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History Topic: Did R.E. Lee Betray His Countrymen?
Posted on 4/12/15 at 9:30 am
Posted on 4/12/15 at 9:30 am
Surrendering the Army of Northern Virginia at Appomattox as opposed to taking to the hills and fighting it out like Longstreet, Fitz Lee, and John Gordon wanted to?
Personally looking at it yes he was in a tough position, however it's almost criminal to surrender while he still had approximately 25,000 to 30,000 soldiers under his command regardless of the Union strength. If they would have taken to the hills and fought a guerilla style war the Northern will would have been broken within that year. That combined with R.E. Lee and his staff riding South and commanding from Johnston's headquarters he would have easily been able to outmaneuver/defeat Sherman's forces. With a large Union defeat in the south combined with guerilla warfare in Washington D.C., R.E. Lee was extremely shortsighted and borderline treasonous in surrendering his Army and himself.
Personally looking at it yes he was in a tough position, however it's almost criminal to surrender while he still had approximately 25,000 to 30,000 soldiers under his command regardless of the Union strength. If they would have taken to the hills and fought a guerilla style war the Northern will would have been broken within that year. That combined with R.E. Lee and his staff riding South and commanding from Johnston's headquarters he would have easily been able to outmaneuver/defeat Sherman's forces. With a large Union defeat in the south combined with guerilla warfare in Washington D.C., R.E. Lee was extremely shortsighted and borderline treasonous in surrendering his Army and himself.
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Posted on 4/12/15 at 9:48 am to OleWarSkuleAlum
Would Lincoln have died five days later?
Posted on 4/12/15 at 9:51 am to OleWarSkuleAlum
He saved thousands of lives. The war was out of reach for the South and Lee hadn't been able to pull of a major victory in some time.
Posted on 4/12/15 at 9:56 am to OleWarSkuleAlum
Yes, he did betray his countrymen. When he resigned from the U.S. Army and decided to fight for the treasonous inveterates fighting to keep the evil institution of slavery he betrayed his country.
Posted on 4/12/15 at 9:57 am to OleWarSkuleAlum
at that point, the troops had no supplies or food.
Posted on 4/12/15 at 9:59 am to OleWarSkuleAlum
Lee did the right thing. The North had more of everything and it was inevidible that the South would be defeated.
The biggest mistake, in my opinion, was the South's lack of planning before the war...there was little if any. Stockpile supplies and have some sort of agreement with a few European countries that they would support the cause with manpower, supplies and money. As it was, it was simply a matter of time for the South.
The biggest mistake, in my opinion, was the South's lack of planning before the war...there was little if any. Stockpile supplies and have some sort of agreement with a few European countries that they would support the cause with manpower, supplies and money. As it was, it was simply a matter of time for the South.
Posted on 4/12/15 at 10:04 am to beejon
quote:
The biggest mistake, in my opinion, was the South's lack of planning before the war..
The South needed a quick victory, and almost got it.
The South also needed Stonewall Jackson to keep living.
Such gallant men.
Posted on 4/12/15 at 10:05 am to OleWarSkuleAlum
quote:
Yes, he did betray his countrymen. When he resigned from the U.S. Army and decided to fight for the treasonous inveterates fighting to keep the evil institution of slavery he betrayed his country.
This is the correct answer.
Posted on 4/12/15 at 10:09 am to VanCleef
To bad the real motive for the war was the north wanting taxes and other monetary gains from the south and slavery was secondary.
Stonewall Jackson's death was the turning point.
Stonewall Jackson's death was the turning point.
Posted on 4/12/15 at 10:09 am to VanCleef
Damn Yankees posting up in here. And not the band.
Posted on 4/12/15 at 10:11 am to OleWarSkuleAlum
quote:
however it's almost criminal to surrender while he still had approximately 25,000 to 30,000 soldiers under his command regardless of the Union strength.
No matter if they had ammunition, food, or medicines?
Posted on 4/12/15 at 10:12 am to OleWarSkuleAlum
You also over estimate the South's willingness to continue the fight once Sherman and Grant shifted to Total War tactics.
Posted on 4/12/15 at 10:12 am to bulldog95
quote:
To bad the real motive for the war was the north wanting taxes and other monetary gains from the south and slavery was secondary.
This board needs a "not this shite again" emoticon.
Posted on 4/12/15 at 10:14 am to armytiger96
Except for the most diehard fanatics or the downright criminal elements I believe by that time the majority of the soldiers just wanted to go home or head out west to start over instead of continuing to fight.
Posted on 4/12/15 at 10:14 am to Rex
go back to the poli boardPosted on 4/12/15 at 10:16 am to OleWarSkuleAlum
30,000 troops isn't much to work with Especially when you are low on ammo and food.
Especially when you are low on ammo and food.Posted on 4/12/15 at 10:18 am to windshieldman
I guess they could have used slings and slung rocks.
Posted on 4/12/15 at 10:18 am to OleWarSkuleAlum
One of his officers suggested this, Edward Porter Alexander. Lee said "You and I as Christian men have no right to consider only how this would affect us. We must consider its effect on the country as a whole...if I took your advice the men would be without rations and under no control of officers. They would be compelled to rob and steal in order to live. They would become bands of marauders... We would bring on a state of affairs it would take the country years to recover from."
Now that he was beaten he was looking at how best for his men and the country to get back to work and farming and being a nation.
Now that he was beaten he was looking at how best for his men and the country to get back to work and farming and being a nation.
Posted on 4/12/15 at 10:19 am to OleWarSkuleAlum
Union4lyfe 
Posted on 4/12/15 at 10:20 am to fouldeliverer
quote:
fighting to keep the evil institution of slavery
It was more of a war about states' rights than slavery.
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