Discover Lee-Jackson Day

 by Brandon Dorsey

Lee-Jackson Day is a holiday recognized in  several States of the American South.  The holiday is celebrated in  Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi,  North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia. In Texas, it is known as  "Confederate Heroes Day."  In Virginia it is a state holiday which falls  on the Friday before the third Monday of January.  

The holiday  was originally created in 1889 to celebrate the birthday of General  Robert E. Lee who was born on January 19, 1807.  The holiday was put  into effect by Governor Fitzhugh Lee who was a nephew of the general and  had been a Confederate general himself.  In 1904 the holiday was  changed to include a tribute to Thomas J. “Stonewall” Jackson who was  born on January 21, 1824.  The change was made under the administration  of Governor Andrew Jackson Montague.

During the 1970s, Virginia  had commemorated the birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr. on New Year’s  Day, however in 1983 Virginia adopted the Federal commemoration date and  combined it with an existing holiday to create Lee-Jackson-King Day.   In the year 2000, after much debate about the relevance of having the  two holidays combined, the holidays were again separated with  Lee-Jackson Day falling on the Friday before the holiday honoring King. 

 Stonewall Jackson came to Lexington in 1851 when he accepted a position  as professor of Natural Philosophy and Instructor of Artillery at the  Virginia Military Institute.  Jackson would marry Elinor Junkin on  August 4, 1853 in Lexington.  Elinor was the daughter of Dr. George  Junkin who served as president of Washington College.  Tragically,  Elinor passed away from complications of childbirth on October 22, 1854  along with a stillborn son.  Jackson would depart from Lexington for a  period to travel across Europe to rebuild his spirits and broaden his  knowledge.  Jackson would return to Lexington full of renewed enthusiasm  for his Christian faith.  During this period Jackson would create his  famed Colored Sunday School which was open to free blacks and slaves in  which the pupils would be taught about Christianity and how to read the  Bible.  Jackson was once threatened with criminal prosecution for  teaching slaves to read and write, but the threat was not carried out.   On July 16, 1857 Jackson would marry Mary Anna Morrison of Charlotte,  North Carolina who was also the daughter of a former college president  and minister.  The Jackson’s would enjoy a relatively short period of  quiet marriage in Lexington before the outbreak of the War Between the  States.  Jackson was ordered on April 27, 1861 to take the Corp of  Cadets from VMI to Richmond at the start of hostilities which began his  march to fame as the great “Stonewall.”  Jackson was tragically wounded  during the battle of Chancellorsville on May 2, 1863 and passed away on  May 10th.  He was survived by his wife and infant daughter Julia Laura  Jackson.  Jackson’s body was taken to Richmond where he was laid in  state at the Capitol before being buried in Lexington in a cemetery  which has been renamed in Jackson’s honor.  A fine bronze statue,  created by Edward Valentine, depicting the likeness of Jackson on the  field of battle stands over his grave.  It is interesting to note that  the first donations towards erecting the statue came from members of  Jackson’s colored Sunday School class, many of whom went on to become  prominent leaders in their communities.  In 1907, the Mary Custis Lee  Chapter, United Daughters of the Confederacy purchased Jackson’s home  from his widow and turned it into a memorial hospital to honor Jackson.   In 1979 the home was restored to its appearance as a private residence  which is open to visitors.

Robert E. Lee was drawn to Lexington  following the collapse of the Confederacy.  In 1865, Lee accepted an  invitation from the Board of Trustees of Washington College to become  the school’s president.  Lee had refused to accept several financially  lucrative business offers for fear that the ventures would damage his  family name.  However, Lee believed that this position would allow him  to aid the rebuilding of the South through educating the youth while  affording him a modest income in the face of financial ruin.  Lee was  partially drawn to Lexington because the college was the namesake of  George Washington who was a hero of Lee.  Lee’s father had fought as a  general in the Revolution under Washington and his wife was the  great-granddaughter of Martha Washington.  Lee was also aware that  Lexington was the burial spot of his friend and his most successful  lieutenant, Thomas J. ‘Stonewall’ Jackson.  Lee proved himself to be as  adept at turning a struggling college into a successful university as he  was in obtaining victories with his outnumbered Confederate forces.   Under Lee’s direction the college added a law school and began  initiatives which lead to the later additions of the journalism and  commerce schools.  Lee was a strong advocate for practical education  including the sciences.  Lee was an active member of the Episcopal  Church in Lexington which has since been renamed in his honor.  In  October 1870, Lee fell ill from what was most likely a stroke.  After  several tense days, Robert E. Lee passed away surrounded by his family  on October 12, 1870.  Robert E. Lee was laid to rest in the college  chapel which he and his son Custis had designed and built.  Following  Lee’s death, the school was renamed Washington and Lee University in his  honor.  In 1883 an addition was added to Lee Chapel to include a  statuary chamber on the main level to house the famed recumbent statue  of Robert E. Lee created by Edward Valentine.  The lower level of the  addition became the family crypt where Lee and his immediate family have  been relocated. 

