Really, I didn't know that... Too bad since I always understood that Lee was one of his favorite historical figures...so much so that he actually took the initiative in contacting Maxwell and asking for the role when word got out that 'Gods and Generals' would be made. Maxwell had originally wanted Duvall to play Lee in 'Gettysburg,' but he was unavailable at the time, much to Duvall's chagrin.
I remember years ago, after Patton, George C. Scott revealed that his dream had always been to portray Robert E. Lee.....Look, forget what I said about the documentary. I might have misinterpreted his comments.
Little know fact, when I was about 12, I posed as a young Robert, for illustrations by the American artist John Alan Maxwell for "The Story of Robert E. Lee" by Iris Vinton.