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Robert E. Lee DEAD October 12, 1870

October 12th, 2012 | Posted by ajaxadmin in Celebrity - (0 Comments)
Robert E. Lee

Robert E. Lee

Born: January 19, 1807

Dead: October 12, 1870

High of His Life: Beating two Union generals back-to-back in the the Battle of Fredericksburg and the Battle of Chancellorsville.  At Fredericksburg on December 1862, he beat General Ambrose Burnside with only 5,000 Confederate casualties to Burnside’s 12,600 casualties.  And at Chancellorsville on May 1863, he whooped General Joseph Hooker despite being outnumbered two to one by dividing his already smaller force and attacking Hooker’s flank.  By this time his men – and many of the Union soldiers – believed him to be unbeatable in combat.

Low of His Life:  His foolish decision to attack the fortified and advantageous position held by George G. Meade at the Battle of Gettysburg on July 1863 all but destroyed his army and completely destroyed the illusion he could not be bested in battle.  Noted Civil War historian Shelby Foote once said, “Gettysburg was the price the South paid for having Robert E. Lee as commander.”  The only other thing I can think of that tops this is Lee’s surrender to Union General Ulysses S. Grant at Appomattox Court House on April 9, 1865.

Who Sees Him as a Hero: Many Southerners after the war and even now revere him as a consummate soldier and man of high character.  Military historians and soldiers alike admire his tactics and ability to move men in the battlefield.

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Ulysses S. Grant DEAD July 23, 1885

July 23rd, 2012 | Posted by ajaxadmin in Celebrity | Tributes - (0 Comments)

Born: April 27, 1822

Died: July 23, 1885

High of His Life: Grant captured Vicksburg, Mississippi in July 1863 and secured Union control over the Mississippi River.  He was appointed Lieutenant General and commander of all Union forces by President Abraham Lincoln later that same year.  He was responsible for the capture of the important railroad town of Petersburg and subsequently Richmond, Virginia.  Grant received Confederate General Robert E. Lee’s surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia at Appomattox Court House on April 9, 1865.  The former commander of all Union armies would then become 18th President of the United States after Andrew Johnson.  He would serve two terms as President.

Low of His Life: After serving two very controversial terms as President that was marred by corruption and scandal perpetrated by many who served under him, Grant was swindled by a business partner from Grant & Ward and was forced to pay off all debts with his own personal savings as a matter of honor which left him and his family financially ruined.  It was also around this time he found out he had throat cancer, most likely caused by his years of smoking cigars on and off the battlefield.

Thankfully this was not the end of an American hero.  He would write a memoir entitled, The Personal Memoirs of Ulysses S. Grant that was so popular and well-received that it restored his family’s fortunes.

Who See’s Him As A Hero: I dunno… guys with big beards? Alcoholics who want to be President. Chubby military men.

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