General Discussion

Last edited Sun Jun 22, 2025, 02:15 PM - Edit history (1)

Robert E. Lee almost accepted the position as commander of all Union Armies...

Secession didn't all happen at once.

The Confederacy that fired on Sumter wasn't the same Confederacy that fought the War.

The original Confederacy was SEVEN States.

For example, in early 1861, Virginia held a State Convention and pro-Unionist support was greater than pro-Confederacy.

Lincoln made a crucial mistake after Sumter.

He ordered the assembly of 750,000 from the REMAINING States, meaning Virginia would have to fight other Southern States.

This triggered concerns over State's Rights, regional alliances and being forced to "choose sides".

In retrospect, if Lincoln had called up volunteer troops from Northern States like Illinois, New York, New Jersey and Mass...

Then Virginia, North Carolina, Arkansas and Tennessee would have never joined the Confederacy...

Then Robert E Lee probably takes command of the Union armies in 1861 and defeats the much weaker 7 States of the Confederacy within a year.

BTW, Breckenridge wasn't a "top General" of Lee... he served mostly in the West, only serving under Lee for a short period of time, late in the war. I wouldn't count him in Lee's "top 20 Generals"