"The fabric of American empire ought to rest on the solid basis of the consent of the people. The streams of national power ought to flow from that pure, original fountain of all legitimate authority."
-- Alexander Hamilton, Federalist No. 22, December 14, 1787
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Wednesday, December 29, 2010
The Grandest Soldiers That Ever Marched
Their steadfast devotion to the cause of liberty is the greatest achievement of the American soldiers fighting for the Southern Confederacy. In the October, 1895 issue of the Confederate Veteran (page 313) the Hon A.G. Hawkins of Tennessee proclaimed: “We were outnumbered by over 2-1/4 millions. To put it another way they had 4-2/3 men to our one. Of the millions against us were 494,000 men were foreigners.”
Bernhard Thuersam, Director
Cape Fear Historical Institute
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The Grandest Soldiers That Ever Marched:
“It is quite a mistaken idea that the Yankees were poor soldiers and easily whipped. Any Confederate soldier who met them often in battle will testify that they were hard and tenacious fighters, especially those from the Great North West. The Confederates could claim very little credit for holding at bay such a mighty host armed with the most improved weapons and devices of warfare for four long, dreary years, and defeating them so often and disastrously, with odds often greatly against them, had the Northern army been merely a disorganized mob and rabble.
Yes, the Northern army was a fine one, well equipped and well officered, with all the resources at hand that could be desired for great and aggressive warfare; but it had to meet an army of Southern troops composed of the grandest soldiers that ever marched to martial music, or fought in defense of country!
Just to think, that the Southern army of six hundred thousand men, poorly armed and equipped, ridiculously clad and meagerly fed, without tents, without medicine, without pay, checkmating, baffling, repulsing and often humiliating and disastrously defeating the Northern army of 2,778,304 men armed with the most improved engines of warfare, well paid, well fed, abundantly clothed; backed by all the resources of a great nation, for four long, dreary years, staggers the credulity of man to contemplate.
In a letter to General [Jubal] Early shortly after the close of the war, General Robert E. Lee wrote: “It will be difficult to get the world to understand the odds against which we fought.” From the number drawing pensions from the United States government today, fifty years since the close of hostilities, there might have been a million more soldiers in the Union Army than given in the figures named above.”
(Sketch of the War Record of the Edisto Rifles, William V. Izlar, The State Company, 1914, pp. 98-100)
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The Grandest Soldiers That Ever Marched
Bernhard Thuersam, Director
Cape Fear Historical Institute
========
The Grandest Soldiers That Ever Marched:
“It is quite a mistaken idea that the Yankees were poor soldiers and easily whipped. Any Confederate soldier who met them often in battle will testify that they were hard and tenacious fighters, especially those from the Great North West. The Confederates could claim very little credit for holding at bay such a mighty host armed with the most improved weapons and devices of warfare for four long, dreary years, and defeating them so often and disastrously, with odds often greatly against them, had the Northern army been merely a disorganized mob and rabble.
Yes, the Northern army was a fine one, well equipped and well officered, with all the resources at hand that could be desired for great and aggressive warfare; but it had to meet an army of Southern troops composed of the grandest soldiers that ever marched to martial music, or fought in defense of country!
Just to think, that the Southern army of six hundred thousand men, poorly armed and equipped, ridiculously clad and meagerly fed, without tents, without medicine, without pay, checkmating, baffling, repulsing and often humiliating and disastrously defeating the Northern army of 2,778,304 men armed with the most improved engines of warfare, well paid, well fed, abundantly clothed; backed by all the resources of a great nation, for four long, dreary years, staggers the credulity of man to contemplate.
In a letter to General [Jubal] Early shortly after the close of the war, General Robert E. Lee wrote: “It will be difficult to get the world to understand the odds against which we fought.” From the number drawing pensions from the United States government today, fifty years since the close of hostilities, there might have been a million more soldiers in the Union Army than given in the figures named above.”
(Sketch of the War Record of the Edisto Rifles, William V. Izlar, The State Company, 1914, pp. 98-100)
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The Grandest Soldiers That Ever Marched
Climbers Going Up A 1,768 Foot Guided Tower With No Safety Lines
Via Richard, SWR
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Reminds me of working on the farms every year when someone had to go to the top of the silos to set up the equipment to blow in what became silage and no one would do it but me, and you got $5 for it when you only made $5 a day! No brainer.
War Crimes Of Lincoln, Grant And Sherman
"Sherman’s infamous March through Georgia was one of the great war crimes, and crimes against humanity, of the past century-and-a-half. Because by targeting and butchering civilians, Lincoln and Grant and Sherman paved the way for all the genocidal honors of the monstrous 20th century"
Via T
NC Athletic And Academic Standout Suspended For Rest Of Year For Lunchbox Mix Up
"I would rather be governed by the first 100 names in the Boston phone directory than by the Harvard faculty."
-- William F. Buckley
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The lunchbox really belonged to Joe Smithwick, who packs a paring knife to slice his apple. He and his daughter have matching lunchboxes.
-- William F. Buckley
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“It’s just an honest mistake. That was supposed to be my lunch because it was a whole apple,” he said.
