Thank you for reaffirming what I have found to be true. The evidence is there for anyone to see if they want to. While there are clearly different cultures in the North and in the South, the thinking man will embrace the good in both cultures – and reject the bad in both cultures. We would think that enough time has passed that the character of the leaders of that time – both Union and Confederate – could be seen without the cloud of which side they fought for, but that’s not the case.

Thanks for stopping by and commenting, sir.

I do deplore the disparaging remarks made by fellow northerners with respect to Robert E. Lee. I feel it my duty to inform you that not all northerners are so ignorant and ill mannered and many of us do in fact revere the character and military prowess of general Lee. True, northerners feel he was on the wrong side, but many of us know that he considered his duty was to his state of Virginia and not for the defense of slavery and it must be said that Liberty and states rights were the prominent motivations for the southern cause particularly when the secession was challenged militarily by the North.

The point is that most northerners admire the competence of confederate generals and accept that federal commanders were often clownishly inept. We are able to separate the characters of great men from the causes which utilized them. General Lee is held in affectionate regard by most northerners I think.

Thank you for the kind words. There are a number of excellent books that focus on the character of Robert E. Lee. I have several of them, and like to add to the collection as I find new material. One of the best is “The Life of Robert E. Lee for Young Gentlemen”, reprinted by Virginia Gentleman Books – owned by none other than Richard G. Williams, who writes the Old Virginia blog. The reason I love that book is that it is aimed at those for whom it will make the most difference – young men who are at the stage of life where their character is still being shaped.

Again, thank you. I look forward to hearing from you often.

After reading the revolting and, unsurprisingly, wholly unsubstantiated dross, I’ve not given it another thought. Their motive is clear and their attempt to slander such a good and honorable man is so halfhearted that they don’t even seem to be trying. The use of specific instances in a biography is perhaps substantiated, but the wild speculation and ludicrous hypothetical postulations make the authors words hold no weight. Such a lazy attempted character assassination for such a good man leaves me nonplussed. Such are things, though.

Mr. Douglas’ reply was sent to the trash where it belongs.

What is Yankee talking about? The Federal system is COMPLETELY opposed to anything BUT centralized power, ultimate extension being Keynesian economics, a la USSR.

Further, Lee was NOT a “traitor”. More along the lines of Ronald Reagan, when asked why he left the Democrat party: I did not leave the party, the party left me. Lee knew where things would ultimately go – and from my understanding, he left the Union army only when Virginia seceded. He recognized he was a citizen of Virginia first. (The implications for myself, being born and bred in the armpit of the nation, are horrifying.)

Unfortunately, MOST people are sheep. The Matrix was, in fact, an allegory in that regard – it was exactly the same thing, most people WANT to believe the lies, want to stay “asleep”, because waking up is too painful. You’ll see the same thing in posts at Citizen Renegade WRT the dating/mating game; Rebellion University WRT government. I’m sure on economics blogs, too, WRT Keynesian economics (in the negative there, people don’t understand that centralized planning doesn’t work.)

Problem is, I firmly believe we’ve got another revolution coming, and we’re right on time given comparisons to other empires (Ottoman, Roman, Mongol, China, etc.) We’re in the stage of decadence and decline here. The proles like it, too – but a real “man” (used in human terms, not to exclude women) wants to LIVE. Live free, take responsibility for one’s self, be a responsible adult.

Like West Point made a difference! Southern hospitality and gentility is likely over-romanticized, but the North was not known for ANY sort of manners until LONG after the war. Also, as it was the center of immigration, the crassness and crudity of different cultures entering American society (and the normal classes of immigrants) certainly didn’t help. (And my grandparents WERE immigrants, so I think I can make such a statement fairly safely.)

“Proper living is a matter of the intelligence and the will, does not depend on the local climate or geography, and is capable of a definition which is general and not Southern at all. Southerners have a filial duty to discharge to their own section. But their cause is precarious and they must seek alliances with sympathetic communities everywhere.”

Thank you for commenting here on Confederate Colonel.