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Without Lee, the Confederacy would have been very hard pressed to hold off the Union forces as well and as long as they did under Gen. Johnson or anyone else other than Lee, especially in that first campaign when McClellan brought so many soldiers onto the Peninsular.....

His tactics, his motivations and his part in making the spirit of the Confederate soldiers went a LONG way to almost winning the war.

As for Grant, He was a brilliant tactician, but had Grant and Lee faced off BEFORE Gettysburg, it would have been very interesting to see who won. After Gettysburg, Grant just did what was obvious and what needed to be done for his side to win.

As for Grant, He was a brilliant tactician, but had Grant and Lee faced off BEFORE Gettysburg, it would have been very interesting to see who won. After Gettysburg, Grant just did what was obvious and what needed to be done for his side to win.

Maybe not. Lee lost to lesser generals - McClellan and Meade. He was eminently beatable, and his own nature could be used against him as at Gettysburg. Grant could be as daring as Lee, as he showed by cutting his supply lines and crossing the river below Vicksburg and maneuvering Pemberton into the city. He could use the sledge hammer when necessary, as he did at Chattanooga. He could win on the defense, as at Shiloh, or on offense. He was the one general Lee admitted he could never figure out.