There's no doubt he did great things, but the biggest mistake of his life was joining the enemy of the United States and leading it in battle against said United States. That alone, in my opinion, ranks him at the level of Benedict Arnold, which keeps me from honoring him.
Since you refer to yourself as a youth I will assume that you have never been taught the true history of this country, if you had you might have a different outlook. I have yet to meet a person under forty, regardless of his level of education who knows even the history we were taught in grade school back in the fifties. No, I don’t refer to the history of the American civil war, I refer to history of all types, World history, American history etc. I have spoken to recent college graduates who majored in history but could not name one battle in the American Revolutionary war and in fact some cannot even name the country we fought for our independence. I don’t meant to be unfair, you may be the exception but unless you are the exception you probably don’t know enough about the real facts to have an opinion.
Due to the nature of the rebellion, and the definition of honor in a time when it meant something, it was recognized that both sides were honorable men that loved America.
That is why the United States Army uses both North and South leaders when naming their military posts.
"Although naming forts and camps after distinguished military veterans from both the U.S. and Confederate Armies had become a common practice, it was not the official policy until the publication of a War Department memorandum dated 20 November 1939. This memorandum stated that “The War Department has enunciated a policy of naming military reservations in honor of deceased distinguished officers regardless of the arm or service in which they have served.” In the years 1939-1946, almost all military installations designated as forts or camps were named after distinguished military individuals, including veterans of the Confederate Army."
quote: “There’s no doubt he did great things, but the biggest mistake of his life was joining the enemy of the United States and leading it in battle against said United States. That alone, in my opinion, ranks him at the level of Benedict Arnold, which keeps me from honoring him.”
And yes, I understand that perspective. However, the war was vastly more complex than one side being totally right and one side being totally wrong, which is why it must be studied and understood.
My post was not about the war. It was simply about Lee, from an opinion of someone who knew him well.
Who was it that lead the US forces at Harpers Ferry?
The Forces that captured John Brown...
Hint, several interesting men where there.
People should realize that the South was deeply divided. Many, esp. in border states, opposed secession, but they could not abandon their homeland when the imperialist forces of the Federal govt. invaded and waged total war on civilians, just as their ancestors had fought against the British imperialists. This country was not founded as another empire. It was a voluntary confederation of diverse people and their States.
Gimme a break. Benedict Arnold betrayed the Revolutionary cause because he was miffed that his brilliant conduct at Saratoga was not appreciated. Robt. E. Lee voluntarily gave up the command of the Union forces for idealistic principles, namely that State sovereignty was more important than allegiance to a “Union” to which his State and its people had voluntarily shed their attachment, just as Washington et al. shed theirs to the British empire for which they had fought. There is no comparison whatsoever between Lee and Arnold.
>>but the biggest mistake of his life was joining the enemy of the United States and leading it in battle against said United States.<<
Better wait with judgments like that. Do you know how many people there are in the US today that may stand up if this country isn’t turned back to our founding principles this coming November? Would you be included with that? If we can’t get it back in the ballet box and all that.
Well put.