I love the General to. He followed his conscience even though it cost him dearly. He was respected by the Union Army many of whom served under him before the conflict or attended West Point when he was commandant. He freed his family’s slaves well before the war, was generous in victory and gracious in defeat. He was also humble, something lacking in today’s leaders. He was and always will be one of my hero’s. Happy Birthday General Lee and may your memory live forever
“...followed his conscience even though it cost him dearly...”
History is full of Men like that. And they are known by their deeds.
Outnumbered by those of much lesser caliber. Who are also known by their deeds... or lack thereof.
Lee will stand the test of time.
He was not the owner of the slaves at Arlington or the other Custis properties. They had been the property of George Washington Parke Custis. He was Mary Custis Lee’s father. When he died in Dec 1857, his will named Lt.Col. Lee as the estate executor. In his will, Custis authorized the executor of the estate to free all of the slaves if the estates finances were in good order or keep them as slaves but free them within 5 years of his death. Lee determined that the slaves needed to be retained for the financial well being of the Arlington estate and so he kept the former Custis slaves in bondage. The slaves of the Custis estate were freed by lee as required in the Custis will on Dec 29 1862. Exactly 5 years after GWP Custis’s death.