Robert E. Lee: One Of The Most Beloved Generals In History

Another thing that stood out to me about General Lee was that he was not a big fan of slavery. He had command of Northern Virginia during the Civil War, so it does make sense. Lee through out this book shows his love for Virginia. Let’s face it, he is solely in this war because Virginia made the decision to leave the Union. He is very loyal to his home state, and it shows through out the

In the spring of 1861 as the nation leaned toward Civil War, both Grant and Lee would be forced to make very difficult decisions. Grant would only have to decide between being a patriot or a traitor. In a letter to Grant’s father he wrote: “There are but two parties now, Traitors & Patriots and I want hereafter to be ranked with the latter. . . (Grant p 957)"18 Lee was torn between a successful career in the United States Army, his devotion to the Union, an appointment as commander of the Union forces and the love he had for his family and homeland. In a letter to his sister, Lee wrote: “ With all my devotion to the Union…I have not been able to make up my mind to raise my hand

Robert E. Lee was a man of family, culture and tradition. Lee was a man who believed in the old English ways in chivalry. The Southern states fought for the same ideals that Lee stood for. Lee believed that this way of life made men to be of a higher class. He was convinced that these old values can build a better nation. Catton express the Confederacy loyalty to these values by saying: “For four years, the southern states had fought a separate war to up held the ideals for which Lee; as if he himself was the Confederacy… the best thing that the way of life for which the Confederacy stood could have ever had to offer” (410).

Lee was thought to be one of the most, if not the most well respected and known generals in the Civil War. He was born on January 19, 1807, in Virginia to Henry “Light-Horse Harry” Lee, who was a well-renown Revolutionary War veteran. Lee graduated West Point second in his class with no bad mark on his record. After West Point, he joined the Engineer Corp, and worked his way up the ranks to Captain. During this time, he married Mary Anna Randolph Custis, who was related to George Washington’s wife. Marrying her not only got the financial side of his life covered, but also gave him a popularity advantage due to him being (faintly) related to the great Revolutionary War and First President of the United States. During the Mexican War, Lee used his trade as an engineer and helped Major General Winfield Scott with planning and beating the Mexican forces. After the Mexican war, Lee went to become the superintendent of the military academy at West Point, and made major changes such as adding an additional year to the previous four. In 1855, Congress approved the creation of four new regiments. Due to Lee’s want for a faster-promoting job, left his engineering life for the 2nd Cavalry Regiment, and for the next six years, he was put in Texas with his regiment. A couple of days after Abraham Lincoln’s election in 1860, the South began to secede, and offered Lee the Brigadier General rank in their army. Lee would have declined it, and stuck with the Union if it

Lee, who is from Virginia, had very traditional and old fashioned beliefs. He strongly believed in the idea that having unequal, leadership, and social categories provided an advantage to society. The Confederacy embraced Lee as their leader as well. Furthermore, Confederate soldiers considered Lee

Lee had given the Confederacy its greatest victory, and was now an idol of the southern people. Lee was one of the most supremely gifted men produced by our Nation. One of the four “greatest Americans” was none other than Robert E. Lee. His picture hung in President Dwight D. Eisenhower’s office. A New York dentist told Eisenhower that Lee helped the United States Government. Lee was a heroic role model to the nation that he has shown when he went to the war. Lee is a bit complicated, but he was extraordinary in what he does. Lee was there to serve the south and protect them. He made sure that they were safe and that the Union would not get in the way of that. His maneuvers were even better.

This source could be of value to historians due to its focus on Lee as a general and not necessarily about Lee in the civil war. The purpose of this book is not to debate the civil war, but to appreciate Lee’s role as the general. Therefore, the source is biased based on the authors clear appreciation of Lee. The source both gives facts about Lee’s life as well as information about Lee part in the civil war.

“A true man of honor feels humbled himself when he cannot help humbling others.” This quote was made in 1871 by one of the greatest generals and probably men in American History; Robert Edward Lee. Robert Edward Lee was a general in the American Civil War. He led his men and stood with them in each and every they were in and got many of them out safely.