Via Rebellion
Reid's Rules Scheme To Rewrite Defeat
"Changing the rules in this extraordinary process has the effect of election nullification," said Gold. "It allows a smaller majority to write for itself new rules, which permit it to govern the way it wishes, even though the voters said something contrary last November."
Chris Matthews: Obama Should Release Birth Certificate
“Why doesn’t the governor just say, snap it up, whoever’s there at the department of records, send me a copy right now? Why doesn’t the president just say, send me a copy right now? Why doesn’t [White House press secretary Robert] Gibbs and [senior adviser David] Axelrod say, let’s just get this crappy story dead? Why not do it?
Field Marshall Viscount Sir Garnet Wolseley On Lee
THE AMERICAN CIVIL WAR: AN ENGLISH VIEW
Field Marshall Viscount Sir Garnet Wolseley
Before I delve into what the great Wolseley wrote about General Lee, let me first tell you about Sir Garnet Wolseley and establish with you his credibility both for greatness in his own right and as an individual who could recognize greatness in others from the lofty perch of his own character and accomplishments.
Let me begin by saying that Wolseley is generally given credit for the transformation of the British army from a gentleman's army to a modern fighting force. He was the one who prepared the Brits to play a key role in the winning of the First World War.
He was attracted to the military at an early age and followed in the footsteps of his military father. From the beginning he was destined for greatness. His first action was in the Crimean War where he was elevated to the rank of captain at age 21. Because of his youth there was opposition to his holding this rank. When he threatened resignation if the rank were taken away, his superior officers recognized greatness and allowed him to maintain the rank. Just three years later he became the youngest lieutenant colonel in the British army.
Wolseley served in India and China before being sent to Canada in 1861 to help plan for possible war against the Union forces of the United States after northern forces had illegally removed two Confederate diplomats from a British ship.This was the famous Trent Affair. He traveled in secret to Virginia to study the organization and effectiveness of the Confederate army since it was primarily a volunteer army. He spent much time with generals Lee, Jackson and Longstreet and was highly impressed by all three. It was Robert E. Lee, however, who most impressed Wolseley.
Based on this time with the Confederates he wrote "A Month's Visit to the Confederate Headquarters" which was published in Blackwood's magazine and is still well-known today.
Garnet Wolseley later served in Cyprus as the first high commissioner of that island after it came into the empire and as governor and commanding general in South Africa Natal Province. In 1880 he returned to England and was made adjutant general which gave him authority over military training. In 1882 he was sent to Egypt to quell a nationalist uprising where his brilliant tactics led to suppression of the revolt. To show the gratitude of the British government, Wolseley was made a baron and paid a reward of 30,000 pounds. In 1884 he was made viscount and in1894 was made field marshall. In 1895 he was promoted to commander-in-chief of the British army.
Viscount Wolseley also found time to author THE LIFE OF MARLBOROUGH, THE DECLINE AND FALL OF NAPOLEON and SOLDIERS POCKET BOOK FOR FIELD SERVICE, the bible of the British army.
This is only a brief portrait of the brilliant Wolseley - a man of great honor, accomplishment and intelligence. How would a man of his stature describe Robert E. Lee? Let me list just a few direct quotes from the pen of this great man:
" I desire to make known to the reader not only the renowned
soldier, whom I believe to have been the greatest of his age,
but to give some insight into the character of one whom I
have always considered the most perfect man I ever met."
Wolseley on Lee
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" He was opposed to secession, and to prevent it he would
willingly sacrifice everything except honor and duty, which
forbid him to desert his State... Nothing would induce him
to have any part in the invasion of his own State, much as
he abhorred the war into which he felt she was rushing. His
love of country (Virginia), his unselfish patriotism, caused
him to relinquish home, fortune, a certain future, in fact
everything for her sake."
Wolseley on Lee turning down the offer
of command of the Union army to side
with Virginia and the Confederacy
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" He spoke bitterly of none - a remarkable fact, as at that
time men on both sides were wont to heap the most
violent terms of abuse upon their respective enemies."
Wolseley on the character and
Christian nature of Lee
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" Where else in history is a great man to be found whose
whole life was one such blameless record of duty nobly
done? ... The most perfect gentleman of a State long
celebrated for its chivalry, he was just, gentle, and
generous, and child-like in the simplicity of his
character."
Wolseley on the character of Lee
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" I have met many of the great men of my time, but Lee
alone impressed me with the feeling that I was in the
presence of a man who was cast in a grander mould,
and made of different and of finer metal than all other
men. He is stamped upon my memory as a being apart
and superior to all others in every way: a man with whom
none I ever knew, and very few of whom I have read, are
worthy to be classed."
Wolseley on the greatness of Lee
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" When all the angry feelings roused by Secession are
buried with those which existed when the Declaration of
Independence was written, when Americans can review
the history of their last great rebellion with calm impartiality,
I believe that all will admit that General Lee towered
far above all men on either side of that struggle: I believe
he will be regarded not only as the most prominent figure
of the Confederacy, but as the great American of the
nineteenth century, whose statue is well worthy to stand
on an equal pedestal with that of Washington, and whose
memory is worthy to be enshrined in the hearts of all his
countrymen."
Wolseley on Lee's rightful place in history
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BOB HURST
Excerpt from a longer article on SHNV
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Field Marshall Viscount Sir Garnet Wolseley On Lee