Lee Robert E. Lee Revisited. Again. And Again.

[7thWisconsin]

Lee's health was quite poor in the last years of his life. I wonder if he would have been less bitter, and more helpful than he was perceived to be had he simply felt better. And wo knows what influence he might have had had he lived ten more years.

 

[damYankee]

Lee's health was quite poor in the last years of his life. I wonder if he would have been less bitter, and more helpful than he was perceived to be had he simply felt better. And wo knows what influence he might have had had he lived ten more years.

I agree completely, my previous posts may sound like harsh criticism, but that is not my intention. Objective observations can be misinterpreted. Lee is an enigma,.
The power of media hype, even 150 years ago clouds our perception. Both sides of any conflict needs heroes and generals are typically made into larger than life creatures that seldom reflects reality.
I believe Lee understood that and was uncomfortable with it.

 

[BillO]

Unlike fellow Virginians George Thomas and Winfield Scott, Lee's family past and traditions bound him so intrinsically to Virginia that I can almost commisserate with him about his choice to leave the "Old Flag." Still, worst choice made by any historical figure.

Not even close, history, particularly military history, is loaded with really bad choices. Empires rise and fall on both luck and bad decisions.

 

[Carronade]

His persistence in continuing the war after he realized the South was defeated was costly in the lives of his men as well as the Yankees and not necessarily a creditable act.

That was not Lee's decision but rather that of the Confederate government. The only decision Lee could make was surrendering his own army when it was justified by the situation in the field.

 

[unionblue]

Not even close, history, particularly military history, is loaded with really bad choices. Empires rise and fall on both luck and bad decisions.

Lee made his choice.

We have to live with it.

 

[jackt62]

Not even close, history, particularly military history, is loaded with really bad choices. Empires rise and fall on both luck and bad decisions.

Right, let me rephrase, Lee's choice was not the "worst," simply one of the many worst decisions.

 

[BillO]

Right, let me rephrase, Lee's choice was not the "worst," simply one of the many worst decisions.

Better, thanks. Of course Lee's decision cost him his health, his home and his retirement.

 

[Lt R. Blackwell 4th Texas]

Yea, if only Joe Johnston hadn't been wounded at Fair Oaks. I'm sure he would have driven McClellan away from Richmond, won a smashing victory against Pope, and carried the war to the doorsteps of Washington in two months, thereby prolonging the war for three years. And he would have done it with 1/2 of the casualties. Give me a break. Typical Lee-hater drivel.

Reality check - No other General North or South could have done that.

 

[unionblue]

Yea, if only Joe Johnston hadn't been wounded at Fair Oaks. I'm sure he would have driven McClellan away from Richmond, won a smashing victory against Pope, and carried the war to the doorsteps of Washington in two months, thereby prolonging the war for three years. And he would have done it with 1/2 of the casualties. Give me a break. Typical Lee-hater drivel.

Reality check - No other General North or South could have done that.

Real Reality check:

With Lee, there is nothing typical, to include "hater-drivel" from any forum member here.

Don't label, just show evidence that supports your own view.

 

[WilliamH]

Hmmm some of Lee's contemporary Generals also thought he was overrated...

"(Lee) is too cautious & weak under grave responsibility" -McClellan

... but that didn't really work to well for him.

General Lee was the best General the Confederacy had and managed to win remarkable victories with limited men and supplies. It's easy (and fun) to play armchair general but thats all "what ifs" with an infinite amount of variables and outcomes.

Could he/Should he have surrendered earlier avoiding additional bloodshed? Sure, but again that's easy for me to say with hindsight.

However, for General Lee someone who believed in what he was fighting for and that God was on his side. Someone who had risked his life for the cause and whats more had commanded other men, many his friends, to die for the cause. Someone whos home had been taken from him, and had seen his greater home of VA suffer from the passing of armies and the fighting of battles. Someone who had lead men to great victories on the battlefield and I can only imagine someone who had more than once seen finial victory within his reach.

It is expecting alot to ask this man to now accept that there is no hope in victory, accept that God was not on his side for victory, accept that all of those men he had lead into death was in vain, accept that all the suffering he have endured and caused was for not…

With that in mind, I think it is understandable why he fought on and why he may have been bitter at "those people"

 

[W. Richardson]

Lee.............He did more with less than any other War for Southern Independence general.

Have myth's been made of Lee? Yes they have. He was not perfect, not a God, and just a mere mortal.

Greatest Southerner of all time.

Respectfully,
William

 

[Florida Rebel]

I sure do appreciate seeing the posts from Corporal William H and Capt. W Richardson! And I'm sure there are numerous other people who feel like we do. When I talk Civil War history with a few of my friends, even some "Yankees," they agree that not only was Lee the finest General and leader on either side, he along with Winfield Scott, George Washington and Dwight Eisenhower were the top/best Army commanders in our nation's history. Was Lee human and did he make some mistakes? Of course he did, what leader is always going to be perfect? As for anyone who think he was too aggressive and risky, Lee, more than anyone else in the South, knew his country's people and their limitations. If the South didn't win fast, they had no chance. That's why Lee favored offensive tactics (and got along with Jackson so well) and invaded the North twice. It also explains his behavior at Gettysburg. If only he had had truly good subordinates there who understood what he was trying to accomplish! Can anyone imagine what it must have felt like for Lee to have Longstreet constantly fighting him on strategy along with having his 2 other corp commanders, Ewell and Hill - brand new by the way, learning on the job? Plus the loss of Stuart and his eyes for most of that time? Then what? Who knows.

 

[W117Monte]

Lee.............He did more with less than any other War for Southern Independence general.

Have myth's been made of Lee? Yes they have. He was not perfect, not a God, and just a mere mortal.

Greatest Southerner of all time.

Respectfully,
William

If you want to divide people by their region, then one could argue that Washington was the greatest "southerner" of all time. Without Washington's actions, there would have been no country for Lee to betray and fight against.

 

[CSA Today]

If you want to divide people by their region, then one could argue that Washington was the greatest "southerner" of all time. Without Washington's actions, there would have been no country for Lee to betray and fight against.

Another Southerner who had had enough from the old country.

 

[James N.]

If you want to divide people by their region, then one could argue that Washington was the greatest "southerner" of all time. Without Washington's actions, there would have been no country for Lee to betray and fight against.

Another Southerner who had had enough from the old country.

I'm currently rereading the Bruce Catton classic Grant Moves South in which he recounts an 1861 meeting between Grant and Confederate General Leonidas Polk. During the meeting drinks were served and to be polite Grant offered a toast to Washington, to which Polk replied, "The original Rebel."