Belated Birthday Wishes to Robert E. Lee

Yesterday was Robert E. Lee’s birthday. A lot of southerners hold Robert E. Lee special in their hearts – I am talking about the rebel flag waving white-trash redneck kind of southerners but also other southerners as well.

How come? I don’t know. I think it is visibility. If I was to pick a CSA General as my hero I would pick General Joseph Johnston. He seemed to be a very good strategist who could read his opposing General (William T. Sherman’s mind).

I think maybe because Robert E. Lee was more popular, compared to Johnston, was that Robert got more visibility. Robert’s command and battles were more near the northern states and even into the northern states (Gettysburg), and very near Washington D.C. So, he was more of a threat in the northerners’ minds, thus a bigger hero to the southerner. But, I said maybe. I don’t really know.

Some Civil War experts debate whether Robert E. Lee was all that great of a general or not. I attended a debate one time where two Civil War authors debated on his serious military strategy blunders that cost many lives of his troops.

He graduated high in his West Point class and proved to be a good U.S. Government officer before he made the decision to take sides with his native state of Virginia.

Which reminds me, Arlington Cemetery was his front yard. It was a way to piss him off, bury the dead Yankees in his front yard.

I know Robert E. Lee had a gentle way about him, which cause people to respect him. And he also get respect when he talked respectful to lowliest infantry soldier. He dealt with all humans respectful and even the animals. When he noticed a horse panting from working too hard he would pet the strange horse and order that it be brought water.

Which, without looking, I will say his horse’s name is Traveler. I think I am not unique knowing his horse’s name, may other people know Traveler’s name. How many other Generals can you name their horses. For me, none and I bet the same is true for most other people. Traveler is almost as popular as Trigger.

I think maybe all that respect paid off in dividends… that respect just keeps on coming.

Let that be a lesson to you, play your cards right with respect, and your cemetery marker or tombstone might see new flowers placed before it regularly a hundred years from now.