ROBERT Elizabeth. LEE should not be know since a statistic discussed mostly because of the his Virginia title. Just as in most his other American citizens, he manifested a selection of loyalties when you look at the later-antebellum and you can wartime ages. Without a doubt dedicated to his household state, in which his family members had loomed higher when you look at the politics and you can personal status due to the fact Colonial era, he along with had deep parts with the Us, for the white slaveholding Southern and the newest Confederacy- four levels of respect one to turned into far more popular, receded otherwise intertwined on some points. Lee’s commitment to the Confederate nation reigned over his actions and thinking from inside the most well-known and you will important period of his existence.
Simply 6 months after he surrendered brand new Armed forces regarding Northern Virginia at the Appomattox, Lee explained why he’d expected a good pardon regarding President Andrew Johnson
A page from Lee to P.G.T. Beauregard within the ine his conception away from respect. “Correct patriotism often demands of men to act just contrary, at the you to definitely several months, to that particular that it does within some other,” mentioned Lee, “while the objective which impels her or him-the will accomplish best- is exactly a similar. The fresh new circumstances which govern its procedures transform; in addition to their perform have to comply with the brand new acquisition from one thing.” Since the frequently is the truth, Lee looked to their priple: “Each time the guy fought against this new French not as much as Braddock, on provider of King of great Britain; during the another, the guy battled with the French on Yorktown, underneath the sales of your own Continental Congress away from America, against your.” Regardless if he didn’t say-so explicitly, Lee’s “want to manage best” undoubtedly stemmed out of their understanding of responsibility and you may prize. One insights place your throughout the uniforms of your own Us, the state of Virginia while the Confederacy inside a time period of 2-3 weeks from inside the 1861.
Lee refuted the offer and went on immediately so you can Scott’s place of work, in which the guy recounted their conversation with Blair and you can reiterated that he wouldn’t undertake new proffered demand
Lee’s commitment in order to Virginia certainly predominated from inside the momentous spring season from 1861. A drift into disaster inaugurated having Southern area Carolina’s secession during the December 1860 achieved crisis in middle-April. Confederates fired towards Fort Sumter with the twelfth, the Federal garrison formally capitulated to the 14th and you can Abraham Lincoln approved a trip for the 15th to own 75,100000 volunteers so you can suppresses the newest rebellion.
On the April 18, Lee fulfilled individually that have Francis Preston Blair Sr. and Standard Winfield Scott. Empowered from the Lincoln to “find out Lee’s objectives and you will ideas,” Blair questioned Lee to imagine command of your own army getting raised to place on the rebellion. Customs possess they you to Scott, an other Virginian, answered, “Lee, you have made a error in your life; but I feared it might be very.”
Word of Virginia’s secession, chosen by state’s meeting on the April 17, appeared in regional newspapers for the 19th. In the early early morning regarding April 20, Lee created a single-sentence page away from resignation to help you Assistant of Combat Simon Cameron. Later one to big date the guy had written https://datingranking.net/tr/chinalovecupid-inceleme/ a much longer page to help you Scott one revealed their decision and you can integrated perhaps one of the most appear to cited sentences Lee ever before penned otherwise talked: “Help save on defense regarding my personal native State, I never ever attention once more to draw my personal sword.” The battle Company grabbed 5 days to techniques Lee’s resignation, and this turned formal towards April twenty five.
At that time he’d gotten a deal from Governor John Letcher to take order of all the Virginia’s armed forces forces. Lee traveled to Richmond on April twenty two, spoke that have Letcher and you can approved his local nation’s phone call. Into the day away from April 23, a four-kid delegation regarding the secession meeting followed Lee towards the Capitol. Immediately after noon, the five guys entered this building, in which delegates was in fact in private concept. As he waited for a few minutes outside the closed room, Lee doubtless considered French sculptor Jean-Antoine Houdon’s life-size sculpture away from George Washington- their brand of army and you may republican virtue. Taking walks towards a crowded chamber, Lee heard responses of John Janney, new convention’s president. The new vote to possess Lee ended up being unanimous, noticed Janney, just who then summoned the fresh new memory of “Light-Pony Harry” Lee’s greatest tribute so you can Washington: “We pray God really fervently that you could thus make brand new surgery invested in their charge, that it’ll soon getting said of you, that you’re ‘first-in comfort,’ and in case that point arrives you will find attained the newest still prouder improvement to be ‘first-in the newest minds of your countrymen.’”
