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In reply to the discussion: Trump: 'Robert E. Lee was a great general' [View all]Scruffy1
(3,254 posts)In plain words he was a butcher. He took casualties needlessly that he could ill afford. His behavior at Gettysburg wwas criminal. First he ignored the advice of his whole staff and at the end the order for Pickets charge was insane. Picket never spoke to him again. Antietem was a bloodbath accomplishing nothing.Two thirds of his troops deserted. This whole bullshit of Robert E. Lee being a great General was just part of the revisionist history campaign that really got going about the first centennial of the Civil War. The truth was he enjoyed the great advantage of mostly fighting from defensive positions and the advent of the rifled barrell gave the defense a huge advantage. Too bad most get their history from movies and television.
There is a storyabout him giving General Montgomery a tour of the battlefield at Gettysburg. When they got to where Picket's charge occurred Montgomery said "I would have cashiered that General". Ike replied "I would have shot the SOB."