Washington and Lee U. and VMI

After viewing the Lee statue, and a quick tour of the museum, we assembled outside the chapel. Harry then led us through the beautiful campus of Washington and Lee University, towards the campus of VMI.

After the surrender, Lee had many offers for employment. He was asked to become the president of Washington College, and he accepted. There, he helped to revive the school started by George Washington, from the ravages of the war. He had the Lee House built to his specifications, and with his own money, and moved his family there. He set the course for the school; making it the first journalism school in the nation, as well as developing science and business programs. Lexington School of Law was also merged. Lee served as president from 1865 until his death there in 1870. His son, Custis Lee, took over after his death as president of the school.

As we headed towards VMI, where General Jackson taught, we were able to see a small portion of these two historic old campuses. They are virtually next to each other, and suddenly we were on the VMI campus. We entered at one end of the huge parade grounds, where the cadets demonstrate. We walked the entire length of the parade grounds, to the four cannons used by Jackson to teach artillery class. He named them after the gospels of the Bible; Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. He would give the command, "Matthew! .... speak forth the gospel! .... Mark! .... speak forth the gospel! ...." , and so on down the line. Harry informed us that the cannons are painted in the colors used during the war. Many of the cadets of VMI during the war went to fight in the Army of Northern Virginia. Here is a quick bio of one of those men, Andrew Pizzini Jr.

Not a stop on our tour, but located on the VMI campus, is the George Marshall Museum. He, of course, was responsible for the post-WW2 'Marshall Plan'.

Having finished our tour of Lexington, we boarded the bus, and headed for Appomattox.