[jmacusa]

The president, then as now is the nation's chief executive and commander in chief. Robert E. Lee resigned his commission two days after being offered command of The Union Army in the wrong headed belief that his allegiance was to his state rather than the nation whose uniform he wore. Soldiers and officers of the US military swear an oath to ''preserve, protect and defend The Constitution of The United States'',not any individual state to the exclusion of others.

[Regulator]

Noted that he a) turned down the offer and b) duly resigned as he was no longer really a part of the nation that Lincoln headed.

Seems consistent to me.