Robert E. Lee - Before you tear down his statue maybe you should learn the truth about his legacy - a great American war hero!

Immediately across the Potomac River from Coltons Point three prominent figures in American history were born, George Washington, John Adams and Robert E. Lee. Two have been well recognized for their contributions to the nation, Presidents Washington and Adams, but Robert E. Lee, because of the Civil War, has never got his just acknowledgment.

The current political turmoil over the removal of Confederate statues makes it important to bring some truth to the conversation.  Robert E. Lee is the only person in American history to have fought for both the Union and Confederate armies, been offered the chance to lead either army, and when the South was defeated he worked tirelessly to bring peace to a war torn nation.

Though most people consider him the idol of the South to this day, Lee’s contributions were of benefit to both sides of the conflict. Lee was the son of a Revolutionary War hero Harry Lee and he finished at the top of his class at West Point.

He fought, was wounded and received honors for the United States in the Mexican War and became Superintendent of West Point in 1852. He rejoined the 2nd Calvary in 1855 and served in Texas.

In 1859 he was called upon to lead the marines in putting an end to John Brown’s Harpers Ferry raid. He returned to serve in Texas until summoned to Washington in 1861.

General Robert E Lee exemplified the idea of an American Southern gentleman, being intelligent, loyal, chivalrous, noble, humble and kind. He idolized George Washington who so represented the American Revolution.

While Lee was stationed at Fort Monroe, he married Mary Anna Randolph Custis (1808–1873), the great-granddaughter of Martha Washington, at Arlington House, her parents' home just across from Washington, D.C. The 3rd U.S. Artillery served as honor guard at the marriage. They eventually had seven children, three boys and four girls.

Lee ended up symbolizing the Confederate war effort in the American Civil War, and becoming an icon for not only his gentlemanly attitude but also his clever tactics and intelligence in military matters.

He was a man who loved the US Constitution and the Union, and neither particularly liked, nor deplored slavery. Nevertheless, Lee served in the Confederacy, as he was loyal to his friends and family in Virginia. In fact, the land where Arlington National Cemetery sits, where many Union men are buried, once belonged to Lee. His property was seized by the Union early in the war to protect Washington, DC.

What a cruel thing is war...to fill our hearts with hatred instead of love for our neighbors, and to devastate the fair face of this beautiful world.

--Robert E. Lee

Books have been written about the tremendous Christian faith of Robert E. Lee and how he lived it on and off the battlefield.  His compassion and respect for all mankind, even the enemy was manifested through many incidents in his life.

"But perhaps his greatest moments came after the war, when he worked very hard to reconcile a country that was still deeply divided after a bitter internal conflict," said S. Waite Rawls III.

In early 1861 Lee opposed the formation of the Confederacy and considered acceptance of an offer from newly elected President Abraham Lincoln for a senior command in the U.S. Army. 

However, when Virginia seceded from the Union in April he chose to remain loyal to his home state.

After guiding the South through several years of brilliant military strategy and nearly defeating the North, Lee was named Commander in Chief of the Confederate Army on January 23, 1865 and his defense of Richmond and Petersburg against Grant before surrendering at Appomattox to the North were legendary defensive campaigns.

Lee returned to Richmond as a paroled prisoner of war, and submitted with the utmost composure to an altered destiny. He devoted the rest of his life to setting an example of conduct for other thousands of ex-Confederates. 

He refused a number of offers which would have secured substantial means for his family. Instead, he assumed the presidency of Washington College (now Washington and Lee University) in Lexington, Virginia, and his reputation revitalized the school after the war.

Lee's enormous wartime prestige, both in the North and South, and the devotion inspired by his unconscious symbolism of the "Lost Cause" made him a legendary figure even before his death. 

He died on October 12 1870, of heart disease which had plagued him since the spring of 1863, at Lexington, Va. and is buried there. Somehow, his application for restoration of citizenship was mislaid, and it was not until the 1970's that it was found and granted.

