Get educated fuckers.....
Why do Americans, and free people around the world admire Robert E. Lee?
While the American War between The States ended ~150 years ago, a recent phenomena in the 21st century has been removing the statues, monuments, and even markers in cemeteries of American Veterans from that war. A figure in the center of this controversy and from that time period is General Robert Edward Lee. During the war and long after its conclusion, Lee was well respected across America, and around the globe for many reasons.
Lee’s family lived in Virginia since the 1600’s. His father was revolutionary war hero Major General Henry Lee, who served under George Washington and was elected governor of Virginia after the war. Robert Lee married the step-great-granddaughter of George Washington. Lee never personally owned slaves until his wife inherited them as part of estate(s) entailed upon him as an executor, and after the death of his father-in-law. Once the estates were settled, in accordance of his father-in-law’s will and estate law of Virginia. he and his wife worked to legally manumit (free) all of the ~200 estate slaves by late 1862, [1] [2]. Lee and his wife started the process of legal manumission in 1850, educated, trained and treated all the estate’s chattel slaves as “hired hands” or put them “on shares” according to Lee’s lifelong friend and butler, Rev. Mac Lee. Lee also helped some enroll in apprenticeships in various trades as far away as Richmond VA.
Lee acknowledged the institution of slavery as evil in a letter to his wife:
“…In this enlightened age, there are few I believe, but what will acknowledge, that slavery as an institution, is a moral & political evil in any Country….” [3]
Lee was known as a man of honor and his devout Christian faith. He advised his men; “No day should be lived unless it was begun with a prayer of thankfulness and an intercession for guidance."
Robert E. Lee garners both national and international respect for his military prowess. In the Mexican-American War, he was one of General Winfield Scott’s chief aides and distinguished himself in leading several pivotal battles.
US General Winfield Scott said of Lee in 1848; “Robert E. Lee is not only the greatest soldier of America, but the greatest soldier now living in the world. This is my deliberate conviction, from a full knowledge of his extraordinary abilities, and, if the occasion ever arises, Lee will win this place in the estimation of the whole world."
Lee, as the most distinguished graduate of in the history of the US Military at West Point, and later Superintendent, was a skilled military engineer. He was appointed to undertake an initiative to make significant improvements in US coastal fortifications, a position that required extensive travel throughout the US.
When in 1860 Congress passed the 35%-47% Morrill Tariffs, Cotton states threatened secession. Lee wrote to his son advocating against secession, as he felt it would be detrimental to the nation, however he expressed that he would go with whatever route Virginia chose.
“…It is idle to talk of secession. Anarchy would have been established & not a government by Washington, Hamilton, Jefferson, Madison & the other patriots of the Revolution. In 1808 when the New England States resisted Mr Jeffersons Imbargo law & the Hartford Convention assembled, secession was termed treason by Virginia statesmen. What can it be now? Still a union that can only be maintained by swords & bayonets, & in which strife & civil war are to take the place of brotherly love & kindness, has no charm for me. I shall mourn for my country, & for the welfare & progress of mankind. If the Union is dissolved & the government disrupted, I shall return to my native State & share the miseries of my people & save in her defense will draw my sword on none.” [4]
When Abraham Lincoln raised a 75,000 man federal invasion force in April, 1861 to “collect tariffs and imposts” and “reassert federal authority”. Lee was offered a command of this US force, which he respectfully declined. In response to Lincoln’s presidential adviser Francis Blair, Lee is reported to have said:
“[…] how can I draw my sword upon Virginia, my native state?[…]” [5]
Only after Lincoln ordered a blockade of Virginia’s ports, and initiated War between the States did Lee accept an appointment to command by Virginia’s Governor. In the summer of 1862 Lee was appointed to command the Army of Northern Virginia. Over the next 3 years, Lee’s army faced superior numbers of enemy forces in EVERY major battle fought by his army, he operated with limited supplies, and federal blockade of supplies by sea. Despite this, Lee’s army engaged in ~2000 battles and skirmishes, defeated 4 federal invasion attempts and launched 2 counter invasions into Union territory. Lee’s army inflicted so many casualties of Northern invaders that Lincoln’s Federal government, in a spiteful move, started to bury them on Lee’s estate at Arlington near Washington D.C. and officially turned it into a cemetery in 1864.
Lee’s strategic goal while in command was to defeat the Federal army in a decisive battle to establish peace talks that would result in independence for the Confederate states. Despite besting six Union generals, Lee couldn’t achieve his strategic goal. In the first two battles against Ulysses S. Grant, Lee personally led his men in critical moments of the battle, where his shocked men would scream “LEE TO THE REAR” to encourage him to stay out of danger. [6] [7] After 4 years of continuous war his starving army finally surrendered in a war of attrition by Ulysses S Grant.
Lee was admired by all Americans in the post war due to his critical role and in ending the deadliest conflict in American history. Against the wishes of his government and passionate generals, Lee chose to surrender his ~20,000 troops rather than drag on the war. Lee wrote to Confederate President Jefferson Davis:
“…A partisan war may be continued, and hostilities protracted, causing individual suffering and the devastation of the country, but I see no prospect by that means of achieving a separate independence. It is for Your Excellency to decide, should you agree with me in opinion, what is proper to be done. To save useless effusion of blood, I would recommend measures be taken for suspension of hostilities and the restoration of peace.”
Six days later following Lee’s advice and rejecting orders from their President, the largest surrender of the war occurred in North Carolina with 89,270 confederates choosing to give up the fight. The remaining Confederate armies would follow his example over the following months. [8]
After the war, Anglo historian Lord Acton wrote to Lee expressing grief over the political ramifications of the conflict. Responding to Acton, Lee explained his reasoning in choosing to side with the state governments:
“….I can only say that while I have considered the preservation of the constitutional power of the General Government to be the foundation of our peace and safety at home and abroad, I yet believe that the maintenance of the rights and authority reserved to the states and to the people, not only essential to the adjustment and balance of the general system, but the safeguard to the continuance of a free government. I consider it as the chief source of stability to our political system, whereas the consolidation of the states into one vast republic is sure to be aggressive abroad and despotic at home and will be the certain precursor of that ruin which has overwhelmed all those that have preceded it. I need not refer one so well acquainted as you are with American history, to the State papers of Washington and Jefferson, the representatives of the federal and democratic parties, denouncing consolidation and centralization of power, as tending to the subversion of State Governments, and to despotism…” [9]
In 1866 Lee wrote concerning the pending ratification of the 13th Amendment;
“Although the South would have preferred any honourable compromise to the fratricidal war which has taken place, she now accepts in good faith its constitutional results, and receives without reserve the amendment which has already been made to the constitution for the extinction of slavery. This is an event that has long been sought, though in a different way, and by none has it been more earnestly desired than by citizens of Virginia.”
In conclusion, tearing down Lee’s statues and monuments isn’t going to provide solutions to modern political problems or change the past. Robert E. Lee was a noble “rebel” general married into George Washington’s family fighting for independence, and embodies the American character of “rebels” resisting centralized political power.
