David Yeagley is the great-great-grandson of Comanche leader Bad Eagle. 
January 19, 1807, was the birthday of Robert Edward Lee, one of America’s finest. Born in Stratford Hall Plantation in Westmoreland County, Virginia, Robert was the son of Revolutionary War hero, Henry Lee (“Light Horse Harry”) and Anne Hill (née Carter). Fine breeding it was. Of course, that was a time when character and social contribution potential were matters of carefully selected marriage partners. Marriage was more than some personal indulgence. Its quality comprised that of the society, indeed of the nation.
Robert E. Lee, 1807-1870
While Robert was born of a very privileged line, on both sides of the family, his personal life was not without challenges. His father died when he was only eleven. Robert earned his honor. Robert attended the Alexandria Academy, and distinguished himself early in mathematics. He entered the United Stated Military Academy in 1825 (at the age of eighteen), and was the first cadet to achieve the rank of sargeant by the end of his first term. He graduated in 1829 at the head of his class in artillery and tactics, second overall, out of forty-six. Robert never once received a demerit during his four years at the Academy.
With a commission of brevet second lieutenant in the Corps of Engineers, Lee spent years overseeing design and construction of major projects in the country. He was assistant to the Chief of Engineers in Washington, DC, 1834-37. By 1842 he was promoted to Captian.
In 1831 Lee married Mary Anna Randolph Custis (1808–1873), great-granddaughter of Martha Washington. (She was also the step-great-granddaughter of George Washington.) It was a fine marriage. They had seven children, three boys and four girls. They lived at Arlington House, just across from DC.
Lee was distinguished during the Mexican-American War (1846–1848), and was promoted to brevet major in 1847, then to Lieutenant Colonel, and Colonel, though he was still Captain of Engineers. In 1852, Lee became the Superintendent of West Point, and was appointed Lieutenant Colonel of the US 2nd Cavalary regiment. (As a matter of fact, Lee was stationed at Camp Cooper, Texas, protecting the invading settlers from the defensive reactions of the Comanche and the Apache.)
In March, 1861, Abraham Lincoln appointed Lee as Colonel of the First Regiment of Cavalry. He was offered the position of Major General in the expanding Army to corral the Southern States that had seceded. Lee regarded the southern reaction as rebellion, actually, and something that betrayed the Founders’ vision for America. However, Lee’s love for statehood, particularly for Virginia, made his decision for him.
“I shall never bear arms against the Union, but it may be necessary for me to carry a musket in the defense of my native state, Virginia.”
An arduous, agonizing decision it was, but it stands as a piquant proverb for us all. Love the United States, but don’t let the government destroy your own state. That is our message for today, the day after Robert E. Lee’s birthday.
Lee denied himself the rank of Major General in the “Union” army, and resigned from the United States Army. He then became commander of the Virginia forces. He was named a full general when the Confederate States Army was formed, but, nobleman that he was, he refused to wear the insignia of the general. He intended to accept it only when the war was won.
When it was all said and done, the war, the surrender, the reconstruction, Rober E. Lee came off as one of the greatest men of America, universally praised and honored by all nations of the world. Something about him was so simple, grand, and noble, that it carried more weight than the war–of which he was such a critical part. The power of his person exceeded the force of arms, the content of his character the weight of politics. He was the finest of the breed, as Kipling might have said.
There are those who seek to associate with him, to compare themselves to him, to usurp his glory and inflate their otherwise empty suits–their lack of character content, shall we say. These juveniles think if they praise others, they are accounted praise-worthy themselves. If they laud the saints, they themselves are sanctified.
But enough. No holiday can honor a man such as Robert E. Lee. Let lesser lights bask in their own delusional effusions. And let the vapid souls of the press pour out their self-indulgent fantasies of greatness on meaningless place holders of common history. In their new world of “equality,” the worms are mighty. The throne is a folding chair.
Yet, we who have honor know honor. We who understand greatness know it is not free. We are not angry or discouraged that vanity reigns today. We patiently await its self-consumption, and prepare for restoration tomorrow.
7 responses so far ↓
1 David Yeagley // Jan 20, 2009 at 3:36 pm
So, this year, Robert E. Lee’s birthday came on the Monday that was Martin Luther King Day–not King’s birthday.
It appears that none other than Ronald Reagan created the “holiday” for Martin Luther King, Jr., on January 20, originally. George Bush, Sr., decided it should be “celebrated” on the third Monday in January. Last year, for instance, that Monday happened to fall on the 21st. This year, it fell on Robert E. Lee’s birthday.
King’s birthday is January 15, by the way.
In 2005, the MLK “holiday” was on the 17th. In 2001, it actually fell on his birthday, the 15th.
I for one would prefer that a person’s birthday be celebrated on his birthday. That is the point, is it not? Am I missing something?
2 J.Kills_Straight // Jan 20, 2009 at 6:19 pm
“I for one would prefer that a person’s birthday be celebrated on his birthday. That is the point, is it not? Am I missing something?”
