Gettysburg is my hometown, i.e., not where I was born (Myrtle Point, OR) but where I grew up from age nine onward. As an adult, the yearly winter lecture series by the Gettysburg National Military Park was one of my favorite things to attend. I am pleased to see a presentation on KZfaq of this series, as I no longer live in Gettysburg. Ranger Matt Atkinson has a terrific personality, clearly knows his subject, and provides us with an exemplary presentation. I am grateful for it. We need more people like him to keep history accurate.

What an interesting lecture. Teachers like Matt Atkinson make history come alive. We need more like him teaching in schools and universities.

As a student of history regarding Robert E. Lee and grandson of a Francis Pendleton Gaines a 29 year President of Washington and Lee University,I can only applaud this presentation. It was so well thought out and delivered. I do no know why I did no find it sooner. VERY WELL Done.Thank you. Edwin M. GAINES Jr.

As a great great great granddaughter of Mr, Robert E. Lee Pickett I thank you for this beautiful report of my family, it was absolutely beautiful thank you, many have the wrong idea about him and what kind of man he was, it's nice to hear positive information about my great great great grandfather I'm sure he'd be proud thank you.

The unassuming, humorous and highly informed Matt Atkinson is a joy to watch. I don't know where the National Park Service finds people like him but the fact that people like Matt are to be found is a great source of inspiration.

“My experience of men has neither exposed me to think worse of them, nor indisposed me to serve them, nor in spite of failures I now lament, of errors I now see and acknowledge or of the present aspect of affairs do I despair of the future. The truth is this: the march of Providence is so slow, our desires so impatient, the work of progress so immense and our means of aiding it so feeble, the life of humanity is so long, that of the individual so brief, that we often only see the ebb of the advancing wave and are thus discouraged. It is history that teaches us to hope.” -General Robert E. Lee

I can't say enough about how mesmerizing this lecture was. I literally felt like I was in the presence of the late general's insights. Sadly our history has taken a backseat to lies, deception and the desire to forget it. I am so glad that no matter what we think about history, it always remains to remind us of the folly of man and ideas that we may forever be mindful of the future.

Apparently, after his presidency, Eisenhower moved to Gettysburg, refusing to discuss WWII, but would hold forth about the Battle of Gettysburg. Fabulous lecture.

I'm so glad these lectures are available on KZfaq. They're such a treat. Thank you

”A nation which does not remember what it was yesterday, does not know where it is today!”

I am glad that we still have the freedom to talk about things in an unbiased conversation

I never get tired of Civil War History/Gettysburg History, and given by Matt Atkinson, thank you Matt!

I love American history. Thank you, Ranger Atkinson, for humanizing such a major American historical figure.

This lecture here is among the best I've heard. I'm relistening it for the 2nd or 3rd time. It really transfers you in that tragic, yet fascinating, era.

What a tremendous lecture. The presenter made history come alive. Thanks for having this available.

Best lecture on Robert E. Lee. There isn't too much out there about Lee's postwar years and this lecturer answered a lot of the questions I had been so curious about for so long. 👍🏻

"Robert E. Lee was the noblest American who had ever lived and one of the greatest commanders known to the annals of war." - Sir Winston Churchill

I can watch this lecturer all day long. He's the best in the business. 👍🏻

Stars and bars forever.u can tear down our staues but u will never replace us.dixeland forever.

Excellent History Lesson about Robert E Lee and after the Civil War 👍🏼

I'm from the Netherlands and probably will never be visiting Gettysburg. But boy, do I like to hear this man tell the tale. Love his speaking and humor. Please keep on telling and posting on KZfaq Matt!

Thank you , Ranger Atkinson for this great presentation on General Lee.

The moment he walked through that front door for the last time with that uniform ... I think about moments like that a lot. :-) This presenter is wonderful, his mannerisms so natural and real. 🌷

Ranger Matt Atkinson is the best presentator on CW history around. The depth and passion he puts into his lectures , as well as his humorous anecdotes make the experience a very pleasant one.

Robert E . Lee ; " I am responsible ! " Compare his statement with , " What difference does it make ? "

Ranger Matt's lectures are outstanding! He is a bright star in the NPS universe :-)

I just watched and I'm very thankful for these types of educational lectures. Thanks for putting this together and presenting it so well!

