Letter to the Editor

Keep Civil War history in context

To the editor:While it is always good to preserve sites of historical significance, it is important that history be kept in its proper context. Unfortunately, the promoters of the Fort D Days celebration in Cape Girardeau have chosen not to do so.

In May 1 Southeast Missourian, Scott House was quoted as saying that the fort was a "backwater post" where families would regularly come to visit the troops. The story added: "Many of those troops were German immigrants who had fled the nearby countryside due to terrorist acts perpetrated by Confederate militias and soldiers." If there was anti-German sentiment in this area it was most likely the result of the St. Louis Massacre of May 10-12, 1861.

Cape Girardeau was an occupied city. The occupiers were made up mainly of German immigrants and units from Illinois.

Proof that Cape Girardeau was an occupied city can be found in an article by Cape Girardeau County Prosecuting Attorney Morley Swingle and published in the Southeast Missourian April 26, 2003: "As the sun rose April 26, 1863, 5,000 Confederate soldiers ... took positions ... . Six of the eight companies of rebels ... were Cape Girardeau County boys, preparing to attack and liberate their own hometown."

As usual the Yankee revisionists can't make up their minds. They often say that Missouri was overwhelmingly Union. Now they've decided that Fort D was place for the poor German immigrant victim to seek safe haven from Confederates.

Those who wish to honor Cape's liberators should visit the beautiful Confederate War monument on the grounds of Courthouse Park.

CLINT E. LACY, Marble Hill, MO.