Robert E. Lee: A Remarkable Military Career
Vložit
- čas přidán 3. 01. 2018
- Robert E. Lee - today, the mere mention of his name is enough to arouse passionate debate. In his time, he was loved and respected by both the Confederate Army and the Southern people. Curiously, following the Civil War, this high admiration carried over to include the people of the North, and Lee become a cherished figure for all Americans. During the war, when Abraham Lincoln looked at a picture of Lee, he remarked that a man with such a compassionate countenance had to be a ‘good man.’ But the war to which he devoted his every fiber broke him, if not in spirit, certainly in body and he was only to outlive the conflict by five years.
→Subscribe for new videos every Monday and Thursday! czcams.com/users/biographics...
Vote for the Biography you want us to next. Click here to vote:
biographics.org/you-choose-the...
Visit our companion website for more: biographics.org
Credits:
Host - Simon Whistler
Author - Jamie Carter Logan
Producer - Jack Cole
Executive Producer - Shell Harris
Business inquiries to biographics.email@gmail.com
Biographies by the book, get Robert E Lee's biography from Amazon: amzn.to/2y9tpOa
Other Biographics Videos:
Erwin Rommel: The General Who Defied Hitler
• Erwin Rommel: The Gene...
Genghis Khan: His Life And His Legacy
• Genghis Khan: His Life...
“It’s a good thing war is so terrible , otherwise we would grow quite fond of it.”
General Robert E. Lee
and yet...
JaceH555 TM, it's the human condition.
Apparently Lee's message didn't get through the U.S. has constantly been at war for the last 80 years how pathetic.
@@MegaReception1 Couldn’t exactly sit out both World Wars or let Russian influence spread
09 4I
north or south
we must all agree
the civil war had god tier beards and sideburns
Sideburns were apparently named after a civil war General. General Burnside.
And marching songs, though that isn't restricted to the US.
Jack Lang
Lots of good music and plenty of great parodies
Yeah. Most of us folks here got some nice beards
The Minty
Mustaches and sideburns as well....
After the war, General Grant nearly went ballistic when he heard the US government was considering charging General Lee with a crime of being a traitor. He threatened to resign if Lee were charged with a crime. I think this alone prevented anything from happening to Lee. They both had a great respect for one another.
Traitor.
He was a traitor
@@angus4463 that's an odd way to spell "based"
Was a legit traitor.
Yes he's considered as one of the best military commanders America has ever had.. too bad he fought for the losing side... Ya know there is strong debate that if the south had the strength and logistics that the union had america would be split in 2 rn
I'm glad both Grant and Lee understood each others feelings about the war. No pomp and circumstance. Just stopping the war and start the healing.
"I cannot trust a man to control others who cannot control himself."
- Robert E. Lee
+Ralph Goodman If that's true, Lee was an utter moron. So I hope it's not.
That's actually not true. Only 4 of the 11 states listed slavery as a reason for secession. Plus, the articles of secession were not a war declaration. The only case you have to list the ordinances of secession, which again, only 6 of the 11 even mention slavery. You must also ignore that Lee's state of Virginia didn't secede strictly over the issue of slavery, but when Lincoln called for troops from Virginia to put down the 7 rebelling states, at that time, Virginia refused and felt cornered to side with someone.
@Baron Von Grijffenbourg Again, not necessarily. Too often people see the American Civil War as black and white(no pun intended), but the complexity of the Civil War shouldn't be judged that way. We have many journals from soldiers stating their reasons for fighting on both sides and slavery wasn't one of them for most. Yes, there were those fighting for and against slavery, as well as, soldiers fighting for the motives of other people(slaveholders), in some cases, I'm not debating that. I'm saying the whole war and ideas behind secession were not firmly planted on either side on the idea of slavery. In fact, historical points of view show that slavery was secondary to both sides in many ways.
Baron Von Grijffenbourg what people truly fail to understand is this... the sum of a politician's intent does not speak for the masses. I do not begrudge the Wehrmacht or those conscripted to serve Germany when he was under threat of invasion. You seem to be hung up on what "States Rights" entails... yes, one of these was slavery but if you look accurately at history and American economics of the time, Slavery was dying in the USA. Regrettably not as quickly as it needed to but it truly was a failing institution when you look at who actually could afford slaves in the South, we're not even talking about slave owners in the Northern States and even the small percentage of Blacks and Indians who owned slaves (they existed too). You never hear the other reasons the Southerner's felt their rights were being trampled on... by Democrats splitting the party and the election of Lincoln as the consolidated alternative, I suppose they felt that was another avenue to the argument that was shut down to them. Also, this was a problem well before Lincoln, how come no onus is put on Buchanan for simply "punting" the problem away??? there's so much more nuance to the War Between the States than we ever learn of in classes and that's sad.
@Baron Von Grijffenbourg Desperate attempt to make a point, some point... I don't know which point. Is it that fighting for increased liberty and rights is a bad thing? Oh, the irony. As if it's not obvious that the wicked receive their liberty in full too. You are a desperate, desperate, man. If you didn't already know, slavery could still have been banned in state-law, one by one. MUCH better than depriving us of states rights, which views the entire country as a collective. Desperate. Even just 4 of the 11 Confederate states wanted to keep slavery. Desperate.
At West Point Lee was called the "Marble Model" because he never got any demerits. Also one thing Lee was known for is that during the war he would not sleep in a house that was still occupied even if invited to do so by the owners. He did this out of respect for his men sleeping on the ground. Lee was all but worshiped by most of his soldiers.
Then you have Sherman who according to his memoirs received 150 demerits per year.
To this day southern descendents of Confederate troops, still carry on a tradition of giving their first born the middle name Lee. My family are among those descendents. He was our most beloved General.
Leading an army against the US for the sole purpose of continuing to own slaves at least warrants one demerit
There are some men who you wouldn't trust to lead men through ankle high standing water.
And then there are men who you can look on and desire all your life to want to be at least a tenth of the kind of man that they were.
He was dumb no j
A man who's tactics are still studied today in many military colleges today.
Like how to lose?
@@thecawolf1 The South actually kicked our asses during the war. The only reason we won was because the south didn't grow anything but cotton, and you can't eat that...
