Confederates served U.S. government after war

Judah Benjamin, the Jewish Confederate Secretary of State
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Verbatim post.

By James Kimbrough

St Augustine

Editor: Re: The real facts regarding the Confederate Memorial in the Plaza de la Constitucion.

I read Allan Marcil's opinion on Confederate Memorial Day that was posted on May 30. As a proud former member of the United States military, I wanted to pass along some facts concerning Confederate soldiers.

Public law 85-425 adopted May 23, 1958 as House Resolution 358 provides Confederate veterans the same status as United States Civil War veterans.

There are eight major United States military posts named for Confederate officers, including one for Gen. Robert E. Lee.

After the war, there were four former Confederate generals who served as generals in the U.S. Army during the Spanish-American War. They were Gen. Fitzhugh Lee, Gen. Joseph Wheeler, Gen. Thomas Rosser and Gen. Matthew C. Butler.

After the war, 15 Confederate Officers served as U.S. ambassadors or ministers to foreign countries.

Eighteen former Confederate soldiers served as college presidents including Lee.

Gen. E. Porter Alexander was appointed by President Grover Cleveland to arbitrate and supervise the surveying of the boundary of the Panama Canal.

Three former Confederate generals served as U.S. Commissioners of Railroads, one of the most important posts in the United States government in the post-war (westward expansion) period. They were: Gen. Joseph Johnston, Gen. James Longstreet and Gen. Wade Hampton.

After the war, seven former Confederate officers served as the adjutant general of their states.

Three former Confederate soldiers -- Col. Lucius Q. C. Lamar, SGM Horace H. Lurton and Lt. Edward D. White -- were appointed justices of the United States Supreme Court.

Marcil may consider Confederate soldiers as traitors but it is obvious the U.S. government does not.