The birthdays of Robert E. Lee and Thomas J. “Stonewall” Jackson have  been honored in various manners in Lexington since the late 19th  century.  It seems only befitting that throughout the years various  celebrations and events have been held to honor the birthdays of the  generals in their final home and resting place.  The United Daughters of  the Confederacy, United Confederate Veterans, and the Sons of  Confederate Veterans have sponsored events to honor Lee and Jackson in  Lexington.  Excerpts from some of the recorded newspaper accounts of  Lee-Jackson Day events are below:

 The [Richmond] Times-Dispatch
(January 20, 1908)
Lexington Celebrates.
 

LEXINGTON,  VA., January 19 -. Tomorrow will be approprlatcly observed In Lexington  as Lee-Jackson Day by the Confederate organizations of the town and  county.  The members of the Lee-Jackson Camp of Confederate Veterans of  Lexington, and other Confederate veterans of Rockbridge, will be  entertained at dinner by the members
of Camp Frank Paxton, Sons of Confederates [Veterans].  Commandant E. L. Graham,
of tho Sons, will act as toastmaster, and Commander J. Preston Moore,  of Lee-Jackson Camp, will acknowledge appreciation on the part of the  veterans.   Mr. Greenlee D. Letcher will speak on tho subject, "Robert  E. Lee as a Citizen of Rockbridge," and Mr. William T. Shields will  speak on "John Letcher, Virginia's War Governor." 

The Lexington Gazette
(January 21, 1938)
Lee-Jackson Dinner Held on Wednesday
Dr. W.G. Bean Gives Paper Dealing With Causes of Secession.

     The annual dinner meeting of the Sons of Confederate Veterans and the  United Daughters of the Confederacy, was held at the Robert E. Lee hotel  on Wednesday, January 19- Lee’s birthday.
    The room was  tastefully decorated with Confederate flags and candles.  The invocation  was pronounced by Dr. James Murray, chaplain of Camp Frank Paxton.   Music was furnished by a quartet composed of Mr. And Mrs. George Irwin,  Mrs. Lloyd McClung, and Lewis Jones.  Violin numbers were played by Mr.  Shaw, with Miss Gladys Copper at the piano.  One of the selections  naturally was “Dixie,” and the whole company sang it standing.
     Dr. E.P. Tompkins, commandant [sp. commander] of Camp Frank Paxton,  called the meeting to order, and in a short talk explained the purport  of this annual affair--to keep green n memory the deeds and valor done  by the soldiers, the equally brave part taken by the women of the  Confederacy.
    He then introduced Mrs. B.B. Glover, president of  the Mary Custis Lee chapter of the Daughters, who made a four-minute  talk in somewhat the same vein.  The presiding officer then introduced  one who is a Rockbridge man, but much of whose life has been spent  elsewhere--a man of attainment as statesman, diplomat, jurist, author --  former Senator Miles Poindexter.  He responded with a word of greeting,  which was attentively heard.
    Next on the program was the  address, or rather paper, of Dr. W.G. Bean, head of the history  department of Washington and Lee university.  Dr. Bean gave a scholarly  interpretation of certain phases of American history, dealing  principally with causes leading up to secession, and the war which  followed.
    Some seventy-five covers were laid, and many expressed  the opinion that this was one of the best of these annual affairs.  The  exercises were closed by all joining in singing Auld Lang Syne.
     The U.D.C. committee which assisted in arrangements was composed of  Mrs. B.B. Glover, Mrs. James S. Moffatt, and Mrs. H.M. Quisenberry.

