Thanks for the facts Kent. I have to admit I am more than a little rusty on my Civil War history. It has been many years since I gave it a study. I also remember reading a couple of books on Lee but I could not tell you the titles today. I do remeber that Lee was a West Point honor graduate. At some point in the conflict between France and Mexico he lead an expeditionary force south of the border. I also recall that the entire nation watched to see what he would do as the war approached. He was considered the most prominent General in the nation and he did not immediately decide for the South.

Nothing is ever as cut and dried as we tend to think. Uncle Tom's Cabin gave one picture of slavery in the US that had world wide circulation and was a great shaper of folks' hearts and souls everywhere and the story was largely true. It was related to Stowe by runaway slave girl who's account of events had no reason for embellishment, only that it happened. But other slave holders had pity on the folks who were snatched from their homes and transported across the sea. Some risked life and limb to teach the slaves to read. In some places that was a crime punishable by death. When you understand that you begin to see that opposing slavery or refusing to use slaves could be a high risk proposition for white folks.

My maternal grandmother was from Arkansas and Grandfather was from Washington, the state. Mom told me that every so often they'd get into it and refight the Civil War all over. They were born too late to have any but their parents' distant memories of the conflict but it is amazing how feelings had continued to run high over the complex issues.

My Great Grand Father was an officer in the Confederate Army, a cavalry man and a slave owner of some wealth, at least at the onset. He did not approve of slavery but there you have it! After the war he moved his family to Pike Co. in Oklahoma Indian Territory and began to farm there. Most of his slaves stayed with him though he had freed them all. This is all from the pen of my Grandfather born in the 1880's and of that time some of the former slaves were still with them helping work the farm. In fact he, my Grandfather, was wetnursed by one of them. From what little remains from his hand I gather they were good to their people and for that I am greatful as it would have otherwise been more of a taint upon my family. On that side of my family the record runs back to before the Revolution and there was always slave ownership, I presume, as a last will and testament from ten generations back leaves slaves (5) to first son. I have no way of knowing how they were treated other than they were slaves.

And how does that affect me? That was then and this is now. If all were known to you what would you do different? Not a whole lot you can do about the past.