This northerner salutes General Lee.
This Westerner, as a young person, had never been encouraged to study the generals of either the North or the South. In fact, I don’t remember a single full hour being used in my California high school in discussion of the war between the states. I only knew that I shared Robert Lee’s birth date, January 19th.
In the late 1980s our family spent considerable time in the Carolinas, and around dinner tables, listened to many people speak of the war, its causes, and its affects. Many had shelves full of books and war antiques.
I remember several older men in South Carolina discussing how that if Lincoln had let the Southern States go, and had not attacked the South, the USA and CSA would have been re-united again within a generation without a drop of blood spilt . . . with slavery gone as well. I wish I had a recording of that discussion from which to make a transcript to post here.
Later, when I was abroad and hungry for books to read, someone in Kansas City sent me a copy of Grey Fox, on General Lee, of course. At the moment I can’t recall the author’s name (perhaps someone else who has read it can post the author’s name). A read it thrice, back-to-back, and cried many times during my reading.
This Westerner joins you, Larry, in your salute, and the nation’s salute, of a fine Christian gentleman and great soldier, Robert E. Lee.