@@keithtestaverde3712 factually that's not true. While it is true that the north had superior manpower and manufacturing. The tactical maneuvers of the likes of Grant, Sherman and Meade did Lee in. He could easily defeat incompetent leaders of the early war but when the generals of the western theatre began to come over to fight lee the war was over. No doubt a master tactician but was outdone by Grant.
Why would any military winner study a loser like R.E. Lee or any other Confederate? Slack jawed, inept. Incompetent.
@@willoutlaw4971 the people disrespectful to lee on here have no idea what strategic warfare is.
I like how unbiased this video is. It doesn’t present Lee as a villain, and nor does it present him as a complete hero. It really just depicts him in a respectful manner as a mixed bag.
True that is, as we're all a mixed bag. May we strive to be a special bag as he was.
"I tremble for my country when I hear of confidence expressed in me. I know too well my weakness, that our only hope is in God." -Robert E. Lee
Ralph Goodman Lee was asked to lead an army against his home. Virginia was his home, where his friends, family lived. His childhood memories existed there and he was being asked to lead an army to invade it. Why don't you stop being prejudiced for a second and realize the terrible dilemma that must be for a person. Especially back then when values were heavily emphasized towards family, friends and home.
I fail to understand what your point even means. What does that have anything to do with his actions and decisions in life?
It was a very very good thing that Lee didn't take the Union Command or the North may have lost.
Lee was not what many Southerners were brainwashed into believing.
www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2017/06/the-myth-of-the-kindly-general-lee/529038/
The was a sadist slave owner, racist by his own words, poor offensive leader as he never own an offensive battle in the war, and most of all a traitor to the Nation that educated him and give him a job as a military man. He should of been hung after the war.
J BEST *hanged
flying cabbage : hung works
Ralph Goodman : Very intelligent man but definitely the wrong choice for his position in the confederacy. My opinion is that he lost the 'war' deliberately. Ultimately, he had to fail.
You've done it again Sir. As a 36 yr Veteran of the Canadian armed forces, I appreciate how you treated one of the GREATEST Generals of all time. Thank You .
hmm, interesting. I don't get to speak much to soldiers to be honest and I just don't understand why anyone would fight for country like Canada. Forgive me if I sound rude, it just baffles me really.
Timmo Jarrer If you love your country and want to protect it then serving your country is a great honor. How does someone wanting to protect there country "Baffle" you? Unless you want Canada to become a leech to the U.S then they need there own Army.
Canadians are tough Soldiers! Naturally, Canadians and Americans have much of the same blood. We have much of the same, "Yearning to breathe free". Canadians are great people!
@@nightman890 xD
Well, they believe its a great country, which it is in some ways, but I think we all know the ways in which it isn't lol
@@bigyoshi2893 I think he's saying that Canada is a horrible place to be xD
But technicallu, they are already a leech to the US, I mean, remind me how many countries of NATO actually put 2% of their GDP towards the military lol?
14:10 The graves dug on his estate became what is now known today as Arlington National Cemetery
Well hopefully that detail doesn't get widespread attention. They recently tore down Lee's statue due to him serving the confederates. So I suppose they'd want to have all those vets dug up and relocated to appease them!!!! Can't very well have them buried in a racists backyard now can we?
0:50 - Chapter 1 - Early life
1:40 - Chapter 2 - A military career
3:20 - Chapter 3 - A fateful decision
5:30 - Chapter 4 - The war
9:40 - Chapter 5 - Gettysburg
16:20 - Chapter 6 - After the war
Ulysses S. Grant; The "S" did not stand for "Simpson". In fact it stood for nothing. Grant's given name was Hiram Ulysses Grant. A clerical error when he enrolled at West Point had him registered as Ulysses S. Grant. Grant found the procedures required correct the error too onerous, so he stuck with the name he had been registered under.
Love the music. Outlaw Josey Wales anyone?
The Clerk must of been a Mason and couldnt bring himself to write down Hiram lol
He was known as sam to his friends.
Simpson was his mother's maiden name, so it was a hyphenated last name: Simpson-Grant.
The hero at Gettysburg was General Meade and not Grant.
How can you leave out the fact he was the first student to graduate West Point without a single demerit?
I don't think he was the first. Though remarkable achievement it was.
he graduated 2nd in his class
What’s a demerit? Is it like a write up or something?
crzmicky basically
I believe he had two. And isn't Abe Froman the sausage king in Ferris Beuler's Day Off?
"I am nothing but a poor sinner, trusting in Christ alone for salvation."
"The education of a man is never completed until his death."
- Robert E. Lee
Lee also said, of civil war statues,
"Better not to keep open
the sores of war".
After Appomattox, also told his men to "fold the flag and put it away, or else it will be divisive."
It's amazing just how many armchair generals today defy his wisdom..... 💥🇺🇸💥
He was a very smart man
@generic generic Gee you're dumb.
@@MegaBbqbbq He is right. Just to give you one quote: The painful discipline they are undergoing, is necessary for their instruction as a race, & I hope will prepare & lead them to better things.
@@sabinereynaudsf I don't understand what are you saying. We were just talking abaut how Robert E Lee was brilliant general.
Thank you, sincerely, for your portrayal of lee in these..... tumultuous days. History isn’t as simple as today’s youth like to believe.
I say this as an American, whose family fought for the north, and was sent to Andersonville for their trouble.
Great video Simon. Many Americans forget that Americans were being killed on both sides. They forget that Lee was very respected on both sides. Its amazing how he described how the war would go in that letter!
Luke Zuzga a lot of people don't know that if he wasn't so "nationalistic (???)" For Virginia he would have been Lincolns top guy.
Ryan Meaker rt on
Cody Connolly I don't think anybody with any knowledge of the conflict forgot what started it. However, some healing needs to continue and I see nothing wrong with someone feeling a little pride in millitary accomplishments. Even the German people feel pride in many of their WWll regular army vets.
Cody Connolly right on
Brian Glover The fact that he won the battles he did in the civil war makes him great. The North didn't truely turn the tide until they fought a war of attrition.
Thanks for this balanced treatment of Robert E. Lee. It's sad to think of the many younger folks these days who simply take a Manichean view of the past. This was a good corrective. Keep it up.
Idiocy? I think quite the opposite.
I agree. I hate the view point of how the world is just good and evil. The world is not black and white. Its gray with many accounts to take in.
