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Title: A celebration and commemoration of the birthday of Robert Edward Lee (day late)
Source:
The John K. McNeill Camp #674, Georgia Division, Sons of Con
URL Source: http://www.scv674.org/leeday.htm
Published: Jan 19, 2010
Author: The John K. McNeill Camp #674
Post Date: 2010-01-20 16:46:20 by X-15
Keywords: None
Views: 296
Comments: 3
Robert E. Lee (January 19, 1807- October 12, 1870) No finer example of a Southern gentleman and leader exists whose positive impact was so great during and after the War. His superb character as a Christian gentleman stood out in his life as a man, husband, father, citizen, soldier, and a leader. These qualities greatly impressed such notable men as Winston Churchill and Theodore Roosevelt. Fortunately General Lee left a wealth of sayings and personal wisdom of which only a fraction is present here in this educational sheet. LEE AS OTHERS SAW HIM: President Theodore Roosevelt described General Robert E. Lee as "the very greatest of all the great captains that the English-speaking peoples have brought forth." Prime Minister Winston Churchill wrote of Lee: "His noble presence and gentle, kindly manner were sustained by religious faith and an exalted character." Of his army, Churchill observed: "It was even said that their line of march could be traced by the bloodstained footprints of unshod men. But the Army of Northern Virginia 'carried the Confederacy on its bayonets' and made a struggle unsurpassed in history." War-era Georgia Senator Ben Hill eloquently expressed a lasting Lee tribute: "He possessed every virtue of other great commanders without their vices. He was a foe without hate; a friend without treachery; a victor without oppression, and a victim without murmuring. He was a public officer without vices; a private citizen without reproach; a Christian without hypocrisy and a man without guile. He was a Caesar without his ambition; Frederick without his tyranny; Napoleon without his selfishness, and Washington without his reward. He was obedient to authority as a servant, and loyal in authority as a true king. He was gentle as a woman in life; modest and pure as a virgin in thought; watchful as a Roman vital in duty; submissive to law as Socrates, and grand in battle as Achilles!" LEE -HIS OWN WORDS & WISDOM-We can learn from the character of a man through his own words. General Robert E. Lee's wisdom and thoughts on various topics: Achievement: You can have anything you want - if you want it badly enough. You can be anything you want to be, have anything you desire, accomplish anything you set out to accomplish - if you will hold to that desire with singleness of purpose. The Bible: In all my perplexities and distresses, the Bible has never failed to give me light and strength. Character: As a general principle, you should not force young men to do their duty, but let them do it voluntarily and thereby develop their characters. Choices: I think it better to do right, even if we suffer in so doing, than to incur the reproach of our consciences and posterity. Conduct: We have only one rule here (at Washington College) to act like a gentleman at all times. Defeat: We may be annihilated, but we cannot be conquered. Determination: We had, I was satisfied, sacred principles to maintain and rights to defend, for which we were in duty bound to do our best, even if we perished in the endeavor. Dreams: All I ever wanted was a Virginia farm, no end of cream and fresh butter and fried chicken-not one fried chicken, or two, but unlimited fried chicken. Duty: Do your duty. That is all the pleasure, all the comfort, all the glory we can enjoy in this world. Duty: Do your duty in all things. You cannot do more; you should never wish to do less. Education: The education of a man or woman is never completed until they die. Education: Get correct views of life, and learn to see the world in its true light. It will enable you to live pleasantly, to do good, and, when summoned away, to leave without regret. Faith: I trust that a kind Providence will watch over us, and notwithstanding our weakness and sins will yet give us a name and place among the nations of the earth. Farewells: After four years of arduous service marked by unsurpassed courage and fortitude, the Army of Northern Virginia has been compelled to yield to overwhelming numbers and resources. With an unceasing admiration of your constancy and devotion to your country, and a grateful remembrance of your kind and generous consideration for myself, I bid you an affectionate farewell. Forgiveness: Abandon your animosities, and make your sons Americans. Frankness: You must study to be frank with the world: frankness is the child of honesty and courage. A Gentleman: The gentleman does not needlessly and unnecessarily remind an offender of a wrong he may have committed against him. He cannot only forgive; he can forget; and he strives for that nobleness of self