Why?
Washington's decision to fight against the country of his birth was made long before that was written.
One cannot sensibly argue that Washington was a hero, while simultaneously calling Lee a traitor. They both remained loyal to a cause that they believed in and to a homeland that they individually defined.
Or I guess from the POV of those who feel that Lee was a traitor:
"One man's traitor is another man's freedom fighter"
"We, the people of the Confederate States, each State acting in its sovereign and independent character"
It makes all the difference in the world. The rebs could change their constitution but they couldn't change history.
The nation, the USA and not the states, was the engine of independence and union.
The states are granted a measure of sovereignty by the people of the US- the states are not mere provinces of the center like foreigners and the uneducated here may think. But there is no "magical omnipotence of states rights" such as the southern Democratic party always maintained.
Lee was at least consistent. he fought for Virginia, not the CSA. When Virginia was licked, Lee was ready to throw in the towel. But he seemed to have no compunction against using the blood of Texans, Georgians, etc. to defend his "nation". Had Virginia stayed in the Union, I suspect Lee would have had no problem leading a federal army to suppress Confederate rebellion in Georgia or Texas.