The Lucius Beebe, DPM correspondence folder ... what if???

[Flintlock76]

The 1850's weren't the first time Massachusetts contemplated secession, the first go-round was during the War of 1812, which the New England states were dead-set against.  But that's another story.

I keep thinking of "R.E. Lee and the RF&P."  It didn't happen of course, but can you imagine?  A good ol' Virginia boy and a home-grown Virginia railroad.  Would have been a match made in heaven!

It wasn't likely to happen.  Lee could have made big bucks railroading, but he wasn't that kind of man.  While enjoying the things money could buy, as most of us do, he never was a money-motivated person.  The plain fact of the matter was Lee loved being a soldier, and his assignments with the Corps of Engineers were always challenging and stimulating, to say nothing of taking him to interesting places and people.  I'd be very surprised if he didn't get job offers from the prominent citizens he met along the way, considering the way he impressed everyone who met him. 

"Here's my card sir!  If you ever get tired of the army please come and see me!" 

I do  agree with the supposition that if  Virginia hadn't seceded, and if  General Lee accepted the field command of the Union Army the war would have ended much sooner than it did.  Lee wouldn't have let himself be bullied into taking the army into the field before it was well-trained and ready, not like poor General Mc Dowell did in the Bull Run campaign.  General-in-Chief Winfield Scott, who despite his age still had a fine military mind, and R.E. Lee would have made a good team. 

No offense taken Mod-man, even though we moved to Virginia 32 years ago and don't regret it I'm still a Jerseyman at heart!

Getting back to Beebe and Clegg, I seem to recall they did a pictorial on the Civil War in the same style of that pictorial history of the West "Penny Trains" posted.  I haven't seen a copy in years, but I do remember checking out a copy from a bookmobile when I was a kid in the '60s.  

[Overmod]

Bumping this as a reminder to Steve that he still needs to 'put out' ... even if to tell us it's being reserved for a full article or three.

As this is moderated, don't bother to post it if it can be quietly and gently passed to him as a reminder.

[Flintlock76]

You know, I may just send him a PM asking about it.  He answered the last PM I sent him.

Just sent it.  Let's see what happens.

[daveklepper]

Bowker photo after Microsoft Photo Editor correction:

[Steve Sweeney]

ALL:

I've been asked to update the Forum regarding the above-mentioned topic, namely correspondence between Messrs. Morgan and Beebe.

Despite my meager efforts, we're reticent to release such correspondence at this time. Put another way: We've got other irons in the fire right now. And so we'll hold off for now.

Best,

Steve S.

[Flintlock76]

Well that's too bad, but thanks for the update Steve!