“Even the venerable Robert E. Lee has taken some vicious hits, as dishonest or misinformed advocates among political interest groups and in academia attempt to twist yesterday’s America into a fantasy that might better serve the political issues of today. The greatest disservice on this count has been the attempt by these revisionist politicians and academics to defame the entire Confederate Army in a move that can only be termed the Nazification of the Confederacy. Often cloaked in the argument over the public display of the Confederate battle flag, the syllogism goes something like this: Slavery is evil. The soldiers of the Confederacy fought for a system that wished to preserve it. Therefore they were evil as well, and any attempt to honor their service is a veiled effort to glorify the cause of slavery.” ~ From Born Fighting by Virginia Democrat Senator James Webb (Page 208)

“But what most historians miss—and what those who react so strongly to seeing Confederate battle flags on car bumpers and in the yards of descendants of Confederate veterans do not understand—is that slavery was emphatically not the reason that most individual Southerners fought so long and hard, and at such overwhelming cost.” (Page 211.)

“. . . to tar the sacrifices of the Confederate soldier as simple acts of racism, and reduce the battle flag under which he fought to nothing more than the symbol of a racist heritage, is one of the great blasphemies of our modern age.” (Page 225.)

“. . . we are also the caretakers of the memory, and the reputation, of those who performed their duty—as they understood it—under circumstances too difficult for us ever to fully comprehend. No one but a fool—or a bigot in their own right—would call on the descendants of those Confederate veterans to forget the sacrifices of those who went before them or argue that they should not be remembered with honor.” (Page 231.)

I am currently in Washington D.C., although I am camped on God’s side of the Potomac, in Arlington, VA (on Lee Highway no less). Upon my return I will make a full report of the malevolent Yankee workings.

The Professor From Virginia by Mort Kunstler

And just for Joel Leggett:

There Stands Jackson Like A Stonewall by Mort Kunstler

I though it appropriate on this the 146th anniversary of Pickett’s Charge to post about the University Greys, the Confederate rifle company comprised of Ole Miss students.

The University Greys (11th Mississippi Infantry, Co. A) were originally 135 students from the University of Mississippi. After the formation of the company there were only 5 men enrolled for classes in the fall of 1861  which resulted in a temporary closing of the University.

The company fought throughout the war in such battles as Manasses, Sharpsburg, and finally at Gettysburg. By July 3, 1861, there were 31 men left in the company. Pickett’s Charge would be their last engagement where they distinguished themselves by breaching the stone wall and getting further into the Union position than any other company. But the cost was 100% casualties.

There is a stained glass window (pictured below) in Ventress Hall on the campus of Ole Miss that commemorates the University Greys. You cannot see it well from outside as new trees have conspicuously obstructed the view. However you can go inside the building and see it just about any time.

Yesterday marked the anniversary of Fr. Abram J. Ryan’s death.  Like Fr. James Sheeran, Fr. Ryan served as a chaplain for the Confederate Army and has the looks of man not to be taken lightly (see picture below).  After the war, Fr. Ryan wrote several poems in tribute to the Confederacy and her fallen sons.  McNamara’s Blog has all the details, including his famous poem “The Sword of Robert Lee.”

A commenter at McNamara’s Blog shares this local legend about Fr. Ryan:

There is a story about him in Nashville, that a Yankee general complained to Fr Ryan that he had heard that Fr Ryan refused to bury the Yankee dead.  Fr Ryan replied, “On the contrary, I’d like to bury them all.”

Exquisite.

This is almost too perfect for Southern Appeal.

Here’s the money quote describing an encounter between Fr. Sheeran and the great General Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson:

“Going to his [Father Sheeran’s] tent one day, General Jackson sternly rebuked the priest for disobeying his orders, and reproached him for doing what he would not tolerate in any officer in his command. [The exact offense is unknown.] ‘Father Sheeran,’ said the general, ‘you ask more favors and take more privileges than any officer in the army.’ [Sheeran apparently replied] ‘General Jackson, I want you to understand that as a priest of God I outrank every officer in your command. I even outrank you, and when it is a question of duty I shall go wherever called.’ The General looked with undistinguished astonishment on the bold priest and without reply left his tent.”

(H/T: Fr. Z.)