[Sans-Culotte]

Maybe a great southern gentleman but not an American if he wanted to keep the southern way of life of slavery. Just saying.

At the time of the Civil War, one's state carried a lot of weight. There was still a belief among many that the USA was a confederation of separate soverign stares. It was not unusual to have more loyalty to one's state over the Federal government. I think I remember reading somewhere that Jefferson's greatest source of pride was having been President of...Virginia. Lee's loyalty to Virginia is something that people simply cannot grasp now that the Fderal government grabs every bit of sovereignty it can.

[SkyDancer]

I can see that. I have no problem with that but the fact remains that Lee took an oath .....

[ifinnegan]

“Lee’s loyalty to Virginia is something that people simply cannot grasp now that the Fderal government grabs every bit of sovereignty it can. “

It’s quite understandable.

One can fairly argue it is akin to Germans who did not believe in Nazi ideology still fighting for Germany in WWII out of loyalty to their land.