On our second day, we were in Lexington most of the day. We started out at Washington and Lee University, where Gen. Robert E. Lee became President after the War. I had never seen the Presidents Mansion, which Lee himself designed and lived in until his death. I don't believe you can tour this one, I think it is still the residence of the University President. After we saw Lee's House, we walked toward Lee's Chapel, took some pictures and then walked down the street to VMI or Virginia Military Institute. Both campuses are right next to each other. We walked around the parade grounds and then into the VMI Chapel. In the basement of the Chapel is the new gift shop and museum. There you can see things like Stonewall Jacksons VMI uniform he wore at the first battle of Manassas, His horse 'Little Sorrel' who is mounted, and saddle, and also the raincoat Jackson was wearing when shot by his own men at Chancellorsville. There are also some very interesting exhibits from the history of VMI. The gift shop was probably the best one we encountered on the entire trip. At noon, everyday, there is a cadet guided tour of VMI that meets in the gift shop. This is one thing I have never done at VMI and I have always wanted my father to go on, so we did that. We were taken around by Cadet McFather, who was sharply dressed wearing his dress white uniform. One of the most impressive scenes of the whole trip happened on this tour. While walking outside the Chapel, an older gentleman walked by in a shirt and shorts, and as Cadet McFather was talking to us, he stopped and said "How are you today Sir?" in which the older gentleman replied, "Well, how are you?" Cadet McFather then replied, "Doing my job, Sir." and then the other gentleman said, "Do it well." Cadet McFather said, "Yes sir." This man must have been a superior and at least professor, but the whole scene was very impressive. I can only say, if you have a son, especially in his teenage years, visiting and touring VMI should leave a mark. The organization and discipline of the young men and women there is outstanding. We also learned of their 'Honor Code' and unlike West Point Academy, who gives three strikes, VMI only gives one. In the first picture below, is inside the VMI Chapel. The flags hanging from the ceiling are those states that composed of the Union when VMI was founded. The Painting on the wall is of the Battle of New Market, where VMI cadets were marched and called to battle, charging an artillery battery and helped to win the battle.
From there we walked back to Lee's Chapel, which Gen. Lee had built at Washington and Lee University while President. Inside is a life size sculpture of Gen. Lee resting on his camp cot. It is a beautiful marble statue, which I wish you could take pictures of, but none are allowed. Underneath this statue, downstairs is the Lee family crypt. Gen. Lee, his wife and sons and daughters, and also his father, Revolutionary War hero, Gen. 'Lighthorse' Harry Lee are all buried there. Lee's office is also intact the way he left it, and Traveller is buried right outside the back door.
After touring VMI and Washington and Lee University, we took a tour of Stonewall Jackson's house in town. Again, no photography is allowed inside. I have toured this house before, and I have to say the tour this time was a little disappointing. We were told during the tour, that we don't really know what Gen. Jackson believed about slavery, and also that we didn't know exactly why he fought in the War, other than he was a member of the Virginia State Militia. I had to bite my tongue, because if you have ever read R.L. Dabney's book or his Life and Letters, by his wife, Mary Anna, I believe that we do know what he thought and why he fought. Anyway, the other thing I noticed, and it wasn't just here, but they would say things like Jackson had a 'strong belief in his faith', which may be nothing, but I wish they would say 'his faith in God and the Lord Jesus Christ.' These men's faith was not in their faith, it was in Almighty God and they found their rest in His Son, Jesus Christ. I just find it heartbreaking, and I believe a dishonor to these men and to God, to not tell the whole truth. Maybe it is the 'politically correct' thing to say, but I don't agree. But I would recommend the tour, it is the only one in Lexington that we took that you had to actually pay to tour, but just to see the house where Jackson and his wife lived is worth it.
On our second day, we were in Lexington most of the day. We started out at Washington and Lee University, where Gen. Robert E. Lee became President after the War. I had never seen the Presidents Mansion, which Lee himself designed and lived in until his death. I don't believe you can tour this one, I think it is still the residence of the University President. After we saw Lee's House, we walked toward Lee's Chapel, took some pictures and then walked down the street to VMI or Virginia Military Institute. Both campuses are right next to each other. We walked around the parade grounds and then into the VMI Chapel. In the basement of the Chapel is the new gift shop and museum. There you can see things like Stonewall Jacksons VMI uniform he wore at the first battle of Manassas, His horse 'Little Sorrel' who is mounted, and saddle, and also the raincoat Jackson was wearing when shot by his own men at Chancellorsville. There are also some very interesting exhibits from the history of VMI. The gift shop was probably the best one we encountered on the entire trip. At noon, everyday, there is a cadet guided tour of VMI that meets in the gift shop. This is one thing I have never done at VMI and I have always wanted my father to go on, so we did that. We were taken around by Cadet McFather, who was sharply dressed wearing his dress white uniform. One of the most impressive scenes of the whole trip happened on this tour. While walking outside the Chapel, an older gentleman walked by in a shirt and shorts, and as Cadet McFather was talking to us, he stopped and said "How are you today Sir?" in which the older gentleman replied, "Well, how are you?" Cadet McFather then replied, "Doing my job, Sir." and then the other gentleman said, "Do it well." Cadet McFather said, "Yes sir." This man must have been a superior and at least professor, but the whole scene was very impressive. I can only say, if you have a son, especially in his teenage years, visiting and touring VMI should leave a mark. The organization and discipline of the young men and women there is outstanding. We also learned of their 'Honor Code' and unlike West Point Academy, who gives three strikes, VMI only gives one. In the first picture below, is inside the VMI Chapel. The flags hanging from the ceiling are those states that composed of the Union when VMI was founded. The Painting on the wall is of the Battle of New Market, where VMI cadets were marched and called to battle, charging an artillery battery and helped to win the battle. 
After touring VMI and Washington and Lee University, we took a tour of Stonewall Jackson's house in town. Again, no photography is allowed inside. I have toured this house before, and I have to say the tour this time was a little disappointing. We were told during the tour, that we don't really know what Gen. Jackson believed about slavery, and also that we didn't know exactly why he fought in the War, other than he was a member of the Virginia State Militia. I had to bite my tongue, because if you have ever read R.L. Dabney's book or his Life and Letters, by his wife, Mary Anna, I believe that we do know what he thought and why he fought. Anyway, the other thing I noticed, and it wasn't just here, but they would say things like Jackson had a 'strong belief in his faith', which may be nothing, but I wish they would say 'his faith in God and the Lord Jesus Christ.' These men's faith was not in their faith, it was in Almighty God and they found their rest in His Son, Jesus Christ. I just find it heartbreaking, and I believe a dishonor to these men and to God, to not tell the whole truth. Maybe it is the 'politically correct' thing to say, but I don't agree. But I would recommend the tour, it is the only one in Lexington that we took that you had to actually pay to tour, but just to see the house where Jackson and his wife lived is worth it.
3 comments:
Very interesting Matt! Thanks for sharing!
Tom
I wouldn't quite say that the Cadets "single handily won the battle for the Confederacy." Did their duty - absolutely, without question. Won the battle themselves, no. The rest of the Confederate army there had a lot do with it too.
Thank you for the helpful comment. I am trying to get better at being correct in what I write, knowing that much of what I have been taught in the past has been incorrect. I changed that to hopefully read better, and never meant to take anything away from what any of those men did in any of the battles. I highly respect what all the men of the South sacrificed to keep their independence and didn't mean to take anything away from the other men and brigades involved.
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