The Myth of the Kindly General Lee.

[Yupster]

29. Lee was professional army

He lived whereever the army put him from Staten Island, New York to Texas. He spent very little time home.

The slaves he owned were inherited from his uncle when he died. It was Lee's job to free them within five years as his uncle's wishes. This was easier said than done, especially living far away and having to do all the paperwork by mail. You didn't just tell the slaves you're free, go away. Generally arrangements were made of where they would go and how they would live, especially the elderly ones.

Lee has been criticized for dragging his feet and taking the whole five years before freeing them. I don't know how damning that criticism is. You'd have to hear both sides of the story to know.