Lincoln goes south

Richmond, Va.

A statue of Abraham Lincoln was unveiled in a Richmond park this week, sparking protests from Southerners who still revere the Confederacy. The United States Historical Society erected the monument in memory of a visit Lincoln made to Richmond with his son, Tad, days after Union troops captured the Confederate capital during the Civil War. The visit was “a mission of peace and reconciliation,” and should be commemorated, said one Historical Society official. But the Sons of Confederate Veterans said the statue was an insult to Southerners, and in protest, held a vigil at the grave of Confederate President Jefferson Davis. “As a Southerner, I’m offended,” said Bragdon Bowling. “What’s next, a statue of Sherman in Atlanta?”