Happy Birthday Robert

April 18, 1861: President Lincoln, through Postmaster General Montgomery Blair, offers Colonel Robert E Lee overall command of the Union Army.

Lee is faced with the most difficult decision of his life. He believes in the Union and is against secession. He has served in the US Army for 30 years. Lee also believes slavery is a “moral and political evil.”  However, his home, Virginia seceded just the day before. Lee will pace in his parlor in Arlington all night.

Lee will decline the command and resign from the US Army on April 20, 1861, stating: “I cannot raise my hand against my birthplace, my home, my children. Save in defense of my native state, I never desire again to draw my sword.” Lee also stated directly to Mr. Blair, “If I owned the four million slaves, I would cheerfully sacrifice them to the preservation of the Union, but to lift my hand against my own State and people is impossible.”

General Lee and I Corps commander General Longstreet observe the Union assault on Marye’s Heights on December 13, 1862. Lee is quoted as stating to Longstreet upon the repulse of the Union attack by the I Corps, “It is well that war is so terrible; else we should grow too fond of it.”

It was early evening, July 3, 1863, the fighting on Cemetery Ridge lasted a little more than an hour, as eventually even the feared and respected veterans of the Army of Northern Virginia could not hold their hard-fought positions on Cemetery Ridge anymore. If any Confederate is to survive that attack, they must retreat. The ~3,500 Confederate survivors were fired into relentlessly as they retreated back to Seminary Ridge. A shocked General Lee comforted the survivors by repeatedly saying, “Don’t be discouraged, it was all my fault this time. All good men must hold together.” Shortly thereafter, an anguished General Pickett reported to General Lee that his division had been destroyed. Lee responded, “Come, General Pickett, this has been my fault and upon my shoulders rest the blame. The men and officers of your command have written the name of Virginia today as high as it has ever been written before.”   

Virginia cavalryman Rawleigh Dunaway, wrote in a letter home in February 1865 what most soldiers in the Army of Northern Virginia believe and were committed to in 1865. “I have thought the matter over calmly & seriously & have made up my mind to follow that great & good man, Robt. E. Lee, wherever he may lead, to success or to ruin if it must be.” 

The Army of Northern Virginia is devastated, both by the war and news of their surrender, on April 9, 1865, but they still love their general, General Lee, and will follow him anywhere and carry out his orders no matter the hazard. They would have fought to the bitter end, to the last man, had General Lee ordered them to do so. As Lee rides away an overcome soldier extended his arms and shouted, “I love you just as well as ever, General Lee!”

Headquarters, Army of Northern Virginia, April 10, 1865,
After four years’ of arduous service, marked by insurpassed [sic] courage and fortitude, the Army of Northern Virginia has been compelled to yield to overwhelming numbers and resources. I need not tell the survivors of so many hard-fought battles, who have remained steadfast to the last, that I have consented to this result from no distrust of them; but, feeling that valour and devotion could accomplish nothing that could compensate for the loss that would have attended the continuation of the contest, I have determined to avoid the useless sacrifice of those whose past services have endeared them to their countrymen. By the terms of the agreement, officers and men can return to their homes and remain there until exchanged. You will take with you the satisfaction that proceeds from the consciousness of duty faithfully performed; and I earnestly pray that a merciful God will extend to you His blessing and protection. With an increasing admiration of your constancy and devotion to your country, and a grateful remembrance of your kind and generous consideration of myself, I bid you an affectionate farewell.
R.E. Lee, General 

“I have led the young men of the South in battle. I have seen many of them fall under my standard. I shall devote my remaining energies to training young men to do their duty in life.” -Robert E Lee

“So far from engaging in a war to perpetuate slavery, I am rejoiced that slavery is abolished.” -Robert E Lee to John Leyburn, May 1, 1870

“Do your duty in all things. You cannot do more, you should never wish to do less.” -Robert E Lee

Robert E Lee was a Great American, it’s just that “America” was already “moving on” to Becoming The Empire.
sElections Indeed Do Have Dire Consequences. We are There Again.
https://genearly.substack.com/p/a-noose-is-going-to-be-put-around?sd=pf