Bryan Servin
23, November 2015
History 1301
Panola Community College professor Bill Offer
Greatest Civil War General
There has been a lot of controversy about whether Robert E. Lee or Ulysses S. Grant was the
better general. They were both really great generals. Abraham Lincoln wanted Robert E. Lee to
command his army but he declined because his home state of Virginia seceded from the Union.
He would have much rather not been included in the war. However, Jefferson Davis asked Lee if
he would be a general for the Confederates. Wanting to remain true to his home state, Virginia,
Robert E. Lee accepted the position. Though he did not want to take part in the war against his
neighbors, he did what he felt needed to be done. Robert E. Lee was a very
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Yet, there is no such known message or affection shown by
General Grant toward his own troops. Robert E. Lee felt that as the general of the
Confederate military he needed to dress like a general. He made sure he always had very
presentable attire for every occasion. Appearance was a very important aspect of his job and his
life. The way a person dresses plays a large role in boosting confidence. Robert E. Lee was a
very confident leader and was not easily intimidated. His opponents were actually the ones that
were intimidated by him. General Robert E. Lee was an intelligent man. He received his
education at West Point where he graduated in the top of his class. Lee always made good grades
and studied very diligently.All his training in school, along with his natural intelligence helped
him to become very good at what he did. He was a military genius. According to David C. King,
the author of “The Civil War And Reconstruction,” Robert E. Lee was, above all, the
greatest general of the Civil War. Robert E. Lee was a very confident leader and was not easily
intimidated. His opponents were the ones that were intimidated by him. He defeated many
Griffin 1 The Killer Angels Review Michael Shaara was born in June 23, 1929. He was raised by a southern mother and had roots back to Thomas Jefferson. Michael was a teacher at Florida State University and taught a writing class there. He wrote multiple books but The Killer Angels was definitely one of his most successful books he wrote. The Killer Angels tells the story of the Battle of Gettysburg.
Robert E, Lee served as a military officer in the U.S. Army, superintendent of West Point, and the incredible legend of the Confederate Army during the American Civil War, but how did his success begin? In Virginia, Robert Edward Lee was born on January 19, 1807 being the fifth child of Harry Lee and his second wife. At West Point, Lee finished second in his class and was commissioned to the Corps of Engineers during the Mexican–American War. In addition, he served as a captain under General Winfield Scott. Since Lee was distinguished in the battles of Veracruz, Churubusco, Chapultepec, he was promoted to colonel.
I unequivocally believe that Union General, Ulysses S. Grant, was by far the more competent commander compared to General Robert E. Lee. Although the North had more manpower, industrial factories, and revenue, it is because of Grant’s leadership that the Union overall triumphed in the Civil War. Compared to General Robert E. Lee, “Grant adopted the strategy of annihilation” (Carrol 2007, 50). This approach would do him well in the future, because unlike the timid generals before him, “Grant was determined to defeat the confederate army” (Carrol 2007, 97). Therefore, after conquering Vicksburg, Mississippi, he ordered General Sherman and his soldiers to invade Georgia (Carrol 2007, 95).
Robert E. Lee was Known for commanding the Confederate Army of North Virginia during the American Civil War from 1862 until his surrender during 1865 as an American soldier. He was born January 19, 1807 at Stratford Hall Plantation in Westmoreland County, Virginia. He died on October 12, 1870 at the age of 63, he was buried at the Lee Chapel Washington and Lee University in Lexington, Virginia. Robert was the son of Major General Henry Lee the third and Anne Hill Carter. His family is one of Virginia’s first families, originally arriving in Virginia from England in the early 1600s.
Not only did Lee lead by providing purpose, direction, and motivation but General Lee also accurately assessing the battle. “Commanders continuously assess the situation to better understand current conditions and determine how the operation is progressing. Continuous assessment helps commanders anticipate and adapt the force to changing circumstances.” Lee assumed risks, such as invading with an inferior force, knowing that his generals were capable of carrying out his plans. With extensive information about the enemy’s size and whereabouts, he could accurately assess the risks.
