The Lost Cause “Myth”

I continue to be amazed at historians who assign “Lost Cause Sympathies” to Southerners who have “simplistic” views of their heritage. Of course, condescension towards Southerners is very chic these days. Arrogance is always blinding—to the arrogant. I don’t know if these writers intentionally overlook the facts, or, if they are so enamored with faddish pc trends, that they simply are marching in lockstep with certain segments of academia in order to gain their approval. Or do they just hate the South? Many of these *revisionist efforts proclaim that they are offering “new interpretations.” More “enlightened”, don’t you know. In reality they are only new editions of old versions.

Robert E. Lee is often the target of these “Lost Cause” barbs and attacks. He is, after all, the quintessential Southern icon and hero. The image posted here is of the cover of the January 20th, 1940 issue of the Saturday Evening Post, celebrating Lee's birthday. Hmmm . . . was it just "simplistic" Southerners who made Lee the patron saint of the Confederacy and an American hero? Some random quotes are rather revealing:

“My own feelings, which had been quite jubilant on receipt of Lee’s letter, were sad and depressed. I felt like anything rather than rejoicing at the downfall of a foe who had fought so long and so valiantly and had suffered so much for a cause.” ~ General Grant on Lee’s surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia.

“I turned about, and there behind me, riding between my two lines, appeared a commanding form, superbly mounted, richly accoutered, of imposing bearing, noble countenance, with expression of deep sadness overmastered by deeper strength. It is none other than Robert E. Lee! … I sat immovable, with a certain awe and admiration.” ~ Union General Joshua Chamberlain at Appomattox.

“He was one who, though famous, was not honeycombed with ambition or tainted with cunning or cant, and though a soldier and wearing soldier’s laurels, yet never craved or sought honors except as they bloomed on deeds done for the glory of his lawfully constituted authority; in short a soldier to whom the sense of duty was a gospel and a man of the world whose only rule in life was that life should be upright and stainless. I cannot but think Providence meant, through him, to prolong the ideal of the gentleman in the world . . . It is easy to see why Lee has become the embodiment of one of the world’s ideals, that of the soldier, the Christian, and the gentleman. And from the bottom of my heart I thank Heaven . . . for the comfort of having a character like Lee’s to look at.” ~ Union General Morris Schaff referring to Lee’s surrender at which he was present.

“For not to the Southern people alone shall be limited the tribute of a tear over the dead Virginian . . . we have claimed him as one of ourselves; have cherished and felt proud of his military genius as belonging to us; have recounted and recorded his triumphs as our own; have extolled his virtue as reflecting upon us – for Robert Edward Lee was an American, and the great nation which gave him birth would be today unworthy of such a son if he regarded him lightly. Never had mother a nobler son. In him the military genius of America developed to a greater extent than ever before. In him all that was pure and lofty in mind and purpose found lodgment. Dignified without resumption, affable without familiarity, he united all those charms of manner which made him the idol of his friends and of his soldiers, and won for him the respect and admiration of the world.” ~Excerpt from an editorial in the New York Herald the day after Lee’s death.

“Lee is the greatest military genius in America.” ~ Union General Winfield Scott.

"[Lee was] without any exception the very greatest of all the great captains that the English-speaking peoples have brought forth." ~ Teddy Rosevelt

This is just a small sampling of the views of many esteemed Northerners who, like so many other Americans, revered true greatness. Myth? I don’t think so. Perhaps just a fulfillment of an eternal truth:

“When a man’s ways please the LORD, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him.” ~ Proverbs 16:7

*(In referring to "revisionist" efforts, I do not mean correcting factual errors. I mean "revising" events, and the interpretation of those events, so that they are more acceptable to current cultural trends or to conform to a certain social/cultural/political point of view. This problem is widely acknowledged by many professional historians and those who teach at various levels.)