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GulfCoast66

(11,949 posts)
20. A comment just for the sake of historical accuracy. The Union Army had 3 generals before Grant.
Sat Aug 19, 2017, 10:29 PM
Aug 2017

Grant was not offered the job as head of the Union Army until 1864, being the 4th man to hold the position. So while your comment is not inaccurate because in fact Grant got the job at some point in time after Lee turned it down, it is also somewhat deceptive as your wording suggests Grant was the 2nd choice. Rest assured I am not accusing you of intentional deception. Just stating how your comment read to me.

Had Lee taken the job, he would probably be remembered as a failed Union General as the logistics of the early war year did not favor the north in their attempted invasion of Virginia. There is little doubt(in my mind) that if Lee were leading the Army of the Potomac against the Army of Northern Virginia commanded by some of the other capable confederate generals he would have met McClellan's fate. Lee tended to be somewhat ponderous on the attack as did McClellan and the armies of the day. And that war flat out favored the defense. Unless your name was Stonewall Jackson. He was one of the few visionary generals of the war. Unfortunately, he was a traitor. And fortunately he died early enough in the war as to not tip the result in the South's favor. Because a General like him at Gettysburg could have changed the outcome.

But had Lee taken the position, he would now be remembered as a patriot, not a traitor.

Anyway, I am not making any political point here at all, just a fan of history. I always wonder if the events were taught as earth shattering and history changing really were.

Have a nice evening.

Lee did fight against the United States union... defacto7 Aug 2017 #1
and what pray tell does that change? DonCoquixote Aug 2017 #2
What does that change..... defacto7 Aug 2017 #7
not killing or Mercy DonCoquixote Aug 2017 #16
The specifics of this statement.. defacto7 Aug 2017 #18
What Lee did was usual, choosing his state over the federal government Yupster Aug 2017 #10
Love to hear history spelled out. defacto7 Aug 2017 #14
a good quote DonCoquixote Aug 2017 #17
Grant's rise came rather late in the war. When Lee declined the offer, probably no one, save... NNadir Aug 2017 #11
Thanks for posting these historic details.... defacto7 Aug 2017 #13
A comment just for the sake of historical accuracy. The Union Army had 3 generals before Grant. GulfCoast66 Aug 2017 #20
"This side of the conflict believes in genocide and breaking their eggs at the small end. Aristus Aug 2017 #34
Angela Rye on CNN just said that the Washington and Jefferson statues also need to come down oberliner Aug 2017 #3
that can be debated DonCoquixote Aug 2017 #4
I agree with you oberliner Aug 2017 #5
Kind of broad. We can judge Lee because he chose defacto7 Aug 2017 #8
The US revolution delayed the end of slavery Yupster Aug 2017 #9
Your right. But the British empire didn't create defacto7 Aug 2017 #15
"The British empire didn't create a government thucythucy Aug 2017 #26
"The British empire ended slavery long before the USA did." EX500rider Aug 2017 #19
Thirty one years is a long time thucythucy Aug 2017 #27
Most northern US states abolished slavery before the British Empire did oberliner Aug 2017 #23
But then the Fugitive Slave Act thucythucy Aug 2017 #28
As did Andrew Jackson Ex Lurker Aug 2017 #21
Hear, hear! Missn-Hitch Aug 2017 #6
Lee and Washington were both slave owning traitors Nevernose Aug 2017 #12
Going out on a limb here... GulfCoast66 Aug 2017 #22
I will go even further than you did Yupster Aug 2017 #24
His mentor and commander was a Virginian as well and didn't become a traitor. NNadir Aug 2017 #25
Thanks for this post. thucythucy Aug 2017 #29
So, I gather you don't like Lee. That's fine but Yupster Aug 2017 #30
I despise Lee, but I was referring to immediate subordinates AP Hill and Jackson, corps commanders. NNadir Aug 2017 #31
You bring up interesting topics for discussion Yupster Aug 2017 #33
Well, I certainly feel that vitriol is the appropriate way to view Robert E. Lee. NNadir Aug 2017 #35
Most of that is Jim Crow, Lost Cause propaganda Nevernose Aug 2017 #32
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