Knowledge Builders

what if robert e lee fought for the union

by Catharine Walsh Published 3 years ago Updated 2 years ago
image

Here General Lee would have turned to President Lincoln and let him address these inflamed Northern volunteers. The president would have reminded them that only six percent of the South owned slaves. Even these men were not guilty of a crime. As long as they remained peaceful, they could not be abused or insulted.Jul 1, 2013

Did Robert E Lee have slaves?

There is no record of Robert E. Lee owning enslaved laborers prior to that year, which coincided with his graduation from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, New York.

Was Robert E Lee a Confederate?

Robert Edward Lee (January 19, 1807 – October 12, 1870) was an American Confederate general who served in the Confederate States of America during the American Civil War, during which he was appointed the overall commander of the Confederate States Army. He led the Army of Northern Virginia, the Confederacy's most powerful army, from 1862 ...

Did General Robert E Lee free his slaves?

When asked why he didn’t free his slaves earlier, Grant stated “Good help is so hard to come by these days.” Contrarily, Confederate General Robert E. Lee freed his slaves (which he never purchased — they were inherited) in 1862! Lee freed his slaves several years before the war was over, and considerably earlier than his Northern counterparts.

What battles did Robert E . Lee fight?

how many battles did he win/lose. Lee won; Chancellorsville, Cold Harbor, Fredicksburg, Spotsylvania, The Wilderness, Seven Days Battles, Second Manassas. He fought a much larger army under McClellan to a draw at Antietam, and lost at Gettysburg, Petersburg, and Appomattox. "How many battles in the civil war did Robert E Lee win."

See more

image

Could Robert E Lee have won the war?

But Lee's overall strategy—his insistence on frontal assaults—led to inevitable defeat. No matter how skilled a battle leader Lee was, he could never win the war by pitting the far-weaker resources of the South against the tremendous economic and military power of the North.

How did Robert E Lee feel about the Union?

Lee opposed secession during the winter of 1860-1861, and in the letter to his sister Anne already quoted described his “devotion to the Union” and “feeling of loyalty and duty of an American citizen.” His letter to Winfield Scott on April 20 further testified to how wrenching it had been “to separate myself from a ...

Was Robert E Lee asked to lead the Union army?

His prewar record as an officer was distinguished by numerous engineering projects, service in the Mexican War, and nearly three years as commandant at West Point. In March and April 1861, Lee was offered command of the principal Union Army.

Did Robert E Lee ever lose a fight?

Battle of Chancellorsville "Stonewall" Jackson led his troops against the exposed Federal left flank, decisively crushing the enemy. In the end, the Union line broke and they retreated. Lee lost one of his most able generals when Jackson was killed by friendly fire, but this was ultimately a Confederate victory.

How tall was General Robert E Lee?

Just under six feet (1.8 metres) tall, with black hair and brown eyes, Lee cut a striking figure. High class ranking entitled him to enter the Engineer Corps as a second lieutenant on July 1, 1829. More than a decade and half passed before Lee saw a battlefield.

Who was considered the best general of the Civil War?

Ulysses S Grant was the supreme Union general during the civil war and then later 18th President of the United States. Grant was instrumental in the battlefield defeat of the Confederacy and then as President worked to implement Reconstruction.

Why did Robert E. Lee refuse to command troops?

Because of his reputation as one of the finest officers in the United States Army, Abraham Lincoln offered Lee the command of the Federal forces in April 1861. Lee declined and tendered his resignation from the army when the state of Virginia seceded on April 17, arguing that he could not fight against his own people.

How did Robert E. Lee feel about the Civil War?

As practical issues, Lee did not oppose either slavery or secession. Although he felt slavery in the abstract was a bad thing, he blamed the national conflict on abolitionists, and accepted the pro-slavery policies of the Confederacy. He chose to fight to defend his homeland.

Why did Meade not pursue Lee?

Meade was reluctant to begin an immediate pursuit because he was unsure whether Lee intended to attack again and his orders continued that he was required to protect the cities of Baltimore and Washington, D.C. Since Meade believed that the Confederates had well fortified the South Mountain passes, he decided he would ...

Why was Robert E. Lee so respected?

He led the Army of Northern Virginia, the Confederacy's most powerful army, from 1862 until its surrender in 1865. During the war, Lee earned a solid reputation as a skilled tactician, for which he was revered by his officers and men as well as respected and feared by his adversaries in the Union Army.

What did General Lee say after the war?

"I must abide her fortune, and share her fate." The solitude did not last long.

Who was a better general Lee or Grant?

The question has intrigued historians and armchair strategists since the Civil War itself. Lee is usually accounted the superior commander. He scored outrageous victories against the Army of the Potomac up until Gettysburg 1863, fighting against superior numbers and better supplied troops.

Why did Robert E Lee turn down the offer to the Union army?

