A visit to Lexington, VA

My sabbatical starts in the quaint little town of Lexington, Virginia. Although this village did not experience a major battle during the Civil War, it did see the Union Army occupy it and, more notably, it contributed to the Civil War in a different way.

Lexington was the home of Thomas J. “Stonewall” Jackson. Major Jackson, at the time, was an instructor at Virginia Military Institute (VMI). He taught Natural Philosophy, which is now called Physics, and military tactics. He was a prominent resident as well. Jackson was very active in his community, serving on the Board of Directors of the local bank, as well as in his church.

Jackson had moved to Lexington in 1851, ten years prior to the outbreak of the war and lived on campus for a portion of that time. Having married the daughter of the president of VMI, he and his wife lived in an apartment in the house with her parents. There they stayed until fourteen months later when she died during childbirth, as their baby was stillborn. Jackson mourned her death for years, walking to her grave nearly every day to weep.

Eventually, Jackson remarried and he and his second wife, Mary Anna, bought a home in town. This was the only house Jackson ever owned. He lived here from 1859 until his departure for the War in 1861. He never returned to this home. Jackson had one child, a daughter Julia, with Mary Anna.

The other notable tie to the Civil War is that it became the final destination for General Robert E. Lee. After the War, Lee was elected president of Washington College, later to be renamed Washington and Lee University. At first he rejected to offer, but finally accepted and held this position for five years, until his death in 1870.

Lee did much to improve and develop Washington College, including growing the enrollment from a few hundred to over a thousand students, improving the curriculum, and adding buildings. Two of the most impressive structures built during Lee’s presidency are the Lee Chapel and the Lee House, which is the home of the University’s president. General Lee lived in this house only one year preceding his death. Prior to this, he lived in the Lee-Jackson house as he contributed heavily to the design of his new home. The Lee chapel is beautiful and is used constantly. This Victorian chapel is the center of University activities since its construction in 1867. The statue of Robert E. Lee in the front of the chapel is impressive. I had always thought that this was Lee’s final resting place, but it is simply a horizontal statue. Mrs. Lee did not want another statue of Lee on his horse, Traveller, but preferred one of him as he appeared resting before battle. Lee, along with his family and other relatives, are buried in the lower level of the chapel.

While in Lexington, I had the opportunity to attend a dress parade at VMI. How exciting to see these young men and women in uniform and marching with terrific precision.

Lexington is a great small town that has preserved much of its history. The house architecture is marvelous. This was a wonderful way to start my travels. To see the beginning for General Thomas J. “Stonewall” Jackson and the end for General Robert E. Lee.