Ralph Goodman
The CSA would have always lost the war. There is no way the could have continued along at the rate they were going with the amount of soldiers they were losing. Especially when considering the tactics that were being deployed at the time by both forces. Plain and simple, the North had a far better infrastructure to support their troops. They were able to get fresh soldiers and hard resupplies fairly quickly by utilizing the railroads. I believe if they had focused more guerrilla tactics and trench warfare earlier on they have stood a better chance down the line. The greatest asset the South had was its leadership.
Yes, getting officially recognized by the other power countries as a completely independent nation is feverishly important to establishing their state. But I believe unless they actually received aid from various European nations and native population it would ultimately end up being a lost cause.
My college classes painted him as pure evil. I regret spending money for a degree from an institution which openly lies about history.
Balanced treatment of someone with sex slaves?
As a southerner, I'm glad to see an accurate lesson about the rough events in history. America has a rough one, but history isn't entirely black and white. I've watched alot of videos on this here CZcams, but Biographics has become one of my favorite channels.
Also as a southerner I'll say, you got a cool accent dude
Just A Fish hi there, loser.
@Table-Country pinxing THRYM Firearms 27 lmao what a yank
@Table-Country pinxing THRYM Firearms 27 keep it up yankee doodle
@Candle Ankle nobody alive today fought in the civil war... get over yourself.
But truth be told, the south had less population and less resources and still handed the union army it's ass many times, and went down with honor. Almost 20 percent of the male population in the south perished in the war which is astonishing... all because Lincoln wanted to play dictator.
And I'm from the north... but the south had the right to secession as any state had and still does no matter what lawyers in Washington claim
@@kles44 they didn't have right to succession they were traitors who left the union the United states government said they had no right stop being a confederate apologist. I can respect Lee for his reasons for fighting for the confederacy but you sound dumb asf.
As a Southerner and a historian, I applaud your fair portrayal of a good man who was destined to fight for a damned cause. He is highly misunderstood and vilified by the hindsight of today’s standards. This was well done and I thank you.
As a Canadian who finds the US Civil War fascinating I think one of the things that is overlooked by even though studying it was how close the men, and in particular the general officers, were to each other. There truly were best friends on each side that ended up fighting each other, stories of brothers fighting on different sides meeting on the same battlefield, it seems like a very American story, and in a way, it's a story to be proud of. The men were not perfect, and they knew it, and most would have shunned fame or glory if they could have, they were mostly men who valued that rather unique and some would say "American" virtue of "Duty", the idea that every man owed not only himself, but his neighbors and people, a part of himself. Your people seem to have lost that unique spark that made you "you", and I do hope you get it back
I agree. Too few people realize that Lee could have been general for the Union. The main reason why he turned down that offer was because he wanted to fight for his state of Virginia.
Gabryal Sansclair One can wish, but I fear it is too late.
@@howardbaxter2514
Yeah. No moral compass.
@@jsivna your being tone deaf if the destruction of confederate statues is what has you upset about the BLM movement.
One fact missing or not included: Lee's wife attempted to pay the taxes on their land but the government refused to accept the payment. It was through this measure that the government claimed his land due to "non-payment" of taxes.
Lee had to appear in person to pay the taxes.
Yep, sounds about right for government.
He was lucky to not have been hanged
@@davedelecto4148 it was a different time. Even Abe Lincoln himself held the black man as an inferior species. As to Lee's decision to fight for Virginia, he wrestled with that decision for days and said later it was the hardest thing he'd ever done. But loyalty to the state was held much higher in those days than to an over arching federal govt.
exactly he also released his slaves when he inheritated them
most southerners where fighting for there land and they were too poor for slaves
Very, very well done biography. As a Northerner growing up I was never taught the full story of General Lee and needless to say have a whole lot more respect for him now. A true man of honor.
Thank you for watching with an open mind. I grew up in the South, but I never heard his full story either. I only supported him because I've seen too many offensive Yankees hate on a man they never met.
tome57a honor? He was a traitor that left his country to fight to keep slaves.
@@Kittycommissar Which county or state do you live in? Did you grow up there and cement bonds with your society? Have you been instructed by your nations leader to fire upon and imprison all the people in your county or state?
As an Englishman I have a high regard for one or two German officers of the World War, such as Captain Langsdorf of the Graf Spee and General Adolf Galland of the Luftwaffe, so I can understand the respect in which General Lee is held by some in the Northern states.
@@Kittycommissar you clearly have no clue why he fought.
I’m surprised you did not include any portraits of the young Robert e lee. He was beautiful, charismatic , and commanding. Only depictions of his aged yet proud face are shown.
"As a soldier you must love the army, as a general you must be willing to order the death of the thing you love"
Robert E Lee. The movie Gettysburg
Amongst other things, you forgot to include that:
*Lee served as Commandant of West Point.
*Lee married the daughter George Washington's stepson.
*Lee left such a mark on Washington University that it is now called Washington and Lee University.
*Lee was descended from Gov. Alexander Spottiswood as well as Scottish royalty.
*Lee was related to Richard Henry Lee, Francis Lee, and Arthur Lee.
*Lee knew Grant from the Mexican-American War.
*Lee was offered the chance to take command of the Romanian army and to live with a British Lord once the Civil War ended.
*Lee was visited often in youth by the Marquis de Lafayette who told him stories of the Revolutionary War and his father's service.
Just thought this missed too many points of interest in Lee's life. My family routinely regales on him, as he was a distant uncle.
In fact, Arlington was an estate of George Washington, and had a great deal of his documentation. When the Union forces took it over, much of this was destroyed. A great loss to the nation and history.
....and how many slaves did he own? More than George Washington?
Tyler Rebik Interesting facts.
Yea isn't it weird that slavery was prevalent in that time and that Lee wasnt the only slave holder of the time North or South? Next we'll say the Framers were dumb and because they has slaves too we need to just change and tear up the constitution. Right Right??
@@royfairchild6895 Slavery is the sole institution from Africa brought to America. Lee freed his slaves before the War.
Early life...
*Shows him as an old bearded man with gray hair*
Life be like that sometimes.
@@supremecaffeine2633 damn it do
I'm not aware of there being any actual photos of a young Lee or should I say, younger Lee. Photographs existed as far back as the mid 1840's if I'm not mistaken. You can find portraits of a young Lee. He was only what, 59 when he died? (I could look it up but w/e). At the time of his death he has the look of a man in his late 70's or early 80's. During the war he lived in a tent and slept on a cot, as his men his did. The war probably cut his life short by 20+ years. I can't imagine how stressful it must have been to have all that pressure placed upon you. The hope of an entire fledgling nation up against a numerically and logistically superior foe, the battleground your own home, very brutal and bloody combat, and no margin for error.