Because of his reputation as one of the finest officers in the United States Army, Abraham Lincoln offered Lee the command of the Federal forces in April 1861. Lee declined and tendered his resignation from the army when the state of Virginia seceded on April 17, arguing that he could not fight against his own people.

Was Robert E Lee a good leader?

Lee was a great leader and tactical leader who deserves to be remembered for his moral strengths. He is still the only person to graduate from West Point Military Academy with not a single demerit. His military tactics were studied and used during World War II even.

Why was Robert Lee's statue removed?

Some of the objects of the old capsule are believed to have ties to the Confederacy, the governor's office said. "This monument and its time capsule reflected Virginia in 1890—and it's time to remove both so that our public spaces better reflect who we are as a people in 2021," Northam said.

What did Robert E Lee do for African Americans?

During both the Maryland (1862) and Gettysburg (1863) campaigns, Lee's officers kidnapped free Blacks and sold them into slavery. By 1865, Lee supported the enlistment of African Americans into the Confederate army, but he surrendered before a plan could be implemented.

What was the big win for the Union if Lee fights for them?

The big win for the Union if Lee fights for them is that Lee's not down south. Lee's big skill was that he was someone Jefferson Davis trusted who also happened to be a good general - take that away and the Confederate Army in the East doesn't have a consistent, good commander (IMO).

What would happen if General Lee crushed the Confederates?

Thus the Civil War would not have been the direct cause of the end of slavery.

How long did it take for McClellan to retreat?

The retreat happened 5-6 weeks later and was ordered by Washington against McClellan's strong objections.

Why did the war go on so long?

The main reason it went on for so long was that there were many incompetent generals on the Union side early on. George B. McClellan being the standout since he was at the gates of Richmond and decided to retreat.

Who could have done it if he'd had the men needed?

3) McClellan could have done it if he'd had the men needed.

Did Lee have many subordinates?

Yes and Lee would have had many of them as subordinates to start the war. Look at McDowell's army and how many of them didnt last long or did nothing in their service

Was Lee happy to be rough on his slaves?

Lee was happy to be rough on his slaves according to the PBS Lee documentary. One of his former slaves is quoted as saying he had a temper and was extremely tough on his "property".

image

1.What If Robert E. Lee Accepted Command of the Union …

Url:https://historynewsnetwork.org/article/152363

32 hours ago What If Robert E. Lee Accepted Command of the Union Army? Historians/History tags: Civil War , Thomas Fleming , Robert E. Lee , Union Army , counterfactuals

2.What would have happened if Robert E. Lee …

Url:https://www.quora.com/What-would-have-happened-if-Robert-E-Lee-commanded-the-Union-Army

33 hours ago Answer (1 of 5): Richmond would have fallen to Lee’s army in the summer of 1862. The Confederate government would have fled to Atlanta, with Lee in hot pursuit. With Union forces on the attack in the western theater, the climactic battle of the war would have occurred around Atlanta in the middle...

3.What if Lee had fought for the Union? - American Civil …

Url:https://civilwartalk.com/threads/what-if-lee-had-fought-for-the-union.132361/

26 hours ago What If Robert E. Lee Had Fought For The Union In The American Civil War? Robert E. Lee was actually approached and asked to lead the Union army at one point but chose to support Virginia's choice to secede and instead commanded the Confederate Army.

4.What if Robert E. Lee fought for the Union instead? - reddit

Url:https://www.reddit.com/r/AlternateHistory/comments/hppjmf/what_if_robert_e_lee_fought_for_the_union_instead/

35 hours ago  · The big win for the Union if Lee fights for them is that Lee's not down south. Lee's big skill was that he was someone Jefferson Davis trusted who also happened to be a good general - take that away and the Confederate Army in the East doesn't have a consistent, good commander (IMO).

5.What if Robert E lee Fought for the Union? : …

Url:https://www.reddit.com/r/AlternateHistory/comments/85dhfu/what_if_robert_e_lee_fought_for_the_union/

24 hours ago What if Robert E. Lee fought for the Union instead? Discussion. When the Civil War began, Lincoln offered Lee the position to head the Union army and replace the aging Winfield Scott. However, Lee's home state, Virginia, had seceded the day before, putting Lee in a dilemma as he couldn't bring himself to draw his sword against his fellow Virginians so he …

6.What if Robert E. Lee fought for the union instead of the …

Url:https://www.reddit.com/r/HistoryWhatIf/comments/c0kycy/what_if_robert_e_lee_fought_for_the_union_instead/

9 hours ago One thing I’d like to add is that Ulysses S. Grant probably never would have become the highest general. Lincoln kept on firing incompetent generals, as you mentioned, until he came to Grant. But if Lee fought for the Union, none of that would be necessary since Lee was already considered a hero.

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9