Opinion

Notes on General Robert E. Lee

Posted September 23, 2017 1:00 am

1. In 1860, Robert E. Lee owned several large estates in Virginia and numerous slaves.

2. Lee was considered the best military leader of the time and was the first pick to lead the Union Army. Lee turned down the offer before joining the Confederacy out of loyalty to his home State. He was the most important General of the Confederate Army.

3. Lee lost everything he owned when the war ended. One of his estates is now the Arlington National Cemetery.

4. After the war, Lee expressed support not only for ending slavery but also for the then-unpopular idea of equality for blacks.

The last point is something to think about as the statues are removed. One other point: Many Union soldiers and officers, including Gen. Sherman, supported slavery.

Rich Lorimer

Streamwood

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