I admit to
having contracted the genealogy bug. As a matter of fact, I am badly infected.
But if there’s a cure somewhere out there, I don’t want to get well.
A few years
ago, I discovered I am related to one of the Mayflower passengers, Richard Warren.
And at about the same time, I discovered a list of his descendants; more famous
than he could have ever hoped to be.
Ernest
Hemingway, Franklin Roosevelt, Laura Ingalls Wilder, Richard Gere, Ulysses S.
Grant.
Speaking of
the latter of the five, even if you are a passing student of history, I expect
you are aware that he was the final commanding General of the Union Army during
the American Civil War. (Yeah. He was).
Among all my
famous cousins ole Ulysses is my favorite, at least my most thought about; (in
spite of the fact that I am a Southerner by birth). But it’s not for no reason
this is the case.
You see, my
best guy friend (Dennis S.) is descended from (drum roll) the final commanding
General of the Confederate Army Robert E. Lee. I mean “go figure.” Almost like
our personal little “Ripley’s Believe It or Not” scenario. (Don’t ya think)?
Funny, how
history falls together, and how a single decision might have irrevocably
changed the accounts in our textbooks. I previously wrote a reflection on the
German dictator Adolph Hitler. He had applied for acceptance at the Academy of
Fine Arts in Vienna. In spite of the obvious quality of his paintings, he was
rejected. Had one man decided in his favor, we might remember Hitler as a
world-renowned artist, rather than, well, the way we remember him. What might
have been.
The same
historical irony accompanied General Robert E. Lee. He had been offered command
of the Union Army by President Abraham Lincoln. He considered it, but opted for
command of the Confederate Army instead. Who can say whether this great
grandson-in-law of President Washington might have, in short order, led the
stronger Union Army to victory?
After the
war, General Grant went on to be elected President of the United States. After
the war, General Lee went on to be appointed President of Washington-Lee
College. While, to my knowledge, no photo exists of the April 1865 surrender of
the Army of Northern Virginia, there is a single picture of Grant and Lee
commensurating together; just four years after the conclusion of the war.
Dennis and I
jokingly refer to one another as “Gen. Grant” and “Gen. Lee.” We break bread on
a monthly basis, and I have referred to this recurring opportunity for
camaraderie as our “Surrender Lunch.” However, unlike the original Civil War
surrender ceremony, nobody wins.
Well, come
to think of it, I guess we both win.
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