Many today would disparage this great man. I am not one of them.Great job, Ranger Matt....

As a retired solider, of 22 years, and been in combat myself. War is terrible and people do get injured or killed. The Union and the CSA both were fighting for their own beliefs at the time from 1860-65. A nation divided can not stand for long. God Bless America!

I end up listening to this talk every once in a while on youtube and it always gives me something worth hearing. Perfect!

I am a big Robert E. Lee fan, and this presentation makes me appreciate the man even more. Than you Ranger Atkinson.

Six years old, and I'm so glad it's been preserved for us to view.

My great (2x) fought under Lee, and was at Lee's surrender, while the same day, my great grandpa was born in Roanoke, Virginia. Thank you for making history come to life! (My 2nd son was born April 9, 1988, and his 2nd son, my 2nd grandson, was born April 9, 2008. So, April 9th is a meaningful day for me.)

GENERAL LEE SAID HE WOULD SACRIFICE EVERYTHING BUT HONOR. A true gentleman !

I have just about read everything out there that has ever been written on REL. It wasnt till now that my 40 year search to find the real REL, where I can say I understand him a whole lot better. Thank you Matt!

My grandma was a direct descendant of Robert E Lee was very cool seeing the family tree

"The War was a unnecessary condition of affairs and might of been avoided if forbearance and wisdom had been practiced on both sides." General Robert E. Lee

A quote from Robert E Lee remains one of the wisest statements in American history. A woman asked him what she should tell her sons about the war. Lee said, "Tell your sons to forget their antagonisms and become Americans." How much more sincere can you get?

This was an incredible lecture. Thank you Matt Atkinson for your scholarship. I wish that they still published Freeman's R.E. Lee which was an equally incredible history in 4 volumes.

Lee is one of the most misrepresented and misunderstood figures in American history. Thank you for sharing this lecture.

... you can say they were wrong, you can say that they lost, but you can’t say they were all bad or evil, and you can’t say they were undeserving of respect, empathy, and reunification ... I’ll always have the deepest respect and admiration for General Lee - not for everything he symbolized, but for everything he was ... he was an honorable man, and I will remember him as such ...

Thank you Mr. Atkinson for all of the details you have researched and brought forth about Robert E. LEE and the scenarios in history.

Feb 4th 2022 will be Robert E. Lee day here in Tuscon, Arizona. I will push for that at the local levels as Honor & Remeberance of Great People 👍 who brought every tatter in life to a bold conviction of love and peace in Humanity at every cost imaginable. ❤ What I cherished since a small boy was The Civil War. It seems one can only come to one conclusion. I respect both men equally with great depth and my will to be thier will. Perhaps we have not had such a leader at the highest levels thankfully due to these courageous Generals of the 18th Century. To Reach Ones Bar In Life. ✝️

Enjoying this lecture about my ancestor. My great-great grandmother, Ann Lee, is a descendant of Robert E. Lee. There is a church field trip planned for July 23, 2022 to Lexington, VA to visit the church from which our organ came. Not long before my grandmother passed away, she told me that we're related to John S. Mosby aka The Grey Ghost. Viewer from Roanoke, VA

Robert E Lee was a great man! How can people judge 200 years ago to NOW!

Wonderful lecture, there are many of us in Australia who admire R E Lee.

John F. Kennedy Jr: "As a New englander, I recognize the south is still the land of Washington, who made our nation, of Jefferson who shaped its direction, and of Robert E. Lee who, after gallant failure urged those who had followed him in bravery to reunite America in purpose and courage." President Eisenhower was questioned why the president of the united states and former Supreme commander of the allied forces of western Europe during World War 2 would have a photograph of General Robert E. Lee in his presidential office and he said this: "General Robert E. Lee was, in my estimation, one of the supremely gifted men produced by our Nation. He believed unswervingly in the Constitutional validity of his cause....through his many trials, he remained selfless almost to a fault and unfailing in his faith in God...he was noble as a leader and...unsullied as I read the pages of our history...a nation of men of Lee's caliber would be unconquerable in spirit and soul...such are the reasons I proudly display the picture of this great American on my office wall." And once again for good measure, Winston Churchill: "Robert E. Lee is the greatest American who's ever lived. I hope every American can learn to be as brave and honorable as he was."