I can just imagine the confusion of the parents.
The Phantom of the Paradise
Underrated comment. 👍🏻
The greatness of the man is seen not only in his victories, but in his ability to take blame in his defeat.
You must admit he was a really good General
@The Icon of Sin Grant owned slaves.
@The Icon of Sin that makes him better? Lol Lee kicked ass and took names...
@@adamhartley5104 Not in West Virginia (as per the video clip), nor in Maryland with his first failed invasion north of the Potomac (which the clip didn't cover - did poorly enough to give Lincoln confidence to move forward with the Emancipation Proclamation); and not at Gettysburg.
He did pretty well on home ground with an active defense, but lost all the same. A good number of battles within present day Virginia were "inconclusive" all the same.
Michael Dunne and yet the casualties show for themselves. The Union did not gain its victories easily.
@@Dino-god69 The Union had a 16,000+ man army in December of 1860. So not exactly a large force, but one called on to expand dramatically, and to go on offensive. Not out of the ordinary for casualties to be higher for an army on offence versus an adversary on defense on home ground, and more the case for one inexperienced.
Conversely, it seems the casualties that Lee incurred gets overlooked. At Gettysburg his casualties were comparable or higher than the Union's; same with Lee's casualties during the Seven Days Battles in 1862. Think just looking at the Battle of Antietam alone (versus the entire Maryland campaign), still the case.
Then there is the issue of percent of force becoming casualties, and Lee often experienced higher ratios of casualties as a percent of forces than the Union - Chancellorsville was an example of that.
Not good with demographics of: 1860 the population of the United States at 31,443,321;
with 22 northern states at ~23,000,000, versus 11 seceding states of 9,000,000, with 3,500,000 slaves.
Thank You for your fair handling of R.E.Lee, too bad too many can not do the same!
And even more praise him as a saint
@Jim Johnson most conservatives are confessing Christians. Catholic saint is a person who has lived a remarkable life, done something, unearthly, and are christened saint
@Jim Johnson People tend to omit that part of the story. And that Grant had slaves too.
@amanda miller The dictionary (Merriam Webster, in this case) definition of a traitor is 1) one who betrays another"s trust or is false to an obligation or 2) one who commits treason. Since he had RESIGNED HIS COMMISSION IN THE UNITED STATES ARMY prior to joining the Confederacy, he was not guilty of either. For your edification, the definition of "treason" is the offense of attempting by overt acts to overthrow the government of the state to which one owes allegiance or to kill or injure the sovereign and his family." Lincoln was gunned down April 14, 1865, by John Wilkes Booth in D.C., and Jefferson Davis died December 6, 1889 in New Orleans of acute bronchitis. General Lee was in Lexington, Virginia, from October 2, 1865, until his death in 1870, where he served as president of Washington College (now Washington and Lee University).
@@derrickstorm6976 All Christians are called saints in Scripture. It's through the remarkable life that Jesus Christ led that we have that privilege, not because of what we have done. Catholics have it totally wrong
Very well done. I have always argued that I believe General Lee was a good man with who did the best he could given his circumstances.
Lacey Welch he did not ever own a slave....his father did.... It was stated he did not like it..... However General Ulysses Grant was a cruel Slave Owner.
+Beverly Balius Nope, he wasn't. I don't see your need to demonize Grant. But Grant was not cruel, and the only slave he 'owned', he willingly emancipated before the war. Get your facts right.
@@Ares99999 he owned his father's slaves that were supposed to be freed as per his will yet Lee claimed them ignoring his father's wishes. What do youn mean get your facts right?
Actually, he kept the slaves until his father in law's(not father) debts were paid off and then he promptly freed the slaves.
Good for you, kid. Things aren't as simple as protestors and the resist crowd like to make them. We live in a complex world where people have to make thought choices. General Lee certainly did. Those who still oppose him know very little of him. To be ignorant of things that happened for you were born is to forever be a child. -Cicero
Great video. You treated him with respect. Thank you. I will add two things you over looked. 1) lee not only graduated second, he is the only person to ever graduate without getting a single demerit from West Point. B) Churchill said Lee was the greatest American to ever live, ans he would hope that all Americans were as brave and honorable as the General.
On a tertiary point, Rommel and Patton based all thier stratigies on Lees .
Robert E. Lee is like a character of a Greek tragedy. Forced with two terrible choices--bear arms against his home or bear arms against the country--also his home--to which he had sworn and devoted his life--neither choice would for him have produced a good outcome.
I‘d have chosen the side that is not fighting to enslave people 🤷♂️
pretty easy choice if you ask me
@meganoob12 i like hows people give excuses to lee while simultaneously acknowledging that he was fighting for slavery
Lee fought for slavery and betrayed the United States of America, a country who trained him, paid him, and a country who he was a citizen of… its not an impossible choice, if he was so driven by duty then his choice was clear, he took an oath and broke it
@@meganoob12That’s not quite so simple. The idea of slavery itself as a reason for fighting wasn’t so much until the emancipation proclamation. It’s a lot more complicated than you might think.
@@no-on6hu You sound like you wanna teach me something yet you don't state a single thing.
I know the issues that led to the civil war.
Slavery wasn't at the forefront for the north yes. The reason to fight in the beginning was the preservation of the union and only later it became to free the slaves.
BUT...
THE no 1. reason to fight for the south was by far SLAVERY.
People who deny this fact (which is eve made clear by the declarations of secession of the deep south, so the confederates themselves) can't be taken serious at this point anymore.
And don't tell me they were fighting for "states rights"... that is complete and utter horseshite.
I like the fact that though Robert Lee was the enemy of the Civil War, he was seen with respect and dignity because he did what he believed was right, regardless that the North did not agree with him
How do you get past his willingness to kill patriots so his fellow confederates could buy and sell people like cows?
Now that's a man I can admire.. he was able to surrender.. Not too many leaders do.. Even a dictator or Emperor should listen to his people and try to do what is best..
