Robert E. Lee: The Symbol Of The Confederacy

Quite a number of the Confederate’s generals were hurt, dead, or dying which made Lee one of the few generals who were capable of leading the army. In a letter to Jefferson Davis, president of the Confederates, Lee requested him to replace him as general. Document C explains that Lee felt like he not only failed the South, but he also failed himself when he lost The Battle of Gettysburg. Document C states, “I therefore, in all sincerity, request Your Excellency to take measures to supply my place. I do this with the more earnestness because no one is more aware than myself of my inability for the duties of my position” (277).

A Study in Defeat PART ONE The general who could not be defeated – General Robert Edward Lee “Lee is the only man I know whom I would follow blindfold.” General Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson, 1862 I In early April 1861, Colonel Robert Edward Lee was offered field command of the Union armies by Winfield Scott. Lee declined, saying that he could not contemplate fighting against the South in the event of their secession from the Union.

Ben Osland Mr. Reid Social Studies, P.5 November 18, 2014 General Robert E. Lee: Civil War Project Today the Civil War is a major event in our nation, but what would to our nation be like today if a powerful significant person like General Robert E. Lee wasn’t part of the Civil War? Before the Civil War started Robert E. Lee was born and raised in Westmoreland County, Virginia, and was the son of Major General Henry Lee III, or the Governor of Virginia. Lee started his military war when he realized and saw himself as an extension of his family’s greatness in war. At age eighteen he got into the West Point Military Academy, where he worked hard and put his mind to work.

As the political leader of the Confederacy, he assigned Robert E. Lee command of the Army of Northern Virginia in June 1862. He, at first, was a very popular leader. As the war went on, things grew worse for him. Davis failed to raise sufficient money to fight the American Civil War and could not obtain sufficient recognition and help for the Confederacy from foreign governments (Funk and Wagnalls New World Encyclopedia). Davis had to also deal with internal tensions such as a dissident Vice President, a squabbling Congress, and the overwhelming inflation of the Southern

Ulysses S. Grant and Robert E. Lee. According to Bruce Catton, they were two powerful men who survived from the civil war in 1856. Lee was from Virginia, he was of an old age of chivalry. He believed there should be an “inequality within Americas social Structure;” he had a sense of entitlement obligation to community, he was an aristocratic south, he believed in what the culture and tradition of his country; The other General, Ulysses S. Grant, aspired for America that were the opposite

August 1868; General Nathan Bedford Forrest told a Congressional committee after the war: He said to 45 colored fellows on my plantation that I was going into the army; and if they would go with me, if we got whipped they would be free anyhow, and that if we succeeded and slavery was perpetrated, if they would act faithfully with me to the end of the war, I would set them free. Eighteen months before the war closed I was satisfied that we were going to be defeated, and I gave those 45, or 44 of them, their free papers for fear I might be called. In late August, General Nathan Bedford Forrest gave an interview to a reporter. Forrest said of the black men who served with him: "... these boys stayed with me... and better Confederates did not live."

Before and after the Civil War, people loved and respected Robert E. Lee. Not because of the side he fought for, but because he was an honorable man with strong beliefs; as a general he was a fatherly leader his soldiers looked up to; and he was a very clever tactician. Although Lee fights for the Confederacy, many people greatly revered him, even to this day. Robert E. Lee showed how honorable he was when he chose to fight for his home state of Virginia over the United States. He joined the Confederacy because his “mother” state would be fighting with the Confederacy.

He was a man who had gained much admiration from his role in the Mexican American War and his high honors at West Point. Some may think that these may have made him look weak but no one lost respect for the great general. Lee could make quite an impression on people of lower stature. Many people

General Lee was a great strategic war general. He won many great battles for the Confederacy. The biggest battle he won was the Battle of Chancellorsville, which was against a larger Union army. Lee was brave and never lost faith in his

General Robert E. Lee was born into aristocratic lifestyles that instill in him a strong believe in tradition. Lee grew up with money and privileges. He valued family, culture, and tradition. He disliked change. Lee believed that recognition and fortuity came through land ownership, and that should be no competition for status among men.

Robert E. Lee’s (1807-1870) contribution to the United States as a war general and commander received positive connotations for his commitment, attitude and inspiration on the battlefield. However, it is debateable about his contributions because of Robert Lee’s association in the Civil War (1861-1865) to the Confederate Army that fought for the Southern States. Robert Lee lead many successful campaigns and battles including the following; helping defeat Mexican armies that lead to U.S land gains and westward expansion, battles against a more powerful army in the Civil War. Despite these achievements Lee’s loyalty for the Confederate Army that fought to uphold slavery undermines his success and is highly debateable about whether his contribution is justified or not. Robert Lee’s contributions to his nation begin before the Civil War in the Mexican-American War (1846-1848).

The Battle of Gettysburg was a three day fight in which an estimate of 51,000 soldiers were killed in total, but besides all of the casualties, what else makes this battle special? The Battle of Gettysburg was a huge factor in the abolishment of slavery. It is one of the most important battles because it created new war strategies and was the turning point in the Civil War, which led to the Gettysburg Address. The Confederate general, Robert E. Lee, was very confident because of his army utmost victory.

Robert Gould Shaw was an American soldier and the first to command an all-African American regiment. during this time in society, discrimination was huge. What Robert was doing was unbelievable at that time and during situations he also saw them as untouchables yet it took the attack on Fort Wagner for Robert to awaken and see these soldiers as equalities willing to fight for this country. Robert never got the chance to express what happen that day to the public, but he took it to his grave and died in battle. Surprisingly word spread of their bravery and congress allowed men of color to fight, it is

Confederate Monuments and flags are now causing alot of controversy on whether or not they should be taken down as they symbolize servitude and bigotry to many Americans. This entire issue can be seen from two different prespective. Many people want the the statues and flags to be removed because a monument by definition is a structure, statue or a building that's built to grant homage to someone notable or an event. That is to say these monuments are honoring men who fought a war to maintain slavery which stands againts the values of the American nation.

Unlike Grant, General Lee did not believe in equality. He had leadership from the upper-class. He was such an inspiration to his men that they would die for him on the battlefield. Lee cared more about Virginia rather than a united states. Lee also believed that everything you fight for meant to defend everything in life to the deepest meaning.