Shaara, through his commentary on General Lee, explains that Lee did not want to fight the war but had to. Lee felt it was his duty to fight for his fellow countrymen, but not for a cause, land, or slavery. “So it was no cause and no country he fought for, no ideal and no justice. He fought for his people, for the children, and the kin, and not even the land, because the land was worth the war, but the people were,” General Lee says (Shaara 263). General Lee fights for himself and has no choice but to fight, knowing in the end that he might be wrong with his cause and pay the price someday. General Lee is not a proponent of war, but he will serve his country with honor and duty if necessary.

Throughout history, there have been people whose names and faces have become synonymous with the time periods in which they lived. For example, Julius Caesar is synonymous with the late Roman Republic and George Washington is synonymous with the American Revolution. Just like these two men, the name Robert E. Lee has become synonymous with the American Civil War. Not only did Lee rise to become the most important and recognizable person in the Southern Confederacy, but his honor and virtuous acts during and after the war made him a hero to modern-day Americans. Even though he fought for what many consider the morally erroneous side of the war, the virtues of his character have made him a figure in American history

Robert E. Lee was a confederate general for the south. "Lee led one of the largest Confederate army and ultimately was named general-in-chief of all Confederate land forces." He went to West Point Military Academy. Lee was known for surrendering to Ulysess Grant in the Battle of Gettysberg. His tactics were strong and he was known as a good general in the south.

What defines a good leadership? Is it the qualities that he exhibits, or the rather the polices that history remembers him by? The time period of American Civil War is a great time period to examine these questions, and can be done so by looking at the two main presidents of both the Union and the Confederacy: Abraham Lincoln and Jefferson Davis. While the two were both skilled in some areas and unskilled in others in terms of leadership, history remembers Lincoln as the better leader due to his characteristics of intelligence in the political /military field as well as when it comes to personal rights.

There are a number of qualities that quantify good leaderships and good leaders. According to Kouzes and Posner in their book The Leadership Challenge, all successful leaders have (5) practices in common. They “Model the Way”, “Inspire a shared vision”, “Challenge the process”, “enable others to act” and “encourage the heart”(15). Never is there a more important time to have exemplary leadership, than in a time of war. Both the American Civil War and World War II showed what was possible through good leadership. From abolishing slavery and preserving the Union, to fighting tyranny and oppression abroad, both events in American history had a profound impact on all those involved. The impact would most certainly be different if not for the leadership of Colonel Lawrence Chamberlain of the Union Army during the Civil War and General George S. Patton during World War II. Both leaders possessed the 5 practices essential for god leadership, yet both leaders to different approaches to accomplish their goals.

Throughout history, there have been great leaders, some for the good of humanity, and some for the not-so good of humanity. The one element all leaders have in common is in some way, have changed the course of history. The one great leader I have found to be interesting and envision of a great leader is William Bradford, an original passenger on the Mayflower, and the first ever governor elected on what is to become, American Soil.

Leadership is a trait that few people possess, but many are influenced by its powerful qualities. Leadership has been described by most accounts as the ability to unite a group under one common goal or task. This crucial quality is necessary in order to be remembered by many people. It is necessary when people around you need guidance, or a sense of direction. When people need guidance, they look to figures of power or authority, to ultimately lead them in the right direction. Many years later, that person, who had leaded others, will be revered. This reverence, or legacy that they leave behind, will make them a hero. People who possessed great leadership throughout history left a huge legacy behind with them. Ben Franklin, a radical during the 18th century for revolution, was a wealthy man of Pennsylvania who possessed great leadership throughout the course of his life. The stand out quality he possessed, his great knowledge, enabled him to lead great numbers of people in their interests. This quality made him looked up upon as a revolutionary by all of the United States, and people were willing to unite behind Franklin due to his self-made image. Years after Franklin had passed, people still remembered and celebrated his legacy every day in the names of warships, towns, and buildings. Benjamin Franklin was a leading revolutionary all of his life due to his educated background and