Blog #6

From what I can remember from past history classes is that Robert E. Lee was the leader of the Confederate Army in the Civil War. When I looked up some of the letters he had written to his wife, I got to picture a different side of him that we never really talked about too much in history class. For example, from what he wrote in one of the letters to his wife it became pretty obvious that he is a very religious man. There are many instances throughout his letter where he mentions God, which also seems to be a common theme throughout all of the poems and speeches we have read recently. Towards the end of his letter to his wife, he says "We must, however, submit to His almighty will, whatever that may be. May God guide and protect us all is my constant prayer." (Lee). I can tell from reading these letters that he is very loyal to his country, but he also knows that whatever happens was God's choice and he has to honor it. I think that Emerson and Thoreau both had philosophies that pertained to religion, so that is one way in which Robert E. Lee is similar to them. For example, one of Ralph Waldo Emerson's most famous quotes reads “Let us be silent, that we may hear the whisper of God.” (Ralph). I think this quote shows that Ralph Waldo Emerson also believed that if God wants something to happen, it is going to happen. Another instance where Robert E. Lee wrote about God is in his letter to his mother. In this letter, he says "I hope God will at last crown our efforts with success" (Recollections). I actually found these letters slighty interesing and I did not mind reading them because I think it is cool to get a better look at someone who is really important to history that we never saw before.

Bibliography



Lee, Robert E. "Recollections and Letters of General Robert E. Lee." Military History Encyclopedia on the Web. Web. 13 Feb. 2012.

"Ralph Waldo Emerson Quotes (Author of Self-Reliance and Other Essays)." Share Book Recommendations With Your Friends, Join Book Clubs, Answer Trivia. Web. 13 Feb. 2012.

Lee, Robert E. "Robert E. Lee's Letter to His Wife." Civil War Trust: Saving America's Civil War Battlefields. Web. 13 Feb. 2012.