Michael Jacob wrote:
S Trauth wrote:
Also ridding the army of General Lee, even though some modern historians have tried to clear his name.
I would not have thought that General Lee needed anyone to 'clear his name'. Contrary to the claim about modern historians trying to clear Lee's name, I feel that they are much more likely to
attempt to sully his name and besmirch his character. Still, no need to take my word for it, let's look at the past to see what some others have said about Robert E. Lee (even a few Presidents).
From General Sherman (
https://leefamilyarchive.org/reference/essays/sherman/index.html)
" ... General Wolseley describes his personal acquaintance in 1862 with that famous man, the great impression made by his graceful manner and profound intelligence, and concludes with the following paragraph: “When all the angry feelings roused by secession are buried with those which existed when the Declaration of Independence was written, when Americans can review the history of their last great rebellion with calm impartiality, I believe all will admit that General Lee towered far above all men on either side in that struggle. I believe he will be regarded, not only as the most prominent figure of the Confederacy, but as the great American of the nineteenth century, whose statue is well worthy to stand on an equal pedestal with that of Washington, and whose memory is equally worthy to be enshrined in the hearts of all his countrymen.”
As I happen to be one of the very few survivors of the great Civil War in America who had a personal and professional acquaintance with the chief actors in that grand drama, I am compelled to join issue with General Wolseley in his conclusion, while willing to admit nearly all his premises."
Arthur Freemantle's (Coldstream Guards) diary in relation to Lee's General Orders No. 72 (
https://docsouth.unc.edu/imls/fremantle/fremantle.html)
I returned to camp at 6 P. M, Major Moses did not get back till very late, much depressed at the ill-success of his mission. He had searched all day most indefatigably, and had endured much contumely from the Union ladies, who called him a "thievish little rebel scoundrel," and other opprobrious epithets. But this did not annoy him so much as the manner in which every thing he wanted had been sent away or hidden in private houses, which he was not allowed by General Lee's orders to search. He had only managed to secure a quantity of molasses, sugar, and whisky. Poor Moses was thoroughly exhausted; but he endured the chaff of his brother officers with much good humor, and they made him continually repeat the different names he had been called. He said that at first the women refused his Confederate "trash" with great scorn, but they ended in being very particular about the odd cents.
29th June, Monday.--We are still at Chambersburg. Lee has issued a remarkably good order on non-retaliation, which is generally well received; but I have heard of complaints from fire-eaters, who want vengeance for their wrongs; and when one considers the numbers of officers and soldiers with this army who have been totally ruined by the devastations of Northern troops, one cannot be much surprised at this feeling.
I went into Chambersburg again, and witnessed the singular good behavior of the troops towards the citizens. I heard the soldiers saying to one another, that they did not like being in a town in which they were very naturally detested. To any one who has seen as I have the ravages of the Northern troops in Southern towns, this forbearance seems most commendable and surprising. Yet these Pennsylvanian Dutch*
* This part of Pennsylvania is much peopled with the descendants of Germans, who speak an unintelligible language.
don't seem the least thankful, and really appear to be unaware that their own troops have been for two years treating Southern towns with ten times more harshness. They are the most unpatriotic people I ever saw, and openly state that they don't care which side wins, provided they are left alone. They abuse Lincoln tremendously.
President Jefferson Davis (
https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn84024738/1870-11-04/ed-1/seq-3/)
"I shall not attempt to review the military career of our fallen chieftain. Of the man, how shall I speak? He was my friend, and in that word is included all that I could say of any man. His moral qualities rose to the height of his genius. Self-denying; always intent upon the one idea of duty; self-controlled to an extent that many thought him cold, his feelings were really warm, and his heart melted freely at the sight of a wounded soldier, or the story of the sufferings of the widow and orphan. During the war he was ever conscious of the inequality of the means at his control; but it was never his to complain or to utter a doubt; it was always his to do."
President T Roosevelt (
https://leefamilyarchive.org/reference/essays/tr/index.html)
General Lee has left us the memory, not merely of his extraordinary skill as a General, his dauntless courage and high leadership in campaign and battle, but also of that serene greatness of soul characteristic of those who most readily recognize the obligations of civic duty. Once the war was over he instantly undertook the task of healing and binding up the wounds of his countrymen, in the true spirit of those who feel malice toward none and charity toward all; in that spirit which from the throes of the Civil War brought forth the real and indissoluble Union of to-day. It was eminently fitting that this great man, this war-worn veteran of a mighty struggle, who, at its close, simply and quietly undertook his duty as a plain, everyday citizen, bent only upon helping his people in the paths of peace and tranquillity, should turn his attention toward educational work; toward bringing up in fit fashion the younger generation, the sons of those who had proved their faith by their endeavor in the heroic days.
There is no need to dwell on General Lee's record as a soldier. The son of Light Horse Harry Lee, of the Revolution, he came naturally by his aptitude for arms and command. His campaigns put him in the foremost rank of the great captains of all time. But his signal valor and address in war are no more remarkable than the spirit in which he turned to the work of peace once the war was over.
President D Eisenhower (
https://www.civilwarprofiles.com/dwight-d-eisenhower-in-defense-of-robert-e-lee/)
General Robert E. Lee was, in my estimation, one of the supremely gifted men produced by our Nation. He believed unswervingly in the Constitutional validity of his cause which until 1865 was still an arguable question in America; he was a poised and inspiring leader, true to the high trust reposed in him by millions of his fellow citizens; he was thoughtful yet demanding of his officers and men, forbearing with captured enemies but ingenious, unrelenting and personally courageous in battle, and never disheartened by a reverse or obstacle. Through all his many trials, he remained selfless almost to a fault and unfailing in his faith in God. Taken altogether, he was noble as a leader and as a man, and unsullied as I read the pages of our history.
President Gerald R. Ford (
https://www.archives.gov/publications/prologue/2005/spring/piece-lee)
President Ford acknowledged the discovery of Lee's Oath of Allegiance in the National Archives and remarked: "General Lee's character has been an example to succeeding generations, making the restoration of his citizenship an event in which every American can take pride."
There are many other President's and world leaders who have expressed their admiration for Lee's character (some are here -
https://www.releema.org/why-robert-e-lee-matters) and a very long list of his contemporaries who have nothing but good to say about him.
It is only some of the more recent commentaries that have sought to taint Lee's reputation and character. As one of the links provided says:
"
He remains the only person in all of recorded human history to be offered the command of two opposing armies. It exists as an amazing testament to Lee’s conscience and fidelity to duty that as a lifelong and ambitious soldier having toiled for many years with limited advancement that he was offered the command of the largest, most well-equipped Army in the world but declined it because he could not raise the sword against his native Virginia; instead resigning his commission and joining the yet to be formed Virginia militia."
For the best examination of Robert E. Lee's I recommend 'Personal reminiscences, anecdotes, and letters of Gen. Robert E. Lee by Rev. J William Jones (Chaplain in the Army of Northern Virginia and Washington College [later Washington and Lee University) which can be found here (
https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=dul1.ark:/13960/t1bk78q69&view=1up&seq=8). A wonderful book that I first came across about a quarter of a century ago. I dutifully printed out the entire thing while at work to read at my leisure later. [I was allowed a few indulgences at work and well remember my boss commenting while collecting some of her work from the printer 'Oh, some more pages about General Lee: I know who that is for' before dutifully placing some pages of that work on my desk.]
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