part of their ratline requirements. All part of the whole "renaming and rethinking" agenda born out of Governor Ralph Northam's blackface apology efforts and the whitewashing of VMI traditions, buildings, paintings, plaques, ephemera related to the American Civil War.

Glad I was there at a time that we still marched to and charged the battlefield; played Shenandoah at parades and planted the Confederate battle flag on each of the cadet graves every May 15.

Unfortunately I didn't get to see all of that. We were able to hear the fallen Cadet's names called out, and saw the "lost shoes" being picked up. Was a pretty emotional event for me.

 

[Woods-walker]

FYI, I believe the BOV has decided that the rats (freshmen) will no longer charge the battlefield at New Market as part of their ratline requirements. All part of the whole "renaming and rethinking" agenda born out of Governor Ralph Northam's blackface apology efforts and the whitewashing of VMI traditions, buildings, paintings, plaques, ephemera related to the American Civil War.

Glad I was there at a time that we still marched to and charged the battlefield; played Shenandoah at parades and planted the Confederate battle flag on each of the cadet graves every May 15.

I am so glad you decided to call it as you see it. Former cadet Northam has disgraced his former school and the cadet code.