Robert E. Lee's Regrets and Reactions after His Army's Defeat by Union Forces
Throughout the American Civil War, led by General Robert E. Lee, the Confederate forces faced multiple defeats. Notably, the Union victory at the Battle of Five Forks in 1865, just days before the climactic Battle of Petersburg, marked a dire turning point for the Confederacy. Lee's subsequent reaction was one of deep contemplation and distress over the failure of his army.
The Fall of Richmond and Lee's Escape
Following the Union's victory at Five Forks, Lee made the crucial decision to evacuate Richmond and Petersburg, which were quickly becoming indefensible. Instead of staying to fortify these positions, Lee chose to flee westward. His objective was to reach a railhead in Danville, a significant pathway to potential Confederate reinforcements and escape routes. However, the Union's Army of the Potomac outmaneuvered him, swiftly closing the gap and leading to the Confederate surrender at Appomattox Courthouse. This surrender effectively brought an end to the Civil War.
Lee's Reflections on Secession and Personal Failures
Lee's regrets over secession and his role in the war were profound. In pre-war correspondence, he expressed a strong belief in the preservation of the Union: “I can anticipate no greater calamity for the country than a dissolution of the Union. It would be an accumulation of all the evils we complain of and I am willing to sacrifice anything but honor for its preservation.”
Post-war, Lee's remorse continued. After the Battle of Gettysburg, he addressed returning soldiers by acknowledging his responsibility, stating, "This is all my fault." Furthermore, Lee privately reflected on his own military career, expressing regret over having pursued a military education and serving in the military. His resignation offer to President Jefferson Davis after the defeat at Gettysburg underscores his profound disillusionment with the war's outcome.
Changing Attitudes and Post-War Reflections
Initially, Lee viewed Union General Ulysses S. Grant with contempt, considering him an unpolished Midwesterner. However, this view evolved over time. In a post-war exchange with a faculty member at the university he had founded, Lee demonstrated his growing respect for Grant, famously stating, "Sir, if you ever presume again to speak disrespectfully of General Grant in my presence, either you or I will sever our connection with this university." This statement highlights the mutual respect and recognition that emerged despite their initial biases.
Regarding General William Tecumseh Sherman, although Lee never faced him in battle, he held him in high regard. Not only did Lee commend Sherman's military acumen, explicitly calling him "the ablest of Union officers," but he also placed context on the controversial "March to the Sea," stating that such complaints were often exaggerated.
The True Nature of Lee's Late Years
A deeper understanding of Lee's inner turmoil came from biographer Elizabeth Brown Pryor, who gained access to previously unpublicized correspondence. In her interview, Pryor revealed that Lee was internally fraught with emotional distress. Despite appearing outwardly dignified, Pryor notes that Lee's correspondence contained "scrap[s] of paper, unfinished essays, letters to cousins in Europe" full of "bitterness and anger." This elder statesman, who had so much at stake during the war, was portrayed in his twilight years by Pryor as a "disappointed, heartsick man." This insight complicates the traditional narrative of Lee, presenting a more nuanced picture of a man grappling with the aftermath of a cataclysmic conflict.