Amidst all the political rancor surrounding Statues, the Civil War, and monuments to the war dead, I needed to take a historical walk this day so as to solidify a belief I have that some elected leaders from all sides of the debate are reacting in a manner that lacks clarity, real understanding of the issues, and knowledge of history.
I will provide you a local example that I believe fails on all points.
Loudoun Supervisor Ron Meyer has suggested that the Statue of a Confederate Soldier in front of our courthouse be relocated to Balls Bluff Regional park. For those new to the area, Balls Bluff is a battlefield in which Union Soldiers were handed a defeat as they crossed the Potomac river from Maryland scaling the Bluffs into Loudoun County. The results were very devastating for those attempting the assault. They were handed a sound defeat. Men from both sides of the engagement met their death. However, it was the Union Soldiers who met death in far greater numbers.
There are 26 graves atop Balls Bluff. All with the exception of one were Union Soldiers from Pennsylvania and points north. The sole grave marker dedicated to a Virginian was relocated to a family plot in Western Loudoun County.
Balls Bluff is a Union Cemetery in Virginia. The men buried here mostly unknown and never returned north to their homes. They died and were buried here in Loudoun County.
I for one find it to be an extremely bad idea and a disservice to the dead that for short term political gain born from expediency and ignorance that we advocate relocating the statue of a Confederate Soldier to stand above these men as they rest. Just as I would never suggest, and consider it to be in both poor form and taste, to erect a ssstatue of Ulysses S.Grant amidst the graves of fallen Confederate soldiers, be it in Virginia, or any other Southern State.
It matters not where you are on the issue of North v. South, the Civil War, and removal or relocation of statues and war memorials, history matters.
I hope those of you who live in Loudoun County will in no uncertain terms tell Supervisor Meyer and anyone else who thinks this a good option to reflect and reexamine their understanding or lack thereof of the issues at hand. There seems to me a real misunderstanding as to what these monuments and grave sites mean to all involved.
This is a bad idea in a long list of bad ideas.
A bad idea in a long list of bad ideas
9 comments
It is time we face the fact that the Civil War is never going to be truly over. Look what our election in 2017 is largely about.
It would be fantastic if both governor candidates would dismisss this as the b.s. distraction it is, but I have little hope for that right now.
I have mixed thoughts about this issue.
On the one hand, I totally agree, it would be terrible if these ideas actually get implemented.
On the other hand, it’s better for conservatives if Democrats stay focused on this silliness instead of jobs, the economy, or taxes. It’s like watching a cat chase a laser pointer, except, you know, Democrats keep losing elections … probably because they aren’t cute, or fuzzy, and they don’t purr. Kittens could have totally won the Democratic primary against Clinton.
Watching the democrats is almost as bad as watching the GOP pretend they still are happy with their decision to put Trump in the WH. Now, that is entertaining.
Let’s just be real clear about a few things:
. . . “Balls Bluff is a battlefield in which Union Soldiers . . . .” No, they were not “Union Soldiers”. They were men (all men I assume given the times) who were soldiers in the United States Army.
“Balls Bluff is a Union Cemetery in Virginia.” No, Balls Bluff is a cemetery containing the bodies of U.S. Army veterans.
” Just as I would never suggest, and consider it to be in both poor form and taste, to erect a ssstatue of Ulysses S.Grant amidst the graves of fallen Confederate soldiers, be it in Virginia, or any other Southern State.” Actually, Grant proved to be a brilliant, and beloved, general, and he should probably have more statues across the south than he has.
Seriously?
They were invaders to Virginia. I agree with the author though – neither side will be happy with a Conf. statue presiding over Union soldiers killed in a Conf. victory.
They are Union soldiers and that is a Union cemetery. As a point of fact, and as an Act of Congress, both Union soldiers and Confederate soldiers are now legally part of the United States Armed Services.
Grant was a drunk and, at least as President, as corrupt as they come. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ulysses_S._Grant_presidential_administration_scandals
I agree that that would be very disrespectful.