Lee , as we know graduated with zero demerits from West Point. ZERO. This shows he was a young man of extraordinary discipline and high virtue. Shamed by his father’s legacy, he had something to overcome. He did so by galant living.
Married into the family of George Washington, the legacy of honor and duty became ever more important in his early adult formation. He embraced duty, honor, country.
The history is well known of Lee’s coming into a very meaningful Christianity in mid life—years before the war. We know that his faith in Jesus Christ, and in high church sacramental Christianity (Episcopalian) took root in early mid life and never stopped growing , even to the point of is death. His favorite Protestant hymn was “How Firm a Foundation”. It was played at the unveiling of his statue in Richmond. Look it up and it will tell you a great deal about Lee’s soul.
This sets the stage, I believe for understanding Lee and a core level. How so?
In this way:
To Lee, a man so full of virtue, duty and honor—and possessing a deeply growing and vibrant faith —oaths and promises to The Almighty were meaningful. He raised his hand to the Trinity and took an oath to fight for and defend the United States and it’s Constitution. Then, renouncing that very same oath to God, in order to fight, kill , and destroy ( which is what General’s do) the solders of the United States under the personal belief for a “higher calling” to Virginian independence and it’s slave culture, must have caused emotional and spiritual conflict. If it did not conflict him, he was not the man he appeared to be.I f it did not, Lee was a fraud. We know he was no fraud. Ergo, he was conflicted. Not in his psychology, but in his soul.
Proof that it did in fact conflict him was his constant referral to the Union forces as “Those People”. These , of course were formally “His People”. Proof as well, is that after Gettysburg he issued a proclamation to the AON to repent of their pride and called for a day of fasting. He clearly saw the defeat as the judgment of God against them. Still-he waged war for two more bloody years.
We learn that by March of 1865—as the walls are closing in on the AON, the Confederacy, and Lee, that Lee became expressive —to General Gordan, and especially to his own son—that from “the beginning” he, Lee, knew it was gong to end this way. He said he knew from the outset, that the economic , naval, and manpower superiority of the North would prevail—unless every single man and women the south did their duty. But does anyone agree the ANV and the people of the South did not do their duty? They committed regional suicide. So—he knew it all along. He stated he hated succession and warned against it. But still went forward.
No Union General is recorded as having soul deep doubts at the beginning of the war to it’s end. This is not minor friends. When the Lee is conflicted, and Grant and Sherman are certain of their cause this is a major mis-match of the will and soul.
So we see a tragedy of both Greek and Biblical proportions in Lee. A man from his youth committed to virtue and doing what is right and nobel. A man who finds faith in Christ—beyond the civil religion of both North and South.. He breaks his oath to God. He knows from the very beginning leaving the Union is a mistake, deep in his heart at the start in’61 he believes the South will lose —and looking back in ’65 he says to his son “see I told ya’ll”. Can one even think of this without asking new questions about Lee? What overcame his prudent Christian judgment that would let him lead his state —and the South into utter destruction?
I don’t know for sure—God knows.. But I guess it is the same conflict many have— the writer included. Worldly pride and honor vs. prudence and faith.
Appomattox, on Palm Sunday broke Lee’s pride. It was a person grace. The conflict in the man was over. I like to think that he saw anew the hand of God in the affairs of men. But who shall know? There is a strong outward clue. After Appomattox, Lee became a completed Christian. He was taken, blessed, broken….and given away as a rebuilder of the society he helped to destroy. That is his great legacy.