Dr. Yeagley:
The harsh reality is that not too many Americans know who Robert E.Lee was. They know he was involved in the Civil War, that’s about it, more of the “dumbing down” of this country.
Young kids know more about Britney Spears than Lee. Most public schools don’t even teach Civil War history. Unless you went to a good university your knowledge of what Lee did in history is limited to almost non-existent.
Reagan, on the other hand was a decent president. He ushered in the end of the Cold War. He built up our military to the extent that it is the best in the world. MLK. Robert E. Lee and Ronald Reagan all contributed to the growth and change of America. Some are just remembered more than others that’s all.
J. Kills Straight
Santee. Sioux
3 David Yeagley // Jan 20, 2009 at 7:52 pm
Well, Lee was really famous–even in his own day. Winston Churchill thought he was the pique of the Ango-Saxon evolvement.
So, how does a great person become forgotten? People just don’t value that kind of greatness anymore?
That’s a little scary. At least, great Indian leaders are pretty well remembered. That’s an interesting fact in itself.
Personally, I know of a number of black men, in history, that I esteem much, much higher than MLK. But, these guys are in fact forgotten also! To a great extent, anyway.
4 Billy Reynolds // Jan 20, 2009 at 10:47 pm
I went to the auto store to get some oil for the four wheeler. The two clerks were talking between themselves. “The big guys get the day off today, it’s Martin L King day.” one clerk piped.
The other clerk smiled, “Not the workers,” he replied.
I added without thinking, “It’s Robert E. Lee’s birthday. Everyone should get the day off.”
The first clerk glared at me from behing the register. ” You some kind of racist? No one gives a sh** about him.”
I was taken back. I had spoken without thinking about this man being black. Obviously, he always thought about skin color.
He saw the tragedy of the Civil War as a personal affront to his skin color, to him it was all about racism and slavery.
“No. I’m not a racist, ” I said as if I it were an apology, ” Lee was a great man. A great American.”
“Sure he was,” the clerk smirked and looked at the other clerk.
I left.
When I was a boy, Lee’s birthday was celebrated. I can remember many times in Dallas, at Lee Park. It was an annual celebration.
He is not forgotten. He has been ERASED.
To say his name, to these ignorant people, makes one a racist.
5 David Yeagley // Jan 20, 2009 at 11:24 pm
Ahah! You were treating the employee as an equal, but he couldn’t take it. Hmmm.
Well, the one thing the average black American cannot abide is the thought that there was one flicker of joy or happiness in the slavery years, one sense of pleasure or enjoyment. They secure their moral advantage by considering themselves irreconcilable victims. You owe them. You mistreated them. That’s the long and short of it.
But, interestingly, Lee was actually advocated the training of “slaves” as Confederate soldiers toward the end of the war. There were a good number of them. But, as their readiness was complete, the war ended.
6 nettles // Jan 21, 2009 at 9:30 am
This is the year I learned a little about General Lee. Yeah I had no interest in the coronation either,lol.
They say there is no record Lee ever said disparaging words about the black race. He didn’t believe in slavery, and freed people he inherited from a relative. Had a Sunday school for children. And Booker T. Washington, the Educator, wrote in 1910, quote “The first white people in America, certainly the first in the South, to exhibit their interest in the reaching of the Negro and saving his soul through the medium of the Sunday-school were Robert E. Lee and ‘Stonewall’ Jackson.
Lee’s own black man servant spoke well of him, that’s a story to itself. And that servant went on to help build many churches for his people achieving some greatness in his own life.
But who wants to hear these things now?
7 J.Kills_Straight // Jan 21, 2009 at 11:34 am
“They secure their moral advantage by considering themselves irreconcilable victims. You owe them. You mistreated them. That’s the long and short of it.”
Dr. Yeagley:
This statement can be applied to Native Americans too. We suffered, we were mistreated, we are irreconcilable victims.
And we don’t even merit a Federal holiday, let alone an entire month. We should do something about that.
I can think of a myriad list of blacks who were just as benevolent for their people as MLK. Harriet Tubman, Dr. George Washington Carver, Frederick A. Douglass, Dr. W.E.B. DuBois, Marcus Garvey, the list goes on and on.
However, MLK is the most recent and consequently the most remembered. He helped usher in civil rights and desegregation. It’s also trendy and cool to utter the words MLK. Even for white people. Robert E. Lee is not considered cool or hip in today’s 24/7 cyber news cycle. Young people would rather text their friends or post stuff on their Facebook pages.
The irony is that MLK like Gandhi believed in and practiced “passive resistance”. Both were violently murdered. Comedian Chris Rock, on an HBO special, made a very profound observation: “You go to any street named after Martin Luther King and I bet you there is some violence going down there.”. Mr. rock is right.
There is no doubt that Robert E. Lee was a great warrior. However, Gen. Lee and thousands of other great Americans get lost in a country where people want to hear gossip about movie stars. Trivial stuff is what people are into today. The heroes in American history get brushed aside.
J. Kills Straight
Santee, Sioux
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