I think the most heroic thing he did was disregard the order from Davis to disperse his army and conduct a guerrilla campaign. Johnston did the same. If they had complied with that order the country would have suffered a violent insurgency far worse than it did under reconstruction and the nation may never have healed from it. It indeed takes a lot of personal and moral strength to admit defeat to then faithfully comply with the demands of the victor.
If only Erwin Rommel has surrendered and not shot himself, he wasn’t a nazi, he was just a German soldier. Though he was pressed into suicide by the _ss_ after he tried to kill Hitler
generic generic I don’t think you can really classify Robert Lee as a white supremacist, I mean yes he fought for the wrong side but there were northern people who always had slaves and treated them poorly. Lee wasn’t a Nazi nor was he a kkk member.
Excellent point. I think Lee is overrated but this was a great and honorable decision@@Raycloud
He didn't have a chance to be a Nazi but he revered one of his generals, Nathan Bedford Forest, who was a Klan leader. Why waste time praising Lee? He was the definition of a traitor. He made Benedict Arnold look like a clumsy pickpocket@@TheOnlyCasto
Lee is a good example of how sometimes good men can end up fighting for bad causes. I cannot fault him for simply wanting to defend his home. The modern day wants to paint the men in this war with a black and white brush but the truth is always more nuanced than that permits.
If he was a good man, he wouldn't have murdered American soldiers and wouldn't have fought to keep and expand slavery.
It’s crazy. As a black man, I have always been indoctrinated to hate this man. I’m 33 years old and after watching this video, and reading more of Lee, I realize that he was not a racist, wasn’t pro slavery. He just wanted to defend his state and protect his family. Regardless of color, wouldn’t we all do this. While most of the confederate states and what they stood for are terrible and wrong, I do have a new understanding on Lee.
Lee owned slaves, managed slaves, beat slaves, and commanded and army that took slaves, in service of a rebellion carried out for the sole purpose of preserving slavery forever.
Lee may not have been a hard-core pro-slavery zealot, but he was a typical slave master of his time. When his authority as a slave-master was challenged, he did not hesitate to use violence to keep his slaves under control. Violence that was typical of the institution his faction fought a war to preserve.
@@TheStapleGunKid Washington owned slaves too. Does that mean he was a bad person? By this logic I hope your realize that almost every famous person back then would be considered bad people and couldn’t have statues just because they did something that everyone else did. Yes. George Washington did own slaves, but at the time it was normal, so it’s not like him in particular should be labeled as a terrible person for it. You can’t just change the law and consider everyone who did it before changing it to be evil. That’s not how it works.
@@NinjaDog9123 Washington owned slaves, but he didn't lead a rebellion specifically to preserve slavery. On the contrary, when he was president, the only thing Washington did in regards to a rebellion was to crush it.
@@TheStapleGunKid exactly do you have traffic and documents about how will he treat his slaves? No
@@attiepollard7847 Yes we do
_"My name is Wesley Norris; I was born a slave on the plantation of George Parke Custis; after the death of Mr. Custis, Gen. Lee, who had been made executor of the estate, assumed control of the slaves, in number about seventy; it was the general impression among the slaves of Mr. Custis that on his death they should be forever free; in fact this statement had been made to them by Mr. C. years before; at his death we were informed by Gen. Lee that by the conditions of the will we must remain slaves for five years; I remained with Gen. Lee for about seventeen months, when my sister Mary, a cousin of ours, and I determined to run away, which we did in the year 1859; we had already reached Westminster, in Maryland, on our way to the North, when we were apprehended and thrown into prison, and Gen. Lee notified of our arrest; we remained in prison fifteen days, when we were sent back to Arlington; we were immediately taken before Gen. Lee, who demanded the reason why we ran away; we frankly told him that we considered ourselves free; he then told us he would teach us a lesson we never would forget; he then ordered us to the barn, where, in his presence, we were tied firmly to posts by a Mr. Gwin, our overseer, who was ordered by Gen. Lee to strip us to the waist and give us fifty lashes each, excepting my sister, who received but twenty; we were accordingly stripped to the skin by the overseer, who, however, had sufficient humanity to decline whipping us; accordingly Dick Williams, a county constable, was called in, who gave us the number of lashes ordered; Gen. Lee, in the meantime, stood by, and frequently enjoined Williams to lay it on well, an injunction which he did not fail to heed; not satisfied with simply lacerating our naked flesh, Gen. Lee then ordered the overseer to thoroughly wash our backs with brine, which was done. After this my cousin and myself were sent to Hanover Court-House jail, my sister being sent to Richmond to an agent to be hired; we remained in jail about a week, when we were sent to Nelson county, where we were hired out by Gen. Lee’s agent to work on the Orange and Alexander railroad; we remained thus employed for about seven months, and were then sent to Alabama, and put to work on what is known as the Northeastern railroad; in January, 1863, we were sent to Richmond, from which place I finally made my escape through the rebel lines to freedom; I have nothing further to say; what I have stated is true in every particular, and I can at any time bring at least a dozen witnesses, both white and black, to substantiate my statements: I am at present employed by the Government; and am at work in the National Cemetary on Arlington Heights, where I can be found by those who desire further particulars; my sister referred to is at present employed by the French Minister at Washington, and will confirm my statement."_ --Wesley Norris, 1866
"It is well that war is so terrible, else we should grow too fond of it." - Robert E Lee
Thank you General Grant and the Union armies for whipping the hell out of Lee and his traitorous band of slavers.
@@willoutlaw4971 You are an ignorant person and USA is doomed if your mindset is common.
Will Outlaw I mean yeah. The country we are today is as a result of Grant being an equal military mind to Lee and able to finally put Lee in an unwinable situation.
Lee is one of the greatest military minds in world history. Lee is the only reason the war didn’t last only a single year. He won or stalemated battles that should have been easily lost due to sheer numbers but he somehow was always able to overcome.
The terms Grant laid upon the surrender was a step in the a healing process that the country as a whole is still recovering from. They were still the Union’s countrymen. Grant doesn’t get the credit that he deserves, then again he got to be President lol.
So yes, Thank you to Grant for being the first one to out class a great military general and finally concur the South’s attempt at making a slavery paradise. However that wasn’t the only step. It took 100 more years to pass the civil rights act and 60 years after that point we are still dealing with the fallout of a 5 year war.
After all the recent hysteria over statues and generally trying to erase the South side of the Civil War, it's refreshing to hear the untarnished truth, from a guy with a British accent, to boot. Great video, Simon, and thank you.
