Workers dismantling a Robert E. Lee statue discovered a second time capsule on Monday, raising hopes that the box from 1887 could contain something interesting. A time capsule opened last week at the site was filled with nothing but boring documents and soggy envelopes, a common occurrence for many time capsule opened here in the 21st century.
The statue of Robert E. Lee, a Confederate general and traitor to the United States, was removed in September and a time capsule was rumored to have been located at the site. The second time capsule that was discovered on Monday is believed to be the one that could contain some interesting pieces of history, according to the Times-Dispatch.
The time capsule will be opened by a person. Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam said that it was at 10:00. The Governor's office notes that a live video will be provided, but it's not clear where people will be able to watch the event.
What could be in this time capsule? There are at least 60 items from the Confederacy, including a rare photo of Lincoln lying in his coffin, according to historians. Why would a group of Confederates put a picture of Lincoln in his coffin in a time capsule? They were celebrating the warped ideals of the Confederacy.
From the Times-Dispatch.
The articles were described as Confederate propaganda. The image of Lincoln in his coffin was a way for the South to continue the idea of the Lost Cause, according to an author and historian who has studied the capsule's history.
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There is only one genuine photo of Lincoln after his death, according to a report. It was taken in New York in 1865 while Lincoln was on his way to be buried.
The Times-Dispatch published a list of possible items in the time capsule that were discovered in a newspaper article from 1898.
A picture of Abraham Lincoln is in a coffin.
George Fisher donated a history of the church.
A collection of Confederate buttons.
A copy of Carlton McCarthy's "Detailed Minutiae of Soldier Life in the Army of Northern Virginia" was given to him.
A map of the city and a map of Virginia are included in the guide.
Frank Brown gave three bullets, a piece of shell and a Minié ball from a battlefield.
A Bible from a man.
J.B. Halyburton has statistics of the city ofRichmond.
A battle flag and a square and compass were made from a tree over Jackson's grave.
John F. Mayer had a $100,000 Confederate bond.
W.T. Moseley had an English penny.
The October 26, 1887 edition of the Dispatch was published in the state of Virginia.
Time capsule have a tendency to disappoint people in the future because people of the past often underestimate how fascinating their lists of prominent businessmen and political leaders are. One of the worst ways to preserve history is to bury it. They are often a soggy mess because water typically penetrates whatever box has been used, no matter how carefully constructed.
There is a chance that this time capsule might not be the correct one. The time capsule dimensions are slightly off from what was described in a newspaper article. The dimensions of the copper box discovered on Monday were not in the location described in the article.
Robert E. Lee is dead and his modern-day followers are crying their little tears over the removal of his statue. Donald Trump whined about the removal of the statue.
The Confederacy is no longer alive. Get over it.
