Robert E. Lee, Confederate General
Monday January 19, 2009
Robert E. Lee was born on January 19, 1807. He was the son of Revolutionary War hero "Light Horse Harry" Lee. He attended the U.S. Military Academy and then proved himself in the Mexican-American War. Robert E. Lee actually opposed the U.S. Civil War until Virginia decided to secede from the Union. He then chose to fight for his home state and was appointed to be a General in the Confederate Army by President Jefferson Davis. Lee was put in charge of the Army of Northern Virginia. Even though he was on the losing side of the war, he was seen as a southern hero and eventually lauded in the north for his valor and military tactics.
Comments
Lee was a great man that was also a great general. Humility and dignity was his trade mark. Lee and Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson executed one of the most brillant campaigns of war the world has ever witnessed. Lee was the master planner and Jackson the executer. The “friendly fire” death of Jackson brought an end to this amazing partnership and doomed the Southern States in their quest to win the Second War of Independence.
A great, great man. If only he would have had adequate resources to wage a war against the invaders, Southers would live in a free country today.
God bless Geneal Lee……. His duty was but to God, family and Virginia.
If only there more like him in the world today……….
he was a man of great valor and extreme reverence… if it wasn’t for “stonewall” jackson’s death, then the outcome of the civil war would’ve been different, no?
It may be of interest to many to learn that Robert E. Lee is the only cadet, EVER, to have completed the entire course of study at West Point with no demerits. He was known as the “Marble Model”.
I, too, admire Lee greatly, but I find it so disheartening that most of the comments so far express wishes that the Unite Staes would have lost that horrible war!
Lee made his mistakes, as all military commanders do in some fashion or another. The war has been lost and it’s important to look at what we have gained, yet, there will always be a part of me and I would imagine most southerners that wishes we won the war. The current state of our nation speaks volumes to the failure of Federalism and Unionism.
Robert E. Lee did not have a great president behind him, did not have a great quartermaster corps, even a great transportation head. He had no naval protection and few skilled diplomats.
He discouraged and avoided the possibility of a guerilla war by surrendering. No one doubts his integrity,humility,and courage. Unlike many Union generals he did not seek the glory.This is why he has served as a model for southerners through the ages.
A great honorable man whose VA roots through his own family and those of his Wife through George Washington, made him stay with the south. One of the better field leaders in US History, with exception to Gettysburg, the Seven Days and Petersburg, all mistakes mostly due to a lack of manpower and impatience. Was slavery the made issue?…..if not then why is it mentioned in nearly every southern states articles of secession? It was the cause of nearly five years of bloodshed
Here we go with the slavery BS in an article about the Great General Lee. FYI Mr. Johnson the North benefitted more than the South from Slavery. Where did the cotton come from that made the greedy New England textile merchants with the child labor and inhuman working conditions rich?? What about the Irish and others in squalid tenements who had it worse than slaves? It IS a shame Stonewall perished when he did as the pair would have certainly made a difference at Gettyburg and who knows from there. Yes, John, there are still many people who wish the outcome was different including myself. I do still salute the stars and bars.
You live in our hearts and minds forever General Lee.(a Pittsburgher)
If Robert E. Lee would have led the Union side they would have one much faster and not so many people would have died. This would have happened because Robert E. Lee had such good tactics. He he wouold have only done that we wouldn’t have slaughtered as many as we saw in the Civil War.
General Lee was a great man! he was brave and worthy to be the general of the confederates. Even though he lost the war he won a place in History as one of the greatest generals!
Perhaps Lee’s greatest legacy, shared with U.S. Grant is that America healed from the great civil war and was not quagmired in the hate and violence that plagues so many other parts of the world. A wonderful Christain gentleman who released his slaves before the war ever started… it wasn’t about slavery but that idea has been previously rejected by revisionist historians.
Are you guys CRAZY? your actually telling me you wish the south has won? Listen I was born in Alabama, raised in Texas. I’m a complete southerner but do u serriously think we should still have slavery?
If the CSA would have won the war(and assuming they would not have fought again) slavery was going to eventually die out. Some historians say that it would have only taken 10-15 years. Some say it would have taken around 60. But slavery would be gone. A gradual emancipation of slaves was certainly the best answer and that is what most people wanted including southerners. It should be noted this how relatively close to how northern free states emancipated their slaves, over a long period of time.
Ok here is the issue..Robert E. Lee was a great man. That much is obvious. And i think its fascinating that we have the same last name! Anyways besides the fact of what a brave and great general he was..that doesn’t change the fact that he was fighting for the Rebels. Yeah i love the south i live in Texas for crying out loud, but i do not agree with the fight for slavery. It was wrong and cruel. And who ever said this would be better if the south had won…well you need to really start thinking about what would have happened to this country. Im glad the north won no matter how much i love my home sweet home the south. The outcome of the civil war was very good. This country has accomplished so much more by staying together. And Im happy with our flag today…we dont need the Rebel flag…we are so much better than that!
he was a good man
i’m from canada and you from Texas don’t even know your own history the war wasn’t over slavery.The Confederate battle flag is the coolest flag ever and anyone that looks at it as racist or hate is igornit to dislike something they know nothing about
If you think the war was not about slavery, you are a fool. If there were no slaves, I am 100% certain that there would have been no rebellion. You can spin it however you want, but the war was really all about slavery.
Robert E. Lee led the largest terrorist movement in this nation’s history. All of you who are claiming he is some kind of great person need to get some perspective.
Approximately 364,511 United States soldiers died in this war. At least 100,000, and many would tell you more like 250,000, terrorist rebels also died. Had Robert E. Lee chosen to fight for his country, both numbers could well have been much lower. Instead, he decided that defending the institution of slavery was the better cause.
As one of the primary leaders in the biggest terrorist movement in American history, Robert E. Lee is one of the most evil Americans in history. He killed thousands in the name of protecting white “rights” to own black people. You are actually completely insane if you honestly believe, after some reflection, that Robert E. Lee was a “great man.”
Rob, you must be a terrorist yourself. How dare you call one of the most revered Generals of the war a terrorist. He did not want ot fight at all. He was against slavery himself and only fought because his home land was being attacked by McClellan. I would defend my own state too if it came down to it. YOU, sir, need some perspective.
I was born and raised in the north. Though slavery was an issue in the war, it was not the key issue. People of the North didn’t treat African Americans any better than the people of the South. Sometimes it was worse. The key issue was the succession of the South. By succession they were braking up the United States, weakening it and making it vulnerable. The North was trying to keep it intact and strong, slavery was but a side issue. Some people say how could General Lee have fought for the South and therefore slavery. It is so easy to ask that now, we have never been put in that position. We like to think we would take what we consider the honorable route whatever we may consider that to be. General Lee fought to preserve his home and family. Would you do any less? Those were different times and Lee was human after all and wasn’t perfect. Personally I am glad the Union is intact and slavery is no more. I may not agree with General Lee’s politics but I do believe he was a man to be respected. It is possible to respect your enemy.
The South was not well equiped enough to fight the Union army. Its funny how they thought they could win seriously. An alot of people associate the Rebel flag with rasicm because even after the war the South was still finding ways to treat blacks like slaves.