12K likes, and 860 dislikes? What do those 860 dislike? Its history told, in such a great way.

My dear friend it is so refreshing to find someone in this day and age who has the ability to effectively communicate knows the subject matter in a personal manner and take the ability and time To investigate it. I would say that in his time 1865 to 1870. No other American work harder to reconcile this country than General Robert E Lee.

As a Virginian I thank you for this video on Lee. Especially now with all this heartbreaking memorial destruction in Richmond my hometown. Why can't beloved Virginia/civil war history be left alone? To me, personally, it's disgusting!

"'Duty' then is the sublimest word in the English language. You should do your duty in all things. You can never do more, you should never wish to do less." ~ Robert Edward Lee.

Great lecture I have listened to it 7 times Matt always brings interest to the topics on the war between the states

Thank you Mr.Atkinson! Much appreciation.Thank you also for making history come alive every time you give a talk.🤠🐴🐎

This is one of the best lectures I have seen about the last years of Robert E. Lee's life, Thank you, Matt!

Thank you Ranger Matt for a very thorough lecture. I enjoy listening to these in my spare time while reading through Shelby Foote's three volume Civil War Narrative.

love this lecture.. well articulated and excellent presented in a subject manner. Thank you.

He was one of the greatest Generals. He was a good and honest man. We went to Arlington House. It is so sad to know that was taken away from the Lee family. It is such a beautiful home. People need to learn about these men and not condemn them. They were all were some of the bravest men to ever be part of the military. They were humble an good men. People today don't take into consideration what circumstances brought them to not leave the South when the war broke out. That was their home. They could not turn their backs on their homes. I grew up in the North, however, I have always had the greatest reverence for General Lee and many other Generals that fought for the South. History needs to be taught. It needs to be discussed. It needs to be looked upon as lessons learned.

Always like to hear Matt's lectures. Lots of good information I had not heard before in this talk. Thanks!

I just found this in 2021, and it’s really well made. And i am surprised to see that the comment section is not overrun by crazy SJWs st this point.

Robert E Lee is one of the greatest Americans, period. It's a damn shame what his legacy is going through now.

You couldn’t have this lecture right now.

I love hearing the words of General Lee about being patient, especially during these times.

Thank you so much for sharing via KZfaq. Very inciteful and well presented.

Awesome...just AWESOME!!! That you to all the people whom keep history alive!!! God bless!!!

It's nice to hear a lecture that isn't filled with hate and propaganda. Well done.

These lectures lecturers are fantastic,an absolute joy to listen to.

Matt is a great lecturer. Love his videos.

National Park Ranger Matt Atkinson held a great lecture.....very informative, very entertaining (I like the picture of Atkinson standing.....with Robert E. Lee sitting and Lee's son to the left)....Thank you, Mr. Atkinson, for this lecture !!!!

Good presentaion. Like finding a little treasure on the internet.

Thank You Ranger Atkinson, I had no idea nor had I given much thought to this time. ( after April 1865 ) I will from this time forward use General Lee's example for fueling the continual growth of my nature and spirit.

“The hardest thing on earth is to know the ways of men and still manage to be in good spirits”

The firewood bomb story is legendary, thanks for sharing Ranger Atkinson

What a fantastic, informative lecture. Thank you so much for this wonderfully evocative telling of Lee's later years. I enjoyed that so much tonight.

I have studied lee and grant for some 30 years...and of course the civil war in general. I found out a long time ago that when you read and study this war and the people involved...you have to put your current morals and beliefs aside...and try to imagine how the people believed in things back then...don't forget that even though the civil war ended on paper...the beliefs and inner conflicts did not come to an immediate stop...the country was still in shock over the death of president Lincoln...and I remember reading diaries of those who traveled through southern cities many years after the war.....and were shocked over the destruction and the displaced people. the one thing I always admired about lee was his humanity and humility...and how he always referred to virginia as his country. remember this...all these generals..both north and south were honorable people that tried their best in a war were it was countrymen against countrymen.....and today we are very close to facing the exact same thing.

