Thread by @chernayakoshka

what is the measure that defines a great commander? is it victories? the effective use of available men and materiel? the loyalty he inspires? these are necessary, but a truly great commander has vision!

General Robert E. Lee was one of the greatest american leaders ever born

any analysis of the outset of the civil war will tell you the south was doomed; this was to be the first truly industrialized modern war, waged through attrition. production and manpower were the keys to victory, who could build the most, who could bleed the most.

the north was industrialized in a way the south never could be, and its urban centers housed a population that could replenish losses in a way the south never could do. the virtues of the south, it’s élan and esprit de corps, could only ever stave off the inevitable

the heartland of the south, its centers of power and productive capability, lay only a short distance from the border and front lines; excluding washington, the north’s centers spread all along the east coast, far out of reach of any offense the confederate army could muster

additionally, the north had a much larger navy and international legitimacy. in a war where production and population mattered, the north could import recruits and resources, and defend those routes. luxuries the south could not afford

despite these grave disadvantages, the south held on for four bloody years, at one point advancing as close as six miles to the national capital, almost entirely thanks to the character and cleverness of one man, the old man, Robert E. Lee

a graduate of west point, a veteran of the mexican american war, a native virginian and an officer of the united states army, Lee stood conflicted when the south chose secession. he decided he could not bear arms against his home, and donned his iconic gray uniform in its defense

Lee shined in the defensive. his offensives were costly, but held the north in constant fear of a push to washington, and kept the initiative in the south’s hands until Grant took command. his genius shone in his greatest victory, the second battle of bull run

outnumbered 50,000 to 77,000, Lee, through clever maneuvering and expert delegation to his subordinates, defeated the union army and inflicted twice as many casualties as sustained. from this victory he launched the maryland campaign, the first invasion of the north by the south

likewise his character shone brighter still in his final defeat during the appomattox campaign. despite being outnumbered more than two-to-one, poorly equipped, diseased, and starving, Lee was able to maneuver his forces beyond the will of normal men to prevent total annihilation

Lee was absolutely adored by the men who served under him, and begrudgingly respected by the men who opposed him. beyond his tactical ability, Lee was an exemplar of honor and integrity, of duty and devotion; Lee was of a stock of men that no longer exist in this country

his surrender, his admission of defeat, was the most painful thing he had to endure, but he did it out of love for his men. he recognized there was no more victory that could be achieved, and would not tolerate the death of another brave man, on either side, for such futility

his character won the south amnesty, his men were allowed to return home, they were not prosecuted for insurrection, they were given free reign to keep their personal effects, sidearms, and horses, and even badly needed food and first aid by the union army

for all real americans, for all who can trace their heritage back to those terrible times, Lee can be looked at as nothing other than one of the finest men to ever fight, both for and against, the united states

his history, and the history of all the men he served with, is your history. there is no shame, no dishonor, no disgrace in that history. Lee fought for his home, until the bitter end. we should strive to embody such character as we find ourselves in equally contentious times