and mildness of character, which imparts sufficient strength to let the past be put the past. Honesty: The trite saying that honesty is the best policy has met with the just criticism that honesty is not policy. The real honest man is honest from conviction of what is right, not from policy. Honesty: There is no more dangerous experiment than that of undertaking to be one thing before a man's face and another behind his back. Honor: A true man of honor feels humble himself when he cannot help humbling others. Humility: My chief concern is to try to be a humble, earnest Christian. Humility: A true man of honor feels humbled himself when he cannot help humbling others. Integrity: There is a true glory and a true honor: the glory of duty done-the honor of the integrity of principle. Integrity: Never do a wrong thing to make a friend or keep one. Loyalty: If the Union is dissolved, the government disrupted, I shall return to my native state and share in the miseries of my people. Save in her defense, I will draw my sword no more. Moderation: My experience through life has convinced me that, while moderation and temperance in all things are commendable and beneficial, abstinence from spirituous liquors is the best safeguard of morals and health. Obedience: Obedience to lawful authority is the foundation of manly character. Patriotism: These men are not an army-they are citizens defending their country. Patriotism: With all my devotion to the Union and the feeling of loyalty and duty of an American citizen, I have not been able to make up my mind to raise my hand against my relatives, my children, and my home. I have therefore resigned my commission in the Army, and save in defense of my native State, with the sincere hope that my poor services may never be needed, I hope I may never be called on to draw my sword. Perseverance: We must expect reverses, even defeats. They are sent to teach us wisdom and prudence, to call forth greater energies, and to prevent our falling into greater disasters. Promotion: What do you care about rank? I would serve under a corporal if necessary! Purpose: I am glad to see no indication in your letter of an intention to leave the country. I think the South requires the aid of her sons now more than at any period in her history. As you ask my purpose, I will state that I have no thought of abandoning her unless compelled to do so. Regrets: If I had taken General Longstreet' s advice on the eve of the second day of the battle of Gettysburg ...[then] the Confederates would today be a free people. Self control: I cannot trust a man to control others who cannot control himself. Trust: My trust is in the mercy and wisdom of a kind Providence, who ordereth all things for our good. Truth: Say just what you mean to do on every occasion, and take it for granted that you mean to do right. Union Atrocities: I have never witnessed on any previous occasion such entire disregard of the usage of civilized warfare and the dictates of humanity. Vengeance: It must be remembered that we make war only upon armed men, and that we cannot take vengeance for the wrongs our people have suffered without lowering ourselves in the eyes of all whose abhorrence has been excited by the atrocities of our enemies. War: It is well that war is so terrible -- lest we should grow too fond of it. War: What a cruel thing is war: to separate and destroy families and friends, and mar the purest joys and happiness God has granted us in this world; to fill our hearts with hatred instead of love for our neighbors, and to devastate the fair face of this beautiful world. The War: We failed, but in the good providence of God apparent failure often proves a blessing. The War: We made a great mistake in the beginning of our struggle, and I fear, in spite of all we can do, it will prove to be a fatal mistake. We appointed all our worst generals to command our armies, and all our best generals to edit the newspapers. The War: They do not know what they say. If it came to a conflict of arms, the war will last at least four years. Northern politicians will not appreciate the determination and pluck of the South, and Southern politicians do not appreciate the numbers, resources, and patient perseverance of the North. Both sides forget that we are all Americans. I foresee that our country will pass through a terrible ordeal, a necessary expiation, perhaps, for our national sins. Whiskey: I like whiskey. I always did, and that is why I never drink it. Poster Comment: 
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#2. To: X-15 (#0)
Had he only pressed on in to deecee when he could have...
I wish you could see pics, I posted a couple of good ones. You should ask Christine how to configure your computer to see them.
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Top • Page Up • Full Thread • Page Down • Bottom/LatestSimply outstanding - thanks.
#3. To: Lod (#2)
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