Robert E. Lee: A Man of Many Faces
Robert E. Lee was an immensely complex character in history. He has been credited with impressive victories and defeats, and both immoral and moral attributes. Romanticized by some, abhorred by others, it is not easy to take an objective approach when examining his life. Although he lived more than a century ago, his legacy shaped American history and continues to be of relevance in the present.
Born in northeast Virginia in 1807, Robert E. Lee was a man meant for greatness. Many of his family members were leaders and veterans, paving the path for him to be a brilliant military leader. He proved his aptitude in martial thinking by graduating from West Point Military Academy second in his class with no demerits. This commendable achievement led him to a robust profession in the military, where he served as a superb commander in the Mexican-American War. His performance made him, according to Abraham Lincoln, an excellent candidate for the position of Commander of the Union Army at the time of the Civil War. Despite Lincoln’s offer, Lee refused because his loyalties were with his home state, Virginia, which seceded from the Union. He decided to command the Confederate Army. The Confederacy won many battles because of Lee’s excellence in combat but lost battles as well. In the end, Lee surrendered to General Grant of the Union Army. Lee escaped being labeled as a traitor by the Lincoln Administration and went back to Virginia. There, he became president of Washington College and, in 1870, died because of a heart stroke.
Lee’s position as the commander of the Confederate Army was his most salient contribution to history. This position turned out to be on the losing and immoral side of the Civil War, but it was purely a profession. He had feelings and opinions that conflicted with the Confederacy’s on the issue that started the Civil War: slavery. Much has been assumed about the allegiance of this man, whether it be to slavery or simply his home state. It is known he supported the Confederacy as he sided with them in the Civil War but Lee’s opinion on slavery is much more complicated. He did not support it like his Confederate comrades and thus, he acknowledged that “slavery as an institution is a moral & political evil in any Country” (Lee) in a letter to his wife on December 27, 1856. This reveals that despite fighting for the continuation of slavery, Lee did not believe in the institution. Lee had a complex relationship with slavery, owning slaves and being part of the elite plantation class in the South, but believing it was immoral. This shows that Lee had some recognition of morality but did not do anything to reinforce it. He instead tried convincing himself that slavery was defendable by using racism. He explained, “The blacks are immeasurably better off here than in Africa, morally, socially & physically. The painful discipline they are undergoing, is necessary for their instruction as a race, & I hope will prepare & lead them to better things” (Lee). He believed that slavery was a good service given to African-Americans by Europeans that strengthened and improved them. This thinking was shaped by the idea that Africans are somehow inferior to Europeans because of the color of their skin. Because he believed that Africans somehow needed this sort of unjust treatment, he supported the Confederacy. His ideas and thoughts are paramount as it uncovers how the people of the South thought about the institution of slavery. Lee’s thoughts are still prevalent in today’s society with white supremacy. It exhibits how the defense of racism and slavery are inherently flawed and serves as a lesson to all those who still practice or participate in these institutions and ideologies.
Although he has many flaws, Lee was quick to acknowledge the Confederacy’s mistakes and did not try to defend them or praise their efforts. This acceptance is heartening as it mightily contributed to the Reconstruction efforts and reduced divisions among Americans. One such instance is when Lee was invited to view the erection of Confederate monuments. Lee remarks, “I think it wiser, moreover, not to keep open the sores of war but to follow the examples of those nations who endeavored to obliterate the marks of civil strife, to commit to oblivion the feelings engendered” (Lee) on raising Confederate monuments. This notion reveals that Lee wanted the Civil War and all that had come before it to remain in the past, so as to not glorify the act of secession. Despite his warning, the monuments get built anyways, which continue to be part of the culture wars and protests in the present. It seems that Lee had the foresight or a great amount of knowledge about the patterns of history to make such a judgement that is potent to this day. Furthermore, this truly sets in stone the fact that Lee wanted the Confederacy and its ideologies to be in the past and look forward to reuniting the Union, accommodating all the changes to society.
Being the commander of the losing side of the Civil War was not the only significant part of Lee’s life. He served very bravely in the Union Army during the Mexican-American War. Lee’s performance was so superb that General Winfield Scott remarked Lee was, “the very best soldier that I ever saw in the field.” This type of praise was not given out to anyone; rather it was given to only the most distinguished on the battlefield. Lee was known for “launching bold offensive strokes” (Before the War) and won many battles with his bravery and will to win. These events pushed Lee into prominence and allowed him to be recommended to lead many more battles. Years later, it was this performance that led President Buchanan to ask Lee to nullify a slave rebellion. The Mexican-American War allowed Lee to contribute to America’s wellbeing. Without his contribution, specific battles were won efficiently. His participation also led him to “oppose the idea of war in 1861” (Before the War). This opposition leads to uncertainty about how the Civil War will be carried out. It made the inevitable possibility of violence that much more difficult to pull off. This knowledge of warfare being unwanted allowed for Lee to seriously understand the amount of sacrifice one has to give before winning a battle. Comprehending this, he carried his troops to victory many times.
Robert E. Lee carries a particularly damaging legacy in the present. Seen at the center of white supremacists and other hate groups, he represents the era of Confederacy and legitimizes their detrimental ideologies. His monuments especially cause great tension in the South, with minorities “pressuring elected officials to dismantle Lee and other Confederate memorials” (Contreras). Whenever news erupts of the dismantling of Confederate monuments, white supremacists protest and demonstrators who are against them protest. This tense environment recently led to a woman being killed by a white supremacist during protests in Charlottesville, Virginia. White supremacists defend their position by saying that these monuments are part of their heritage and allow for the veneration of their veteran ancestors. On the other hand, those who want the monuments removed explain that these monuments insult their ancestors. This represents the struggles and division in America in the present. It does not help that Lee was “a slave owner who would not give them up” (Cohen). This inherent immorality of Lee makes him unappealing and unlikely to be a role model to the majority of future generations. Attention to morality claims most minds more than duty in this generation. Many have proposed different ways to end the conflict of these controversial statues. One of them is where the monuments should have descriptions of the horrendous acts that the men honored have done. (Cohen) This would let the people of future generations learn from Lee’s mistakes and make sure it never happens again. It would also not erase history but rather allow it to be acknowledged. This approach appeases both sides; the protesters against the dismantling of Confederate statues would have gotten their wish to let this relic of history remain. Those who wanted these statues to be gone would get to see the stripping of Lee’s valor and positive attributes and focus on his many glaring flaws. They would get to see future generations more educated and thereby improve the future of America. This policy would be the best compromise and the best of Lee’s legacy would remain: the need for the past to be let go of.
Robert E. Lee was an impressive man of great skill and talent. His contributions to American history allowed for the vibrant America of the present to exist. Yet, his blatantly racist attitudes and support of the Confederacy forever tainted his legacy. Currently, this is the main aspect of Lee’s life that is observed. Race divides America now much like it did in the time of Robert E. Lee. Polarizing figures such as Lee aggravate this already strained situation needlessly. His racism but also bravery in the war arouses pride in some but the same racism and participation in the Civil War insults others. This struggle can only be solved by ridding America of these dangerous ideologies driven by these “heroes”, ensuring that discrimination can never occur again.