“Visit to Richmond, VA” May, 2000

Monument Avenue has, every few blocks, a terrific monument that is high and impressive enough to command the center of the boulevard and the whole intersection at the end of it. Richmond was the capital of the Confederacy. So, of course, on Monument Avenue there is a monument to General Robert E. Lee, a devout man and brilliant strategist, whom Lincoln wanted as the Union general. In the case of Richmond’s tribute, the monument, with Lee magnificently and regally astride his horse–jaw squared, posture commanding, face fixed in intrepid expression–is titled simply “Lee.” That’s all. No need in Richmond for any other ID. In fact, in Richmond people might not have needed even that much.