Lee composed one of the greatest, boldest strategies of the entire Civil War against the Union army that eventually claimed victory. This plan was a make or break moment for the entirety of the Confederate army. “They split the 40,000 man force at Chancellorsville, with Jackson taking his 28,000 men around to attack the Union right flank. Lee, on the other hand, would exercise personal command of the other 12,000 facing Hooker’s entire 70,000 man force at Chancellorsville (“Battle of Chancellorsville”, New World Encyclopedia). The plan may sound simple, but there were a number of precautions that had to occur for the plan to reach success.
He declined the offer though, because he was from Virginia, which was in the South (“Robert E. Lee Biography.”). Lee’s very first role was commander of the South (“Biography:”). He took command of forces in Virginia in 1861. In 1862, he became the commander of the Army of Northern Virginia (“Robert E. Lee” History Learning). While fighting in the war, Joseph E. Johnston was wounded, so Lee took over as the commander of the Confederate forces.
When looking back onto the great history of American leaders and generals, many names notably stand out. These American heroes helped to shape the future of our country, from the efforts of General Dwight D. Eisenhower in the Second World War, to General Douglas Macarthur of the Korean War, to even George Washington in the Revolutionary War. Regardless, each of these brave leaders allowed for their respective forces to attain victory, yet in this caveat, the legacy of many brilliant and skillful generals is lost. Victory does not determine skill, and such a notion has never attested to a military leader as much as it applies to General Robert E. Lee, of the Confederate Forces in the American Civil War. Lee’s proficiency in battle tactics and
I learned that Lee and his mother, Marguerite, had been without her husband Robert for quite some time. I was also very intrigued on how advanced and intelligent Lee had been at a young age. He loved to study the lives of animals which was unique. Allegedly, Lee had been in the upper range of Bright Normal Intelligence. Although, what I found most difficult to understand
For example, the Generals worked tirelessly in order to ensure that his soldiers were doing what they did the best way possible. The Union genreal was Ulysses S. Grant. He was known as a huge frustration to the Northern government giving him orders, but he got the job done. Often people debated whether he was super smart or very stupid. His famous nickname was “Unconditional Surrender” he earned this nickname because he was famous for never surrendering and always fighting until the last bullet flew through the sky.
The study of secondary sources challenges a person’s understanding of history because it does not come directly from the source, it is filtered through other people, and key elements may be left out. This limits a person’s understanding to what the secondary source wants them to know about a subject. A good example of this can be taken from the letter Chief John Ross wrote to president Lincoln in September of 1862. Chief John Ross was the Principle chief in charge of all branches of the Cherokee government, he decided to join the Confederacy because it protected all of the Cherokee nation’s slave holdings and he didn’t trust the U.S.government.
This battle ended a huge amount of soldiers’ lives within twelve hours of fighting. The Battle of Antietam was the bloodiest day in Civil War history. but it was a pivotal battle during the war. The Battle of Gettysburg took place on July first and ended on July third. General Robert E. Lee’s biggest mistake took a huge turn in the war.
Robert E. Lee’s (1807-1870) contribution to the United States as a war general and commander received positive connotations for his commitment, attitude and inspiration on the battlefield. However, it is debateable about his contributions because of Robert Lee’s association in the Civil War (1861-1865) to the Confederate Army that fought for the Southern States. Robert Lee lead many successful campaigns and battles including the following; helping defeat Mexican armies that lead to U.S land gains and westward expansion, battles against a more powerful army in the Civil War. Despite these achievements Lee’s loyalty for the Confederate Army that fought to uphold slavery undermines his success and is highly debateable about whether his contribution is justified or not. Robert Lee’s contributions to his nation begin before the Civil War in the Mexican-American War (1846-1848).
Lee was so fearless he determined to invade the North reiteratively. Robert E. Lee strategy was to drift the fighting away from Virginia and into the Union Territory. He wanted to move the fighting, because the Confederate were under siege in Virginia. Lee hoped to gain recognition from Britain and France for the Confederacy. Joesph Hooker,the Union commander, was exposed to the worst defeat of the Army of Potomac in the Battle of Chancellorsville.
Unlike Grant, General Lee did not believe in equality. He had leadership from the upper-class. He was such an inspiration to his men that they would die for him on the battlefield. Lee cared more about Virginia rather than a united states. Lee also believed that everything you fight for meant to defend everything in life to the deepest meaning.