Why do it?

[atlantis]

Lee had a future with the US army his home was across from Washington DC, Joe Johnston had a future with the US army his wife was from Maryland, A S Johnston had a future with the US army His native state Kentucky did not secede, there are many others with similar story yet they all threw away a promising future. Will we ever truly know how they could have made such a huge mistake.
Lee supposedly told Scott he feared his children would be ruined if he went against Virginia but is that credible. Did he have so little faith in the US to protect his children's future.
Then you have the question of slavery, none of these officers who served at some point in the US military could be called fire eaters on the issue of slavery not even the ones who owned slaves.
What could possess such men to convince them to take up arms in rebellion, to risk all they held dear.
These same men, those who survived the rebellion returned to being loyal productive citizens of the US, so my question WHY DO IT.

 

[LtGenHenryWagerHalleck]

Clearly he believed in a the cause though it was the one of the worst causes for which a people ever fought. I don't know why he didn't stay loyal it's not like being from Virginia automatically means you betray the union. For example George Thomas and Winfield Scott were both Virginians.

There was a choice and I think he deserve the respect of us understanding that he could and did make a decision though it was a terrible one.

 

[uaskme]

Lee fought for VA. VA didn't secede until after Lincoln called up the 75K Troops to protect Lincoln's Presidency and the Republican Party. So, VA left the Union. Kind of hard to fight FOR VA insider the Union. Lee's family had a long history in VA. Lincoln pledged to protect Slavery in 1860. Federal Government had done a fine job of it. So, in 1861 Slavery wasn't the Issue.

Grant owned at least 1 Slave. Wife was gifted 4 which wiped Grants lazy butt. He leased slaves and worked on a plantation that produced hemp. All the advantages of marrying into a southern family who had wealth, property which included slaves, He was too lazy to make a go out of it. Ended up selling fire wood. He bought wood from blacks because they couldn't get a fair price. Grant did do something industrialist. He paid them a little bit more for it. Added his White Privilege Tax on it and make a profit. All from someone who had a upper class family, education from West Point and a Military career.

So he probably isn't a good one to Preach about Slavery. Of which he benefited from. Classic sarcastic Grant.