Lee Lee's appreciation of privates

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Brev. Brig. Gen'l
Honored Fallen Comrade
Joined
Dec 3, 2011
Location
Laurinburg NC
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General R. E. Lee evidenced his appreciation of the privates when he said to one of them who was standing near his tent, "Come in, Captain, and take a seat."

"I'm no captain. General; I'm nothing but a private," said the modest soldier.

"Come in, sir," said Lee. "Come in and take a seat; you ought to be a captain."

Although playfully uttered, these simple words reflected the real sentiment of the great chieftain.

Source: BUTLER AND HIS CAVALRY IN THE WAR OF SECESSION 1861-1865, By U. R. Brooks, 1909
Link to free e-book: https://archive.org/details/cu31924032778684
Photo: Strategy in the Snow –Artwork of Mort Kunstler
 
Lee did care for all those in his army, and knew the enlisted man was the backbone of the ANV. He did his best to care for their needs to the utmost limits of the resources available to him, and ate their rations and would give the wounded his seat on a train. All this endeared him to his men and created a fierce loyalty which went well past any desire to fight for "the cause". If "Marse Robert" asked, them to, they would have assaulted the gates of hell rather than dissapoint him.
 
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