Robert E. Lee Quits U.S. Army to Serve Virginia

When Virginia voted to secede from the Union on April 17, 1861, the decision caused much anguish and soul-searching among many of the state’s leading men, torn between their fierce love and pride for Virginia, and allegiance to the nation that their Virginia ancestors played a leading role in founding. Perhaps no single individual was more torn than Colonel Robert Edward Lee, owner of a distinguished 32-year career in the U.S. Army and of a lineage with ties to George Washington.

Lee’s father, Major General Henry “Light Horse Harry” Lee, was a Revolutionary War hero who delivered the eulogy for George Washington. Lee’s wife was the great-granddaughter of Martha Washington and step-great-granddaughter of George Washington. Robert E. Lee continued the family military tradition; after a stellar career at West Point, he went on to serve with distinction in the Mexican-American War.

In March of 1861 Lee was promoted to colonel by President Abraham Lincoln; during this ceremony he repeated his oath of allegiance to the United States, aware that his beloved Virginia was seriously considering secession—which Lee opposed. On April 18, the day after Virginia voted to secede, Lincoln offered Lee a promotion to major general and command of the Union Army. Lee spent two sleepless, distressed days praying and wrestling with his decision. In the end, Lee decided he could not participate in an invasion of his home state, which he knew would be coming: his deep love for Virginia won out over his strong allegiance to his country. On April 20, 1861, Robert E. Lee resigned from the U.S. Army and headed home to become commander of the Virginia military forces.

Lee’s decision was hailed by two Virginia newspapers, whose articles were reprinted by the Macon Daily Telegraph (Macon, Georgia) on the front page of its April 29, 1861, issue:

Capt. Robert E. Lee

We rejoice (says the Lynchburg “Virginian”) that this distinguished officer and worthy son of Virginia, has withdrawn from Lincoln’s army and thrown himself upon the bosom of his native State. It was what we expected of the man. Capt. Maury has done likewise and thus, these two noble men, the very flower of the Army and Navy of the late United States, respond to the call of their glorious old mother. Sparta never had worthless sons. All honor to them and to the State that furnished them. Let no Corolinians be found in the army of mercenaries that shall besiege the cities of Virginia. If there should be—even though it were a Scott, whose laurelled brow has towered like the sons of Saul, long a conspicuous object amongst his countrymen—the women may not entreat them, but will execrate their memory. Virginia expects every son of hers, no matter where he has been in the past, to do his duty now in this her hour of trial. If they be true Virginians they will act like Lee and Maury and Forrest have done.

The Alexandria “Gazette” of Saturday last, and before the fact of Col. Lee’s resignation had transpired, thus referred to him:

It is probable that the secession of Virginia will cause an immediate resignation of many officers of the Army and Navy from this State. We do not know, and have no right to speak for or anticipate, the course of Col. Robt. E. Lee. Whatever he may do, will be conscientious and honorable. But if he should resign his present position in the Army of the United States, we call the immediate attention of our State to him, as an able, brave, experienced officer—no man his superior in all that constitutes the soldier and the gentleman—no man more worthy to head our forces and lead our army. There is no one who would command more of the confidence of the people of Virginia than this distinguished officer; and no one under whom the volunteers and militia would more gladly rally. His reputation, his acknowledged ability, his chivalric character, his probity, honor and—may we add, to his eternal praise—his Christian life and conduct, make his very name a “tower of strength.” It is a name surrounded by revolutionary and patriotic associations and reminiscences.

Predictably, the reaction was not as laudatory in the North. This notice was published by the Boston Daily Advertiser (Boston, Massachusetts) on May 4, 1861:

The following named army officers have resigned recently. Let their names be remembered with scorn: General Joseph E. Johnston, Quartermaster-General; Col. Robert E. Lee, First [correction: Second—ed.] Cavalry…

The great respect many held for Robert E. Lee was evident in an article published by the New York Express, reprinted by the Dallas Herald (Dallas, Texas) on the front page of its June 5, 1861, issue:

General Robert E. Lee

The Washington correspondent of the New York Express gives the following flattering account of Gen. Lee, the commander of the Virginia forces, who was a long while stationed in Texas, and has many friends here:

The resignation of Col. Robert E. Lee, of Virginia, has not been accepted. It is reported that the administration intend to strike him off the army roll as a deserter. But this is probably untrue. At the commencement of the present troubles, Gen. Scott urged upon the Government the importance of inviting Col. Lee to its counsels, to cooperate with him and lend him [Scott] the aid of his great military talents. He pronounced him the first soldier of the age, and declared that his services should be secured by the Government at any price. In accordance with this recommendation, overtures were made to Col. Lee, accompanied by the most tempting offers of a military rank, and, in fine, by other inducements that few men could have resisted. These offers were all declined by Col. Lee, and he is now at the head of the army of Virginia.

Col. Lee graduated at West Point with the highest honors of his class, in 1829, and then entered the Engineer Corps, inheriting the great military genius of his father, Gen. Henry Lee, the friend and eulogist of Washington. He devoted himself to the highest duties of his profession with characteristic assiduity. He visited France and other parts of Europe, to secure those advantages for improvement which could not be obtained at home, and his elegant manners and profound acquirements secured him the entrée to the houses of the great savants and military men of all nations resident in Paris; and his marriage with the daughter of Mr. Custis, the representative of Washington, identified him still more closely with the great Chief, than did his descent from the great cavalry officer of the Revolution, already mentioned. By that marriage he became, at the death of Mr. Custis, the proprietor of the splendid domain Arlington House and other great estates in Virginia, among them the patrimonial estate of Mrs. Washington in the county of New Kent.

During the Mexican War he was entrusted by Gen. Scott and Totten with the important charge of the Engineering Department of the army in Mexico. From the capture of San Juan del Ulloa, up to the storming of the capital of the Montezumas, the genius of Lee was triumphant over every obstacle, and to him, in military circles, has been cheerfully accorded equal credit with Scott himself for the successful conduct of that memorable campaign. When the two United States Cavalry Regiments were organized, he was offered a Lieutenant Colonelcy of the second, which he accepted, resigning his post as Captain of Engineers. His son Custis Lee, who, like his father, stood at the head of his class, is now Lieutenant of Engineers, but will probably soon resign and follow the fortunes of his father.

Col. Lee was for several years at the head of the United States Military Academy at West Point, and it is feared that the Southern officers who were educated there under his regime will all imitate his example, regarding him as the Bayard of the American army.

For more information, visit the Robert Edward Lee website provided by the Encyclopedia Virginia.

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