America’s greatest general.
Why?
Lee was an honorable man.
Generals Washington, Grant and Patton would disagree.
First off, he lost. Secondly, he wasn’t fighting for an honorable cause. So, I’d say no.
He was a great man, and great general, but not America’s greatest.
That would be Washington. His idol and his wife’s step-Great-grandfather.
Also I think Patton has to roll in there….
I would probably agree with that. I don't think people realize how much Lee did with very little. He was tasked with defending the Confederate Capital, but he still fought an aggressive war that kept the Army of the Potomac chasing its tail. His aggressiveness helped sell the idea that the Army of Northern Virginia was larger and stronger than it was. After the surrender, many Northern generals were shocked to find out what a scarecrow/depleted force had faced them from the defenses at Petersburg.
Also, the South came a lot closer to winning than people think. All they had to do was keep up the war until the North tired of it. A "draw" in the war would have meant a victory for the South because they would have achieved their independence. After the bloody battles of The Wilderness and Spotsylvania, war weariness was setting in among the northern states. Had Lincoln lost the election in 1864, it's quite possible the North would have ceased fighting.
I don't think we will ever really "get" the loyalty some felt to their state over their country. Lee said that when Virginia seceded, she took him along. Had Virginia not seceded, he would have stayed with the Union. Too bad Lee did not stay with the Union. Imagine Lee in command of Northern forces at Antietam when the knowledge of the rebel army splitting into separate parts became known (due to a rebel officer dropping a map that showed the disposition of the Southern forces. The officer had wrapped some cigars in the map.). He would have crushed the rebellion then and there (as McClellan should have).
Of course, when we try to decide great generals, we have to take into account the times in which they lived. Maybe a 19th century general would fail in modern times, and vice versa.
Not according to R.E. Lee himself.
“I have carefully searched the military records of both ancient and modern history, and have never found Grants superior as a general.”
R.E. Lee.
Quoted; General Grant. J G Wilson. New York; Appleton, 1913, 367.
We look to General Robert E. Lee with wistful nostalgia. He towers like the Chrysler Building over the midgets who lead today's military--Mark Milley, who fights white privilege with far more enthusiasm than he fights Islamic terrorism, Tommy Franks, the bungler who let Bin Laden and his al-Qaeda terrorists escape from Tora Bora, Stanley McChrystal, who failed in Afghanistan and now supports Biden and advocates gun control and a universal draft, and the polyamorous David Petraeus.
I will say this and leave it there. No one loved Virginia more than General Robert E Lee. No one. He didn’t want war but said with all his emotion that should Virginia choose to secede, he would answer her call to lead. He also hated slavery. He wrote in letters to his wife how much he hoped slaves would overcome what they were experiencing and rise to a new level. He felt that no matter what they suffered in this transition, it was far better than the fate surely awaiting them in their native country.
Still….knowing nothing about the heartache of the Civil War and the choices made, little children were happy to see streets and schools named for Lee, disappear here in El Paso this year. A new hatred for the past was born.
A new puffed out chest and a pat on the back for equality began.
I’m sure there are words of wisdom cluttering my desk somewhere….but so what?
I give that to Patton.
Let me ask this question.
What was Lee without Jackson?
Of course, he was also confronted by Grant, who was less awe-struck by Lee.
Inspired by my husband making this excellent point.
(Again, Washington didn’t have that problem so that’s maybe another one up for him.)
Yep. Arguably the finest American general of all time and a truly fine man.
This is an act of cultural vandalism akin to the Leftists’ new allies, the Taliban.