The Lexington Gazette
(January 1947)
Lee-Jackson Day Dinner January 18

     At a recent join meeting of committees of the Mary Custis Lee Chapter,  U.D.C., and the Frank Paxton Camp, S.C.V., it was decided to hold the  Lee-Jackson Dinner this year as usual.  Miss Ellen Anderson, President  of the Mary Custis Lee Chapter, Mrs. Herbert Hamric, Mrs. James Moffatt,  Dr. E.P. Tompkins, Mr. E.T. Robinson, and Dr. James Moffatt were  appointed a committee to make arrangements for the dinner music, and to  secure a speaker.
    Mr. Granville Johnston, Commander of the Frank  Paxton Camp, will preside at the dinner.  Mrs. E.F. Hamilton will direct  a quartet in the presentation of appropriate patriotic songs.  The  quartet consists of E.F. Hamilton, Hugh Davis, Peter DeBoer, and Matthew  Clark.
    The dinner this year will be held on Saturday, January  18, in the private dinning room of the Virginia Café, at one o’clock.   The price per plate will be $1.25.  Citizens of Lexington, Buena Vista,  and of Rockbridge County and vicinity, are cordially invited to attend.
     Mrs. W.A. Adair has charge of the sale of tickets at the office of the  County Treasurer in the Court House.  All those intending to be present  at the dinner are urged to secure tickets from Mrs. Adair at least  three days in advance of the day of the dinner so that an adequate  number of plates may be provided.

The Lexington Gazette
(January 9, 1952)

B.G. Locher to Speak At Lee-Jackson Day Dinner January 19
Business Meeting of Camp Frank Paxton To Be Held at C.H.

     The annual Lee-Jackson dinner, sponsored by the Frank Paxton Camp,  SCV, and the Mary Custis Lee Chapter, UDC, will be held as previously  announced, on Saturday, January 19th at one o’clock at the Dutch Inn.   Tickets for the dinner, at a cost per plate of $1.50, should be  purchased at least three days in advance of January 19th from the Dutch  Inn or from the Peoples Bank in Buena Vista.
    Hon. B.G. Locher,  representative from Rockbridge county in the state legislature, will  make the main address at the dinner.  Mr. Locher will discuss important  measures before the current session of the state legislature.
    An  important item on the program for the dinner will be the award to  General Richard J. Marshall, Superintendent of Virginia Military  Institute, of the War Cross of the Sons of Confederate Veterans and of  Major-General’s Commission in the honorary staff of the United  Confederate Veterans.
    Music at the dinner, consisting of  traditional Southern songs, will be furnished by a quartet selected from  members of the Glee Club of Washington and Lee University.
    On the morning of January 19, preceding the dinner, the annual meeting of Camp Frank Paxton, S.C.V., will be held….

According  to the last commander of the Rockbridge Artillery Camp #1296, James  Earehart, (another former chapter of the Sons of Confederate Veterans),  Lee-Jackson Day was continually sponsored in some manner by the S.C.V.  until the camp disbanded in 1975.  The Rockbridge Artillery Camp would  annually hold a program where they would be assisted by cadets from VMI  in placing wreaths at the grave of Stonewall Jackson and inside Lee  Chapel.  Although the birthdays of Lee and Jackson were never forgotten  in Lexington, with the departure of the SCV the commemoration of  Lee-Jackson Day was practically neglected.  VMI would continue to honor  Jackson’s birthday by placing a wreath at his grave on January 21st, the  Stonewall Jackson House would commemorate the date, and Lee’s birthday  would receive some notice at Washington and Lee University.  The  Rockbridge Chapter, United Daughters of the Confederacy, would continue  the tradition of a Lee-Jackson Day dinner on Lee’s birthday, but even  that event received little recognition.

Recent History

In  the late 1990’s, the discussion on the separation of the Lee-Jackson  and Martin Luther King, Jr. holidays created a renewed interest in  Lee-Jackson Day in Lexington.  For the first time in nearly 25 years a  large scale celebration of Lee-Jackson Day would be held on January 15,  2000.  The event would feature a service at the grave of General Thomas  J. “Stonewall” Jackson, followed by a parade through Lexington ending at  Lee Chapel with a memorial service held inside.  The finale of the  event included a dinner at the historic Willson-Walker House in downtown  Lexington.  The renewed event was sponsored by the  Hupp-Deyerle-McCausland Chapter of the Military Order of the Stars and  Bars.

Also in the year 2000, the Sons of Confederate Veterans was  to be reborn in the Lexington area with the reformation of camp #1296  which was renamed The Stonewall Brigade.  The organizing camp took part  in this inaugural Lee-Jackson Day event and was desirous to see the  event continue.  With the approval of the Hupp-Deyerle-McCausland  Chapter M.O.S.&B., The Stonewall Brigade, S.C.V. became the  organizing body and primary sponsor of the event which has followed the  same basic format as the originating event.  

Lee-Jackson Day  2007 was a particularly notable event as 2007 marked the 200th  anniversary of the birth of Robert E. Lee.  The event was attended by  approximately 500 participants.  The event included the normal services,  parade, and a luncheon at historic Col Alto, but concluded with the  grand Robert E. Lee Ball.

