Title Match: George Vs. Abe

That great and most famous Virginian, George Washington, was born on this day in 1732.

About a year ago, CSPAN released the results of its Historians Presidential Leadership Survey. I was dismayed that Washington beat out Abraham Lincoln for the number one spot, but at least Washington was up from a shocking number 3 in the 2000 survey. I would have expected as much from the public, but not from a body of learned historians. (I was among those historians, and I did not rank Lincoln at the top. I put Washington first. Just for the record.)

Washington tied with Lincoln on moral authority, which is understandable in the context of history. Where Washington fell woefully behind is commitment to equality for all. That is understandable in the context of history, but I'm not sure it is a fair comparison in the context of their times. Each man carried out his duties with vision and with an understanding of human nature that is rare.

I asked the esteemed historian Allen Guelzo, who also participated in the SPAN poll, how he felt about the Washington/Lincoln rivalry:

Deb: It all depends on who you ask, and when. In 1865, people imagined Lincoln and Washington as co-equals, the one the Father of the country, the other the Savior of the country. I don't mind seeing Washington and Lincoln jockeying for the top-spot today, so long as people remember that, coming after them, there's a long, long gap before we hit No. 3.

Ha! Well put, Allen. I would like to see our students learning more about each president and the context of the time in which he served so that the public can intelligently evaluate their service and intelligently select the next one. Ah....pipe dreams....

Read the results of CSPAN's poll for yourself and see if your opinions match those of the historians: http://www.c-span.org/PresidentialSurvey/presidential-leadership-survey.aspx

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Boys Back When

I'll bet you good money that George and Abe tied Junebugs on strings as boys. This photo comes from my friend and fellow hillbilly, Byron Chesney. Growing up in the mountains of Tennessee, Byron was fortunate enough to participate in many timeless forms of entertainment. Click on the link to his blog, "The Life of Tug," on this very page. Tell him Deb sent you. You may also find the origins of that famous saying, "What does a redneck say right before he dies?" Answer: "Watch this!" There were many such episodes in Byron's life, but I have to admit, I think it's a guy thing no matter where they're from!

On Virginia's Sacred Soil

Folks, it pleasures me greatly to bring you yet another proud moment in Virginia history. . . .

On today's date in 1781, the siege of Yorktown was underway. The events unfolding would mark the end of the American Revolution and signal that the work of creating a country would go on. The scene above depicts the surrender of Britain's Lord Cornwallis to General George Washington of the Continental Army. This is a story we learn early in Virginia. . . . Lord Cornwallis--vain, arrogant, scoundrel that he was--claimed to be sick that day. He remained on ship, I believe, and sent an aide to surrender. Washington, proud (somewhat haughty man that he was, but he had reason to be proud!) in turn sent his aide to receive the sword of surrender, thinking it improper for a man of his rank to accept surrender from someone of lesser rank.

While at Fort Leavenworth a few months ago, there were some visiting officers from the French equivalent to the Command and General Staff College. After class, one of the Americans commented to the Frenchman seated beside him:

I know we're not supposed to make French jokes, but have you seen this?

Thus, he proceeded to type into the Google search engine, "French military victories."

Result: "None Found."
He laughed hysterically and I went up to the French officer, placed my hands on his shoulders and said, Direct your friend to the Victory monument at Yorktown (below). We really don't care if you've had a victory since. That's the one that counted.

In fact, the French outnumbered the Americans at Yorktown and without them we would never have gained our independence from England.

A toast, dear friends, to the heroes of our American Revolution and to the French people, to whom we still owe a debt of gratitude. A toast to Virginia. . . .where America began.



Photo of Yorktown monument by fisherbray on Flickr.

Washington's Shadow

This is a holy day in the annals of Virginia history--the birthday of the father of our country. Both countries, if you read your Confederate history.

In this month of Lincoln mania, the name of his fellow Kentuckian, Jefferson Davis, uncomfortably pops up every now and then. Would Lincoln have been as great without Davis? (Now there's a question for Brian Dirck!).

The first and only president of the Confederate States of America, Davis held his second, yes second, inaugural on this day in 1862, in the shadow of Washington's equestrian statue in Richmond (above). The new nation wanted everyone to get the point--the Confederacy was carrying on the ideals of the American Revolution, not the Yankees in the North. Having been installed in Montgomery as the "provisional president," Davis was now the elected and bonafide leader of the fledgling nation.

It was a miserable day. There was a cold, cold rain and Confederate reversals filled the news. Fort Donelson had fallen. Nashville had been captured. The glories and victories of the first days were fading memories as grim reports rolled in.

In the Confederate White House, Varina Davis (left, with her husband on their wedding day), rushed to join the ceremony. A carriage had been dispatched to take her to the square, a short ride. She looked out the coach windows and saw black men with black suits and white gloves walking along beside her. When asked who they were, the driver responded, "Pallbearers." Varina was informed they were normally used for funerals and important events. She dismissed them. This whole day was depressing enough without the escort of pallbearers!

The First Lady of the Confederacy arrived late and stood in the crowd. She saw her husband raise his arms to the heavens, asking for God's blessing. She shuddered. Varina thought he looked like Christ about to be crucified. She turned and walked home alone.
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Sisters in Sorrow

I have been working on a book on Varina Davis and Mary Lincoln (right) for several years. The boxes of notes pile up in my office, the manuscript is written, trashed, and rewritten. I keep plugging, and eventually a book will emerge.

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Civil War News

Virginia has opted out of celebrating the bicentennial of the birth of Abraham Lincoln. Declining to appoint a committee to observe the festivities in 2009, one legislator commented, "He wasn't a Virginian." This decision has created quite the stir, but come on people. Virginia is in the midst of its 400th birthday, there is a national Lincoln celebration planned, and because the nation's capitol is smack dab next to the Old Dominion, Virginians will be well-represented. (I do wonder though, if this means they'll be taking the Virginia flag out of Lincoln's tomb at Springfield?)
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Email

Deb-
I absolutely love both blogs. Keep up the awesome writing. I understand the work involved in maintaining a daily blog. My 5 year old son has a blog that he posts to daily (well, he dictates and I type and post), but it's quite the job. I appreciate the time you and Tom take every day to write. Your writings are truly a respite from present day stress. I read several newspapers every day and its nice to kick back and read your blogs.
By the way, if you get a second and need a laugh, you can find my son's blog at http://www.thedinosaurboy.com.
Clint, Tooele, UT

DG--My Goodness! The competition gets younger and younger! Thanks very much, Clint. It's good to be a respite. And Dinosaur Boy, the photo below is for you.____________________________________________
Twisted History

















In a brilliant plan of attack, use of the Confederate secret weapon had been thwarted.
(Thanks to Mike Epstein and Blair Tarr )