An issue of Commitment: As to the reasons Performed Robert Elizabeth. Lee Get in on the Confederacy
Confederates discharged on the Fort Sumter towards twelfth, this new Government garrison officially capitulated into 14th and Abraham Lincoln awarded a call into 15th for 75,100 volunteers so you’re able to suppresses this new rebellion
ROBERT Elizabeth. LEE should not be know just like the a statistic defined mainly from the his Virginia title. Like with the majority of their fellow American citizens, the guy manifested a range of loyalties into the late-antebellum and wartime ages. Undoubtedly dedicated to their household condition, where his loved ones got loomed highest within the politics and you can societal position once the Colonial point in time, he and had deep accessories to your All of us, to the light slaveholding South and also to the latest Confederacy- five degrees of respect you to became even more prominent, receded or connected within various circumstances. Lee’s commitment to this new Confederate nation reigned over his tips and you can thinking for the most famous and you may very important period of his lifetime.
A page out of Lee so you can P.Grams.T. Beauregard into the ine their conception regarding commitment. Just half a year immediately after he surrendered brand new Military regarding North Virginia from the Appomattox, Lee informed me why he had asked an excellent pardon regarding Chairman Andrew Johnson. “True patriotism either requires of males to behave exactly reverse, at one to months, to this which it do on other,” mentioned Lee, “and motive and therefore impels her or him-the desire to accomplish right- is strictly an equivalent. The fresh items and that control their procedures transform; and their carry out need adhere to new order off something.” Just like the frequently try the actual situation, Lee turned to their priple: “At a time he struggled this new French not as much as Braddock, throughout the provider of the Queen of good Great britain; from the some other, he battled towards French within Yorktown, under the commands of one’s Continental Congress regarding The united states, up against your.” Even when the guy did not say-so clearly, Lee’s “desire to carry out correct” absolutely stemmed out of his comprehension of obligation and you will honor. One to insights placed your about clothing of the All of us, the state of Virginia and Confederacy within this a time period of a couple weeks when you look at the 1861.
Lee’s support so you’re able to Virginia certainly predominated within the momentous springtime of 1861. A drift into the emergency inaugurated having Southern area Carolina’s secession when you look at the December 1860 hit crisis within the mid-April.
Lee moved in order to Richmond towards April twenty two, spoke which have Letcher and recognized his local nation’s call
On the April 18, Lee met independently having Francis Preston Blair Sr. and you will General Winfield Scott. Energized by the Lincoln to help you “decide Lee’s aim and you may thinking,” Blair asked Lee to visualize command of your military are increased to place on the rebellion. Lee refused the offer and you will went on instantaneously to help you Scott’s workplace, where the guy recounted his talk having Blair and you can reiterated that he won’t take on the latest proffered demand. Culture has they you to Scott, an other Virginian, answered, “Lee, you made a mistake in your life; however, I dreadful it could be very.”
Word of Virginia’s secession, chosen from the nation’s meeting toward April 17, appeared in regional press towards the 19th. During the early early morning regarding April 20, Lee authored a one-phrase letter of resignation in order to Secretary from Conflict Simon Cameron. Later one to big date he wrote a considerably longer letter to help you Scott one announced his choice and you will included one of the most appear to cited phrases Lee ever blogged or spoke: “Save regarding the safety off my personal native County, We never interest again to attract my personal blade.” The battle Department took 5 days so you’re able to techniques Lee’s resignation, and this turned certified towards the April 25.
By then he’d obtained a deal regarding Governor John Letcher to take demand of all the Virginia’s armed forces pushes. Into the early morning away from April 23, a several-child delegation regarding secession discussion followed Lee on the Capitol. Immediately following noon, the five guys inserted this building, in which delegates was indeed privately course. As he waited for several minutes away from finalized space, Lee doubtless contemplated French sculptor Jean-Antoine Houdon’s existence-proportions sculpture out of George Washington- their model of military and you can republican advantage. Taking walks towards the a packed chamber, Lee listened to comments out-of John Janney, new convention’s chairman. The fresh new vote to possess Lee had been unanimous, observed Janney, who after that summoned the recollections of “Light-Pony Harry” Lee’s well-known tribute so you’re able to Arizona: “I pray God most fervently that you may possibly very run the latest operations purchased the fees, that it’ll in the near future end up being said people, that you will be ‘first in comfort,’ and in case that time appear there are attained the latest still prouder distinction of being ‘first in this new minds of your own countrymen.’”