Honored for his service to both the North and South, offered the command of both the North and South, and later named President of Washington and Lee University, Robert E. Lee was a soldiers soldier. He was the epitome of the American military hero.

That is the true story of Robert E. Lee.

An Open Letter to President Donald Trump from the People

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Dear President Trump

Unlike the news media, other politicians, and the far left wing of the progressive and liberal perspectives, I am a citizen of these United States first, and foremost.  Long ago, the two political parties stopped caring for me and began protecting their own special interests.

It is for that reason only that many American citizens decided they had enough of the media, the politicians, and the political parties.  Some were Democrats, some Republicans, and many Independents and we all shared a common concern for our nation.

You see, we believe the Constitution is a very sacred document and we believe Divine Providence guided our Fore Fathers in the drafting and adoption of this unique masterpiece.  This incredible Constitution is what makes America the shining light on the hillside beckoning the masses from throughout the world to our shores.

Peace, equality, individual freedom, and sacred rights are identified and protected by our Constitution, and citizens of our country are chosen to be representatives in order to continue to protect this sacred document.

You are the most recent one chosen by the people.  It was a most unusual election and the degree of polarization shocked even the most cynical of us.  There is great risk entrusting the most powerful and enduring nation in the world to one who has never known the pressures of holding an elected office.

Many doubt your ability to adjust to such a new reality and many more intend to make it so difficult for you they hope to drive you from office in a fit of anger.  The news media seems to think they have all the answers and are intent on proving you do not.

All of that is politics as usual.  Yet in the course of conducting politics as usual, whether it be you, the Democrats, the liberal news media, or us plain old citizens, you are our president and we are the people who elected you and empowered you to be the caretaker of our needs.

No one expects miracles and we all know you face many difficulties as you attempt to transition from working solely for your self and your interests, to working for a Board of Directors of 330 million people with a multitude of diverse needs.

You and your staff did not acquire the United States government for your own purposes, you have been entrusted by the people with our government.  Along with that entrusting, are some rights and responsibilities we expect of you.

Make certain every one in your organization understands they work for us. Running the United States government on behalf of the people, all the people, is a sacred trust in itself. It means being honest with us, being honest with yourself, and helping all people understand the meaning and purpose of your actions.

There is no room for, nor need for exaggeration, deception, misdirection, or outright fibs.  Treat all people with respect if you are to expect respect in return.  Be humble, you speak for us, and be thorough in managing the affairs of state.

You preside over the most powerful force in the world, the US government, and everything you do will reverberate throughout the world.  Understand the actions and consequences.

The election is over, you are the president, there is no need to obsess over polls or remind us of the path you took to victory.  Enough Mr. President, you are the president.

We want you to be our agent of change.  We want you to shake up the system and rattle the Establishment to remind them they have forgotten about the real America.  Any improvement in relations around the world would be nice as well.

No president in our history has such a free hand to bring about change.  You are the first.  Use that gift for good, not to demonize people, or make others look bad.  Those who fail to serve the public interest need no help in self-destructing.

All new Administrations make many mistakes when they first take office. Yours will be no different.  In fact, when so many of your inner circle have no prior experience in government, we understand the stupid mistakes already made by your people.

We will not hold that against you if you take responsibility for their stupidity and put an end to the mistakes.  Defending people prone to error is a big error in itself.

There is not a soul in America who does not expect you to make mistakes but most Americans can accept mistakes when they are acknowledged and when they stop being made.

If you take seriously the trust we have demonstrated in electing you, you will then be able to give us the vision of the future we need, the hope we have so long desired, and the trust in our elected officials necessary for a brighter tomorrow.

Is that too much to ask of an Ivy Leaguer who became president, a successful businessman who knows how to make money, or a disrupter who can turn the Washington Establishment on its head?