Other Historical Events in Virginia

 Online historical newspaper accounts are available on these links:

January 20, 1908 [Richmond] Times Dispatch 

https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn85038615/1908-01-20/ed-1/seq-3/#words=Lee-Jackson%2BDay

January 20, 1908 page 8 [Richmond] Times Dispatch 

https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn85038615/1908-01-20/ed-1/seq-8/#words=Lee-Jackson%2BJackson%2BDay%2BLee

by Brandon Dorsey 

Robert Edward Lee was born January 19, 1807   to Revolutionary War hero Henry *Light Horse Harry* Lee and Anne Carter   Lee at Stratford Hall.  He was an exemplary youth who later graduated   second in his class from West Point without receiving a single  demerit.   On June 30, 1831, at Arlington, Lee married Mary Ann Randolph  Custis,  the great granddaughter of Martha and George Washington.  Lee  served in  the U.S. Army for nearly 32 years and was offered the command  of the  Union Army at the outset of the War Between the States, but  would chose  to link his fate to his native State.  Lee would command  the famed Army  of Northern Virginia, leading it to many victories until  succumbing to  bitter defeat.  Following the collapse of the  Confederacy, Robert E. Lee  became the president of Washington College  where he strove to instruct  its youth by his example and devotion to  God.  Robert E. Lee died on  October 12, 1870 and lies at rest in Lee  Chapel.  

Thomas  Johnathan 'Stonewall' Jackson was born January  21, 1824 in Clarksburg  [West] Virginia.  His father and mother passed  away while he was young  which devastated him.  His mother's dying plea  to him was that he become  a good Christian.  Jackson was able to attend  West Point almost by  divine intervention when another cadet dropped  out.  Jackson  participated in the Mexican War and later came to  Lexington as a  professor at VMI in 1851 where he fell in love with his  first wife  Elinor Junkin only to endure her death in childbirth which  devastated  him.  It was during this period that his Christian faith and  reliance on  God no matter what the circumstances developed which gave  him the  assurance that he was as safe on a battlefield as in bed if he  remained  in God's will.  Jackson died on May 10, 1864 following his  accidental  wounding during his greatest battle, Chancellorsville.  He  was survived  by his second wife Mary Anna [Morrison] Jackson and an  infant daughter  named Julia.  

The most important factor in the  lives of Lee and  Jackson was their Christian faith as the hope for  mankind.  Both men  were great warriors, but they realized that war was  the result of human  sin.  Jesus Christ changed these men and He can  change you.  This life  is just an opportunity to make change for either  good or ill.  Jesus  first taught us to live, then He died upon the  cross of Calvary to pay  for the sins of everyone who will recognize  their evil nature, ask His  forgiveness, and from then on seek to serve  him in truth and righteous  living. Through Christ you will begin to  understand the greatness of  their character and why they stood against  tyranny to defend their  God-given rights in the face of overwhelming  opposition.  These men are  not to be worshipped, but to be admired in  the light of their savior.

Below you will find  media reports on additional Lee-Jackson Day events of the late 19th and  early 20th century as they are researched and discovered

The Lexington Gazette - Jan. 10, 1934
Lee-Jackson Fete Is To Be Revived

Sons Of Confederate Veterans Plan For Revival Of Traditional Affair

     After abandoning the traditional Lee-Jackson banquet, annually held on  January 19, Robert E. Lee's birthday anniversary, for several years,  members of the Frank Paxton Camp of Sons of Confederate Veterans met  yesterday evening at the court house and decided to revive the historic  affair this year.
    The banquet had been abandoned because for several years there were no veterans of the Civil War able to attend.
     While plans were not perfected at yesterday's meeting, it was  suggested that the dinner be held this year in an informal fashion and  that sons and daughters of Confederate veterans and all others  interested be invited to attend the "Dutch treat affair." The occasion  will be devoted to the Confederate memories, keeping so to speak, an  altar-fire alive with the glorious thoughts and recollections of  southern heroes, soldiers and officers.  It was suggested that at this  year's banquet informal talks be made or papers read by those present. A  part of the program also will be the singing of Confederate songs.  It  was the opinion of those present at yesterday's meeting that the  occasion would well repay the time and slight expense involved in the  hour of worship and love offering.
    The plans for revival of the  banquet were also approved by the local chapter of the United Daughter's  of the Confederacy yesterday.
    Details as to the place, time,  price and program will be announced at an early date. In the meantime,  all those interested are asked to communicate with E. T. Robinson at the  county clerk's office.

