Protection from what? What was left of the U.S. army? A government which had not taken a single hostile act against them?
Only this was more important since the storm clouds of war were gathering in the Lincoln administration. Lee knew only too well what Lincoln was preparing since it was to Lee that Lincoln offered the command of the US Army in 1861.
Check your timelines. Storm clouds seem to have been all on the part of the rebels. And the army was called up months before Lee was offered the command and before Virginia joined the rebellion.
Bull.
Lincoln, not yet in office, induced the governor of Illinois to commence the suppression of Missouri's government by arming the Wide-Awakes from Illinois Militia arms lockers.
I've also got five dollars that says Lincoln interfered with the Buchanan Administration's authority over Gen. Winfield Scott, when Scott determined to hold on to the Southern forts in December 1860.
Lincoln's policy was war all the way -- just as his private secretary said it was.