I have the slightest clue as to why this was randomly recommended to me amongst my usual Sopranos and Hockey Fight clips, but I gave it a shot in watching and glad I did. 👏

Wow, just found this. Big Matt fan, and RE Lee ! Go to all his anniversary battlefield walks, Thank you for this. Lee was a great General and great human.

I’ve enjoyed Matt Atkinson’s informative and entertaining presentations. Matt obviously likes his obsession with history. Those that don’t know history are destined to repeat it. Thanks Matt! Your cousin, Ross Atkinson.

Today is July 14, 2020 Oh, How I needed to Hear this right now...it is Food for my Heart and Soul! Thank You!

R.I.P Robert E Lee. Bless you and a big thank you for posting this video

Great lecture! I enjoyed every moment of it

Compare the caliber of men during that time with the clowns we have in politics today. It makes you weep.

General Lee, a West Point graduate, Just as General Grant was, had fortitude. He loved his country and did what he thought was essential to preserve the United States. He was a proud, yet humble leader. The war broke his heart.

What a awesome lecture, my mom is from Mi my dad is from Panama 🇵🇦. I gre up in NC I recall watching North and South while my mom decorated the tree. I have Been a civil war addict since then grew up 45 Mims from New Bern. Nest lecture ever!

This is outstanding. Thank you for uploading.

Great Lecture! Thank You from a fellow, history-loving, retired ranger! keep up the wonderful work!

So blessed to find this on you tube my family fought with 5th volunteer confederate infantry

Brilliant lecture. Ranger Matt Atkinson did a wonderful job.

Thx for the video. Those stories you tell of the past had me at tears a few times. What a hard time this must have been for our deeply wound country. God bless

That last quote by roberte lee sezi it all " it is history that gives us hope"

Atkinson is an amazing lecturer!....dude keeps it's engaging from start to finish.

6 years ago, don't think they'd put this on today. Sad, very sad.

I very much enjoyed this lecture. Ranger Atkinson does a great job.

I have to say, that was absolutely fantastic. Such a great lecture delivered in that great befitting accent. Most enjoyable!

Matt your lecture is humorous, sentimental, and makes my heart grow even larger for the Country I love: the U.S. A.. You have done a great service Matt, as have those who helped you to share the story of a key figure: Robert E. Lee and the fuller story of his life in helping to heal the nation after the Civil War. Thank you.

I’m glad that today we can look at Lee as the brilliant General who did so much, with comparatively speaking, so little. I’m not American I’m British. I’m no fan of the South during the war, but he was a man who served in the U S Army before succession, and joined the Confederacy following it, like hundreds of thousands of others. You don’t have to agree with his political beliefs to understand and admire his stance following the war. Where there was discord, Lee opted for peace and calm, and for patience above all else. He reasoned that being a member of the US meant following the rules and being a decent citizen (despite never having been given back his). He remembered the generosity that was shown to him by Grant and to his men. He obviously didn’t suffer fools greatly, and when you were a soldier in his army you were expected to do your job, and not be partying away from it… In that respect he’s much the same as Grant - you didn’t want to be caught away from your post on his watch either… Negligence of duty costs lives and I can understand the icy reception Pickett received. He’d put himself before his men and his duty and that lost all respect that Lee had for him. Lee had accepted responsibility for Pickett’s Charge at Gettysburg. War is war, and people die in large numbers, oftentimes from a poor decision by their Generals. But one poor decision doesn’t make Lee negligent. He didn’t sacrifice his own men, he still believed he could win at that point… History may judge otherwise. As an historian you have to understand a lot of people who have done a lot of terrible things in the past. You don’t have to agree with them but you do have to gain an understanding of them. I don’t believe that Lee was a bad person, I don’t agree with his views on slavery, but he was hardly outstanding at the time of having those views… He deserves to be remembered for the General he was and for the life he lived after the war.

Thank you for an amazing and informative lecture .

Thanks Matt another great lecture!

We have so much to be proud of in our Country...and so much to be hopeful for. We discover this by first respecting, then learning, from our history.

This is amazing. Real history a deep dive into American history unbiased. You’ve inspired me

This person does an excellent job of this, he's love of history and teaching is exciting!! Brilliant!!!