Show Robert E. E LeeThe Lee The passage of time has been kind to Robert E. E Lee the great military leader of oC the Confederacy Tl THIS S is probably because Lee had freed his slaves before the war was a gentle man of aristocratic bearing and heritage and always desired to avoid the conflict of 1861 1861 i When When it came he declined fu the offered command of the Union army he could not ot draw his sword as he said against his native state HE opposed secession but also opposed the raising ofa oCa of oC ofa a federal army to invade the south Lee probably was right in his hope that if war could be avoided over the states right or secession issue the states would reunite at a later date though noone no noone noone one can know of course His conduct at the end of the war did much to prevent prevent pre pre- vent guerrilla warfare in inthe inthe inthe the South to heal the nations nation's wounds Like Lincoln Lincoln Lincoln Lin Lin- coln his goal after April 1865 was reunification of the nation HISTORY of course or fate or destiny whatever itis it itis itis is called plays strange tricks on leaders and nations Had the South won its independence Lee would have been the George Washington of the new nation That he survived defeat in honor and has emerged as one of the nations nation's great men is an even greater tribute to his character and wisdom |