What I find sad is that there are idiots tearing down statues of Lee, a man loved by both sides and who fought for the South not out of conviction for the Southern cause, but because of loyalty to his home state. While he's probably the best known example of this state loyalty, I imagine that he wasn't the only one; there were probably lots of people (on both sides) who didn't necessarily agree with the side he fought on but did so because because of loyalty to his home state.
He was a traitor to the union and if dixie tries to succed from the union again it will be burn down twice I come from Michigan a place that was still just a territory at the time and yet still and some of the most men freely fight for its soon to be federal government even though my belief is that our goverment has became tyrannical and their does need to be a revolution just not a civil war
Blame the Daughters of the Confederacy. For many it's not that the man is loathed so much, as his adoration is tainted today by the lies that were spread about him and his times by the people who commissioned those works.
Dude no one is trying to "erase history". All we want is for the statues of people who fought to preserve the institution of slavery not to be on government owned land, where the descendants of slaves have to see them every time they need to pay a traffic ticket, or mail a letter, or try to have a barbecue. We have museums. Lee's house is a museum. I've been there. Put the statues at the museums where people already go to learn about history. If you absolutely must have statues on public land, in city centers, there are literally thousands of less controversial figures to choose.
He thought that duty was more important than taking the correct ethical stance on slavery. He was certainly not a great man, though he was a great soldier. He could have saved a lot of southern lives if he had decided to stay with the Union army, because he would have brought an earlier end to the war. His "honor" wasn't worth a damn.
This biopic gave me much needed insight into the civil war. I'm a history buff but for some reason I've never been able to keep the chronologies and strategies straight. Excellent work here!
So a couple weeks ago, I did a DNA test and it came out that Robert E Lee was my ancestor. I thought that it was a bad thing because he was a confederate. Decided to watch this and I do not regret being related to him now. Thx for the vid.
congratulation, somebody took you for a complete fool
A favorite of mine, thank you for an unbiased bio. Lee County in Florida is named after him, as well as other Southern counties. He represented the wisdom of Plato, 'Only the dead have seen the end of war.'
Lee Country, Iowa, is also named for him. As a young engineering officer he charted some rapids on the Mississippi River and was honored for his work by the new county.
A few years after the American Civil War A former Black Slave walked to the front of a church to receive his blessing. this was a brash move as Whites still received first. as he knelt at the alter and elderly White man knelt next to him and reached for his hand in brotherhood under Christ, That man was Robert Edward Lee a man I am proud to call a relative from by British roots.
Actually it was to receive communion. Black and White Southerners attended the same churches before the War.
Thank God some people aren't idiots...all these bad comments about Lee...he was a man of his time...and for his nation
@ he was granted full immunity by Lincoln and then by Johnson. To condemn a man after that is impossible from any court in the land. Feelings don't count as we are a nation of Laws.
@@paulpowell4871 Legally he is immune. Morally he is not. He was a learned man. He should have realised that the US was the last Western country still practicing slavery. Also the US was practicing slavery on a giant scale.
Both sides had slavery throughout the entire war....so it wasn't possible to choose a side with no slavery l.
he surrendered his army, intact, instead of leading guerilla war, saving lives
He saved about 50 thousand lives with that one move
He already took American lives at that point, should he get a cookie for already betraying the union because the people who controlled his states loved enslaving others?
@@jidk6565 Actually he didn't support slavery and he didn't own slaves either. The only reason he fought for the confederacy is because Virginia was in the confederacy and he supported his state more than the nation. About(this is a rough estimate but close)3 to 6% of white people owned slaves in the confederacy and the rest didn't. ALSO Abraham Lincoln didn't support the idea of black people being equal with White, he stated that black people were inferior to white people hence him not letting in black people in the union army for a time until he decided to. So Robert, although shouldn't have fought for the confederacy, he was justified for doing so.
@@marinegrunt2008 he didnt own slaves, or support slavery, cool
He supported the states that did, and fought for them
He is a TRAITOR, and he fought for the losing side
Good on you for defending him
Edit: also , there is no justification for fighting for the side that wanted to enslave other human beings
@@jidk6565 Although he did fight for the states that did support slavery, he is still one of the most honorable men at the time. And thank you for having a conversation with me, I wish you Godspeed.
Torn between his oath as a high-ranking officer of the US Army and his love for his native State, his family, and home, Robert E. Lee took a controversial decision based on personal duty. Not understandable at first, one has to consider the love for the homeland not always is necessarily is aligned with love for the fatherland...
A simple explanation to end the controversy over him. Well said!
@@camfox5187 Most appreciated! Complex is to explain the matter of the heart over the matter of patriotic duty, General Lee is a perfect example.
@@camfox5187 If only it were that simple. There are many who say Lee was a racist for fighting with the south. Therefore they'd be claiming that Curiousbynature is also racists. Unfortunately that's the world we live in now. Everything is cut-n-dry. Sadly there's no reasoning with most. 'Civilized' debating is a rare occurrence in my experience.
@@jeffreyohler2599 I understand his decision and respect it, however I understand controversy of his decision due to fighting for the right to own slaves, even if he didn't support slavery. He's a complex brilliant flawed man.
That's an easy way to explain treason.
Your channels have the best informational content on CZcams. This video is an excellent example. I don't know how you keep up the high research standards you set.
Outstanding work on this! Keep it up Simon and Co!
If you're going to do one on Lee you got to do one on Sherman and Grant.
Equal treatment of the veterans
He has done them, after you posted the comment but this is for anyone who does not see those videos in their recommended
@@cheekibreeki2electricbooga582 I have not seen one on Sherman. If you have please provide the link.
@@lancekelley2816 I don’t know if he has done one on Sherman yet, I was just suggesting that he might of
@@cheekibreeki2electricbooga582 still if you see one on Sherman that Simon has done please notify me or let me know! I'm dying to see it!
Awesome vid
AWESOME Thank you for sharing your gifts with us.
I do not support slavery but Lee is one man I do admire. A man of honor.
lee also apposed slavery actually
Lincoln didnt care about slavery... read his 1st inaugural. Or the Corwin amendment.
The war wasnt about slavery.
@@00BillyTorontoBill the Republican party was founded with the purpose of abolishing slavery, to say Lincoln didn't care about slavery is an ignorant and inaccurate statement.
@@salusoutlook2266 Lee owned slaves.