Just think of what Abraham Lincoln had to experience to become president without all the qualifications you bring, and then save a nation from Civil War.  You walk a mile in his shoes and we will have the president we hope to see.

Signed

The People
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Robert E. Lee, the Greatest American War Hero

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Immediately across the Potomac River from Coltons Point three prominent figures in American history were born, George Washington, John Adams and Robert E. Lee. Two have been well recognized for their contributions to the nation, Presidents Washington and Adams, but Robert E. Lee, because of the Civil War, has never got his just acknowledgment. It is time to correct this oversight by naming a national holiday for Robert E. Lee. Perhaps Memorial Day or Veterans Day could be named Robert E. Lee day in recognition of the military that has served all of America.

Today the Coltons Point Times is calling for this honor. Though the idol of the South to this day, Lee’s contributions were of benefit to both sides of the conflict. Lee was the son of a Revolutionary War hero Harry Lee and he finished at the top of his class at West Point. He fought, was wounded and received honors for the United States in the Mexican War and became Superintendent of West Point in 1852. He rejoined the 2nd Calvary in 1855 and served in Texas. In 1859 he was called upon to lead the marines in putting an end to John Brown’s Harpers Ferry raid. He returned to serve in Texas until summoned to Washington in 1861.

General Robert E Lee exemplified the idea of an American Southern gentleman, being intelligent, loyal, chivalrous, noble, humble and kind. He idolized George Washington who so represented the American Revolution. While he was stationed at Fort Monroe, he married Mary Anna Randolph Custis (1808–1873), the great-granddaughter of Martha Washington, at Arlington House, her parents' home just across from Washington, D.C. The 3rd U.S. Artillery served as honor guard at the marriage. They eventually had seven children, three boys and four girls.

Lee ended up symbolizing the Confederate war effort in the American Civil War, and becoming an icon for not only his gentlemanly attitude but also his clever tactics and intelligence in military matters. He was a man who loved the US Constitution and the Union, and neither particularly liked, nor deplored slavery. Nevertheless, Lee served in the Confederacy, as he was loyal to his friends and family in Virginia. In fact, the land where Arlington National Cemetery, where many Union men are buried, now is, belonged to Lee. His property was seized by the Union early in the war to protect Washington, DC.

What a cruel thing is war...to fill our hearts with hatred instead of love for our neighbors, and to devastate the fair face of this beautiful world.

--Robert E. Lee

"But perhaps his greatest moments came after the war, when he worked very hard to reconcile a country that was still deeply divided after a bitter internal conflict," said S. Waite Rawls III.

In early 1861 Lee opposed the formation of the Confederacy and considered acceptance of an offer from newly elected President Abraham Lincoln for a senior command in the U.S. Army. However, when Virginia seceded from the Union in April he chose to remain loyal to his home state. After guiding the South through several years of brilliant military strategy and nearly defeating the North Lee was named Commander in Chief of the Confederate Army on January 23, 1865 and his defense of Richmond and Petersburgh against Grant before surrendering at Appomattox to the North were legendary defensive campaigns.

Lee returned to Richmond as a paroled prisoner of war, and submitted with the utmost composure to an altered destiny. He devoted the rest of his life to setting an example of conduct for other thousands of ex-Confederates. He refused a number of offers which would have secured substantial means for his family. Instead, he assumed the presidency of Washington College (now Washington and Lee University) in Lexington, Virginia, and his reputation revitalized the school after the war.

Lee's enormous wartime prestige, both in the North and South, and the devotion inspired by his unconscious symbolism of the "Lost Cause" made his a legendary figure even before his death. He died on October 12 1870, of heart disease which had plagued him since the spring of 1863, at Lexington, Va. and is buried there. Somehow, his application for restoration of citizenship was mislaid, and it was not until the 1970's that it was found and granted.

Honored for his service to both the North and South, offered the command of both the North and South, and later President of Washington and Lee University, Robert E. Lee was a soldiers soldier. He was the epitome of the American military hero.
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