Wednesday, January 14, 2015

Celebrating Robert E. Lee's 208th Birthday at Confederate First White House

Robert E. Lee's birthday is commemorated annually at the historic First White House of the Confederacy in Montgomery. Monday, January 19 is the date and folks from across the city and environs will gather at 11:00 that morning.




Our speaker will be the Honorable W. Mark Anderson, III., well-known speaker, historian, and friend of the First White House. His remarks are always thoughtful and insightful.


Robert E. Lee served in the U.S. Army for 32 years. When War came he chose to resign his commission and fight on the side of the Confederacy and his beloved State of Virginia.  He became the commander of the Army of Northern Virginia during the War, winning many battles against much larger Union armies.  By 1865, despite inflicting heavy causalities on the North, but unable to turn the tide, Lee surrendered to Union General Ulysses S. Grant on April 9, 1865.


After the war, Lee became President of Washington College, later named Washington and Lee University. He and his wife and all seven children are buried in the crypt of the Lee Chapel at Washington and Lee University in Lexington, Virginia.


It is always an honor and a privilege to remember General Lee as we do each year.


 



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