Rockbridge County News - Jan. 11, 1940
Lee-Jackson Day Speaker Is Rev. I. D. Terrell
    Rev. Irby D. Terrell, pastor of the Presbyterian church of Buena Vista  will deliver the address at the Lee-Jackson Memorial dinner here on  January 19, accordin to an announcement this week by Dr. James S.  Moffatt, commandant of Camp Frank Paxton, Sons of Confederate Veterans.  The dinner sponsored by the Sons and the Mary Custis Lee chapter, United  Daughters of the Confederacy, is an annual event.   
    The cost of  the dinner which will 'be held at 1 o'clock in the Robert E. Lee hotel  Friday, January 19, will be $1 per plate. Attendance is not to be  limited to the Sons and Daughters, but anyone interested may secure a  ticket upon application to the ticket committee.
    The following  committees on arrangement have been appointed:  Dr. E. Pendleton  Tompkins, E. T. Robinson, W. A. Adair, Mrs. Harry M. Quisenberry, ticket  committee;  Mrs. James S. Moffatt, Mrs. B.B. Glover, menu and  decorations; Earl K. Paxton, Captain Greenlee D. Letcher, music.
     Those who are planning to attend the dinner are urged to reserve a  ticket from some member of the ticket committee at least four days in  advance of January 19 so that I
some idea may be obtained by the ticket committee about the number of plates that will be needed.

Rockbridge County News - Jan. 25, 1940
Lee-Jackson Day Is Celebrated By Annual Dinner
      "Devotion to duty was the keynote of the life of General Robert E.  Lee," said Rev. I. D. Terrell, guest speaker at the Lee-Jackson dinner  Friday at the Robert E. Lee hotel.
    The dining room of the hotel  was attractively decorated with Confederate colors. On the speaker's  table were red candles and a large bowl of red roses and Confederate  flags were grouped as a background.   On each of the smaller tables were  red roses and candles and a bit of green pine.  As a favor, each guest  was given a tiny Confederate flag with red and white ribbons.
    Dr.  James S. Moffatt, commander of Camp Frank Paxton, Sons of Confederate  Veterans, presided.  Dr. James J. Murray, the chaplain, delivered the  invocation and also introduced the speaker.    I
    Mr. Terrell  enumerated a number of instances of General Lee's devotion to duty. It  was duty which compelled him to decline the leadership of the United  States Army in 1861 and to uphold the ideals of his state.  It was his  duty to surrender the Confederate forces at Appomattox in 1865.  He felt  it his duty, Mr. Terrell continued, to come to Lexington and work with  the students of Washington College instead of accepting positions of  greater financial reward. His duty to his church was an outstanding part  of his life, Mr. Terrell said, and his last active afternoon was spent  in the church presiding over a vestry meeting. His sense of duty always  had a forward outlook, extending beyond his everyday tasks.  
     "The fact that General Lee and General Jackson both lived in  Lexington," stated Mr. Terrell, "should exert a noble influence and  should I make true patriotism and noble character easier to find a place  in the hearts of the people. It should I make selfishness and dishonor  harder to find such a place."
    Southern songs, featuring those by  Stephen Foster, were sung by a quartet composed of Dr. and Mrs. Lee K.  Bailey, Miss Albertina Ravenhorst, and Henry Ravenhorst.  Mrs. Frederick  M. P. Pearse, who was in charge of the musical program, accompanied the  quartet and  also played several selections on the piano.
    Mrs.  Claude W. Crist, president of the Mary Custis Lee chapter of the United  Daughters of the Confederacy, presented two crosses on be­half of the  Daughters, the World War cross to William Washington Goforth, and the  Spanish-American War cross to Charles Perry Lackey, both descendants of  Confederate soldiers. Mrs. Herbert Hamric, custodian of the crosses,  made the awards.
    The Lee-Jackson Day dinner is sponsored annually  by the Camp Frank Paxton, Sons of Confederate Veterans, and the Mary  Custis Lee chapter, United Daughters of the Confederacy, in honor of the  two great Southern chieftians.

THE LEXINGTON GAZETTE  Oct. 2, 1946 [News from 75 Years ago]

GEN.  LEE AND THE WAR - In his lecture at New Orleans, Gen. Pendleton, of  Lexington, Va. said:   A few hours before the closing scene at  Appomattox Court-house, Gen. Lee sent for Gen. Pendleton to have a  private conference on the desperate conditions of affairs.  In that  conference Gen. Lee stated that "from the first - taking into  consideration the limited means at our command and the unlimited  resources of the power that opposes us - I have never believed we could  succeed, unless under Providence some foreign Power should lend us  assistance.  I knew it was to the interest of foreign Powers to do so.  I  believed it was their duty, while realizing fully the tremendous odds  against us.  I, felt there were great principles to be maintained, a  holy cause to be defended, and determined upon my course."