He served in the north, when he inherited slaves, he freed them. He only fought for the south to protect Virginia and that's that.
What a wonderful biography. Thank you.
I've watched this video, and many many others from you, for years Simon and just realized I've never said thanks. You're videos are always educational and entertaining, delivered in your unique "Simon-esque" style. Thank you for all the time & effort. Thank you for all your videos, this one in particular. Keep up the good work!
I really appreciate your shows Mister Whistler and this one in particular. I'm from West Texas and graduated from Robert E. Lee high school and didn't know hardly knew any of this. Thank you
.
I hope that school can keep it's name.
@@badtexasbill5261 its name. You don't put an apostrophe on his or hers, why put it on its?
@@christobanistan8887 good God, man. I'm sure that's just how it came out on the thing that puts the words up. I know the difference between it is and the possessive its.
Don't act like "it's" never happened to you.
Go ahead, type it. See if it pops up.
This is a you tube comment. It's not a published novel.
@@badtexasbill5261 O_O
Really do enjoy this series of videos
Love what y'all are doing. This is my favorite channel on youtube. I'd love to see you guys do a series on famous musicians and composers!
Robert E. Lee is one of my favorite generals every one respected him back then
Would that every one include slaves and abolitionists??
Another great Biograpic. Even in subjects I am well versed in, there is always something to learn. A lot of information and entertainment in a easy to consume format. I love it.
That’s was amazing, thanks for educating me
Wonderful & informative as usual!
Robert E Lee should be remembered for the gentleman he was.
He deserved the statues erected to him in his memory.
No he doesn’t
@@vwgames49 People need to get the f out of their feelings
How does a slaveholder get to be a gentleman? People want to know!@@vwgames49
I live in Fredrericksburg Va., and worked on that wonderful history filled and very dangerous river for most of my life
"Duty then is the sublimest word in the English language. You should do your duty in all things. You can never do more, you should never wish to do less." -- R.E. Lee.
Lee, a traitor by any definition, obviously didn't mean duty to country.
Thank you for a fair and balanced video on this great man.Rare to see it these days .
Very good video and thank you. What a true American hero!
I ALWAYS felt so BADLY for Robert E. Lee. He tried so HARD, and truly LOVED his country and the men in his Service. Rest In Peace Robert E. Lee. I hope I meet you one day!
U will in hell lol
The only I'm guessing Lee is in Heaven. Grant Too.
@@johnycoho7830 Well, who knows, They seem to have truly believed but onl God knows
@*H A L T* that has nothing to do with whether he went to Hell or not
You could be the best person on Earth, and still go to hell
Jim Johnson indeed
Lee's story really is a tradgedy isn't it. A microcosom of the civil war being the greatest tradgedy the united states has ever experienced.
Damn this is a good video, i only wish id seen it sooner.
Slavery was the worst tragedy the U.S. experienced, but that was a close second.
@@christobanistan8887 except slavery still exists. It was for nothing, that's the tragedy.
@@simplyhuman3982 Slavery is the sole institution from Africa brought to America. It still exists in Africa...as well as in China from whence comes many goods today.
My grandfather's grandfather was with Lee at Appomattox. His rifle was a family heirloom, until my grandfather donated the flintlock to a government run steel drive to make munitions during WWII. He was six years old.
These videos have re ignited my interest in history. Thank you
Lee reminds me a lot of Rommel. A great and gallant military officer overcoming huge odds to win spectacular victories, even if the cause he served wasn’t worth his devotion.
Lee was a force multiplier like Napoleon and Rommel was not. In even fights Rommel lost several times.
Lee only joined the Southern cause after Lincoln raised an army to invade the breakaway States. Virginia left the Union after Lincoln chose war instead of peaceful negotiation. Lee joined the Southern armies to protect his family and home. So, how was that an ignoble cause. The Union forces were under no illusions, they were fighting to force citizens to remain in a Union they no longer agreed to. How was that a noble cause? The destruction of slavery was never a Union war aim. It was a, good, unintended consequence.
Worst cause any people have ever fought for. He was a traitor and killed more Americans than bin laden
Vincent H. Lee was respected by soldiers and politicians of both sides. The Union did not prosecute Lee or other Confederate leaders because the Union side was using brute force to compel States to remain in the Union.
How was it evil for people to defend their families and homes? How was that a wrong cause? The Union was never fighting to liberate slaves or to end slavery. That is a fiction many people believe. The Lincoln administration was only concerned with forcing breakaway States back into the Union. The war was preventable and Lincoln was a disaster for this country.
@@procinctu1 brute force should always be used against slavers.
@@procinctu1 the entire war began when the south, with treason in their hearts, fired on an American fort, because they THOUGHT Lincoln MIGHT end slavery. Please stop with the lost cause noble south b/s. These were true monsters, fighting for a monstrous system, they got put down like the dogs they were.
A video about Ulysses S. Grant would be a great parallel this one.
Especially considering the fact that they could not have lived a more different life up to the war.
Star Wars Master lee was definitely a better general
@Jim Johnson Lee did no such thing. Grant freed the only slave he ever owned even when he had no money.
@@SV-pp9ub Not the best at grand strategy.
@@SV-pp9ub No he wasn't. Lee was a major POS!
Thx Jamie Logan. A very nice rounded summary.
you can't blame lee for that decision really, anyone would want to defend the land they grew up in.
I blame him. He was wrong, and Lincoln was wrong to forgive the traitors.
Cameron Davis It was much more then that but coming from a southern, i would defend my state proudly.
About 30% of army officers from the South stayed with the Union. The percentage was even higher in Virginia.
@@camerondavis8356 The terms 'state' or 'where he came from' don't really encapture the complexities of the situation. Understand that these people were his family and friends. Saying that someone was simply bad or 'wrong' as you put it doesn't consider the sheer nuances of his personal life. I'm sure that one as self righteous as yourself could easily turn on your friends and community for the sake of 'good'. You also likely just attribute the civil war entirely to slavery, which was commonplace all over the world during these savage times.
Most people in that time had more loyalty to their state than the country. 2nd. The civil war was based mostly about state rights not slavery. Even lincoln did not want the war to be about slavery for the first 3 years. Oh and for the Democrats and liberals remember yall were the one who controlled the south and succeeded whild lincoln was a republican.
