Sunday, January 29, 2006

Lee Rejects Resigning Commission Because of US Investment

Freeman says that around 1849 then-Senator Jefferson Davis recommended Robert E. Lee to command troops for a Cuban revolutionary junta in New York that was planning to invade Cuba to re-establish themselves. (Can you say Bay of Pigs?) Freeman says in R.E. Lee (p. 307):

... [A] strong element in Congress favored the seizure of Cuba.... But before Lee could consider either the comity or the feasibility of the expedition, he balked on a consideration of personal honor: he had been educated as a soldier at public expense; he held a commission in the army of the United States; was it right that he should entertain a proposal from another government while in the service of America? He debated the question and virtually reached his conclusion, but he determined to consult with Davis before deciding whether he would permit the proposal to be opened in detail to him by the junta. He accordingly went to Washington and confidentially discussed the matter. The Mississippi senator was disposed to canvass the chances of military success, but Lee explained that he wanted the judgment of Davis on the ethics of entertaining any offer from a foreign power. Davis's answer is not recorded, but Lee took the strictest view of his duty and declined to consider a proposal.
How does this compare with George W. Bush? During the Vietnam War he was trained as a fighter pilot at a cost to the US of hundreds of thousands of dollars for flight time, etc. However, first he left Texas for the Alabama National Guard where he seldom, if ever, appeared for duty. Then he decided to go to the Harvard Business School, and just walked away from his entire military experience. He had no consideration for the money spent in training him by the government, just as he has no concept of the huge deficits he is running now. Money to Bush is nothing, because people just give it to him to win his favor and influence. Lee grew up in genteel poverty, and never ceased to be concerned about wasting money.

Lee Visits Mobile

Freeman says that Robert E. Lee visited Mobile, Alabama, where I grew up, in January 1849.

Robert E. Lee Forms Dislike of Politicians

In discussing lessons learned from Robert E. Lee's experience in the Mexican War, his biographer, Douglas Southall Freeman said in R. E. Lee:
... [H]e had the most monitory of object lessons in the "political generals" whom Scott had to endure. Perhaps Scott's difficulties with Pillow gave Lee the clue to the handling of Wise and Floyd in the campaign of 1861 in West Virginia, but his observation of Pillow's performances doubtless explains why Lee was so careful to keep politicians from holding important command in the Army of Northern Virginia. It is quite possible, indeed, that Pillow was in large measure responsible for the distrust of politicians that Lee exhibited later. From what he had seen of Pillow in Mexico and of Congress in Washington, he formed a poor opinion of the whole breed of politicians. (p.298)
Just imagine how disappointed Lee would be in politicians if he lived today!

Saturday, January 28, 2006

Newburgh, NY, March 24, 1861

My Dear Sister,

I have been anxiously waiting to hear from you or Brother but you both seem to write a day or two after I mailed you last letter. I received one from you and that is the last time I have heard from you. Some six or eight weeks since I received an ambrotype which I presume is that of my Brother Mr. Williams. I thought it very strange that a letter did not accompany it. This leaves me in good health with the exception of a cold which you know northern people are subject to in the spring. Brother Willie has gone to Geneva in the western part of this state. He has gone with Messrs Maxwell and Brother who are in the nursery .... I had ha letter from him a day or two since he was well and likes his situation exceedingly well. Willie understands the ... and is working in the green houses all the time. The foreman in the green houses is from Dr. Grant's place so he is not quite a stranger. He would b e glad to have you write to him. I don't know but he has written to you since he went out there. I received a letter from Father a few days since. He and all the family are well. Dear Sister I assure your last gave me great pain when you wrote to me that you did not got to see Father before leaving Augusta. Do not be astonished when I tell you that I almost bathed my pillow in tears that night when I thought that you are his one daughter and probably will never meet again on this side of the grave and the more I think of it, the worse I feel. Think of being only 7 miles from them. I cannot imagine how you could leave poor Johnny with out even telling him. I think it would have been as little as you could have done to have told him that you were going away and kissed him good bye. But ... it may all come out right yet. I received a letter rom Uncle James McGuire a few weeks since. He and all the family are well. Cousin ... was married last September. Uncle ... has gone to Mobile....Pike County, Alabama. I hope you will write soon and often. Let me know how you like Mobile. How things are. Tell Brother I will be pleased to have him write.

Your loving Brother in haste,

J Rennison