"The doctrines and miracles of our Savior have required nearly two thousand years to convert but a small portion of the human race, and even among Christian nations what gross errors still exist! While we see the course of the final abolition of human slavery is still onward, and give it the aid of our prayers, let us leave the progress as well as the results in the hands of Him who, chooses to work by slow influences, and with whom a thousand years are but as a single day."
- Excerpts from Robert E. Lee's Letter to President Pierce prior to the War
"...let us leave the progress as well as the results in the hands of Him who, chooses to work by slow influences, and with whom a thousand years are but as a single day."
This would not have been very encouraging to a slave.
My favorite, so far!!!!
I have visited the Lee Chapel at Washington and Lee University, and it is very moving. I am a 13th generation New Englander, but all I could feel was awe and respect for this great American man.
I think you mean Confederate man. He trashed the American part by leading armies that killed tens of thousands of true Americans, the boys in blue.
This was Excellent. Thank you.
I love this channel along with your othe channels, keep up the good work
The moment Grant lifts his hat to Lee exiting the courthouse, among soldiers onlooking.... poignant. A moment when victors and the defeated, at least some of them, are joined by Grace.
I go to robert e lee highschool and they are trying to change the name. I live in northern virginia and i dont see the reason to change the name.
bEcAuSe He WaS aN eViL rAcIsT!!!!!!!!!!!!!
it makes some black kids uncomfortable which i understand
@Billy Cole II i'm pretty sure he was being sarcastic , the random capitalisation and excessive exclamation marks doesn't point to a serious statement
@@a-drewg1716 Chance are your ancestors were too.
@@eckhardt76 he's being sarcastic
Good job Simon. I appreciate how fair you were in your assessment of this spectacular general. It's becoming harder to find that in these increasingly hostile times.
Many try to slander this man. It doesn't work. Like Gerorge Washington, Lee was the real deal. A man among men.
And like Washington, his troops loved him.
@Jim Johnson I can't believe I nearly upvoted your comment. But then I read to the last part. WTF.
@Jim Johnson Anyone who owned a slave was deeply flawed, to say the least (that's why we know Lee was good-he freed his immediately after inheriting them). The fact you're nice to them (by your own judgement) or your slaves loved you knowing no better means less than nothing. Your rationalizations are absurd and more than a little sickening.
@@christobanistan8887 But the slaves did know better. They knew full well that other plantations were harsh. That's one reason they were always afraid of being sold away: they were scared of being bought by a bad plantation owner.
Owning a slave makes you deeply flawed, huh? That's always the case, huh? I can't wait for the Judgement Day, when you will actually see people who owned slaves throughout history. I bet many, many were better people than either of us.
Yup, a real traitor fighting to keep people in bondage. Real deal POS.
@@Vinstant_Karma87 Virginia didn't even secede because of slavery. Virginia seceded when Lincoln called for Virginian troops to quell the seceding states, since they didn't want to take up arms against their neighbors
I must commend you for being objective Mr. Whistler. In a time when many would sweep history under the rug for current narratives this is an excellent historical video.
No one sweeps it under a rug. He lost and was racist. What did I miss?
@@shakia_says he was against secession and against slavery and the only reason he didn't fight with the union was he would have had to fight local virginians. Its easy to say that he should have sided with the union now but when you are faced with the possibility of killing people you know it is not so easy. It is also worth mentioning that he blatantly ignored orders to not surrender and surrendered in good faith. He later used all of his resources to help with reconstruction and unifying the country under an american flag. Grant and Lincoln still had great admiration for the man.
@@shakia_says oh dear here comes blind ignorance & stupidity with the classic 'racist' nonsense...
@@shakia_says Lincoln won and he was a racist.
@@shakia_says he fought to defend his home
Well done as usual.
that was a great video..thank you for the effort
As a Virginia native close to Lexington, I appreciate the neutral outlook on one of our state's most respected non-presidential leaders. It's hard for a lot of native Americans to really understand just how much of a cultural icon he and Jackson truly are to Appalachia and Northern Virginia, and you all seemed to do it justice being foreign to both.
this series is great. Even the ones on super controversial people are very very objective and factual.
That's hard to find these days
It was A Great Thing to see The Big Admiration And Respect That These Adversaries Gave To Each Other, and It's A Lesson That We Could Learn Today, for, if, in Those Horrific Times And Circumstances, Respect Could Be Given Among Adversaries And Enemies, we can do likewise while we're At Peace. Therefore, we can nowadays learn much from our Ancestors.
Great Video, Simon!
I REALLY like this channel. Avid biography reader.
Is that you? The Sausage King of Chicago?
@@Biographics that’s me:-) - Abe Froman
Lee is an American hero. I find it despicable his monuments are being torn down.
I am from the north.
I find myself not sure about the whole thing, I know Lee himself didn't want statues of him in the first place, something about being counter productive to healing from the scars of war.
@@RhadaGhast100 this is exactly why Lee deserves statues, why he deserves respect from Northerners and Blacks and everyone else. His humility is what separates & elevates him. George Washington didn't want Monuments to himself either. I was born in NYC and was made fun of as a "Yankee" when I first moved to the South but I get it. I agree with the OP Drew. Lee is an American Hero that deserves to be memorialized. Lee is one of the finest Americans who ever lived and deserves respect. Lee had this respect after the Civil War from his men, the Union men and the military officers on both sides. There was a reason for this and it's Lee's personal character, wisdom, personal responsibility, leadership, humility etc.
Ha...
Lee made a solemn oath to defend the USA against all enemies
He broke his oath
He was a slave owner who fought to keep slavery
@@jrjohnryanjr he believed he was defending the constitution and the USA due to the difference in Federal Power versus the States at that time compared to now.
An excellent presentation, thanks.😃👌👏👏👏
Well done . Good video .
Lee showed wisdom at the end of the war. He was approached by soldiers who wanted him to order them to disperse and continue the war as hit and run guerrilla attacks. Lee saw that such a campaign would only lead to more bitterness and death, and would be ultimately futile.
i doing a thing on robert e lee and this really helped me THX
Fantastic Simon!
Awesome work
brilliant
My great great grandfather, Daniel Santmyers, had his mare shot out from underneath him in the Calvary skirmish just prior to Gettysburg. He was a member of the 7th Va. Calvary. Very cool to see you cover this part of the campaign.
Your videos are very informative and extremely good.
Excellent, balanced biography.