Do you think that the War Between the States would have ended sooner if Lee took command of the Union Army?

Answer 1

At first blush, i would say yes, since many of the early Confederate victories were attributed to Lee. However, when you analyze his style of command and the reason for his victories, the answer may not be so apparent.

First of all, he had a lax leadership style, he gave vague commands and let the Corps commanders make the tactical decisions in the field, eg. Stonewall Jacksons achievement in the Shenadoah Valley and his crowning achievement at Chanclorsville.

At Gettysburg, He told Gen Ewell to take Culps Hill/Cemetery Hill "if at all practicable." Ewell was no Jackson, and the missed chance of taking the high ground proved Lee's downfall. Lee's HQ staff was small and his orders were too vague or lax. Without sub-lieutenants the likes of Jackson, Lee proved not to be the great tactician that he's been known for.

Lee blundered on July 3, 1863 by sending 12-15,000 men into entrenched positions and massed artillery over a clear field of fire....

Leading the Union army, with sub-commanders the likes of Pope, McClellen and Meade, (and facing Jackson, Longstreet, Hood, Johnson) i doubt whether the war would've ended sooner under Lee's command.

Answer 2

Yes, without question. Even an incompetent boob like McClellan came close in the Peninsular Campaign.

During Lee's Antietam campaign, McClellan got Lee's battle plans detailing the Confederate's risky strategy to split the Army of Northern Virginia into three separate groups in the face of a larger Union army. And McClellan still only fought Lee to a draw. Had Lee been the Union commander, the Confederates would have been smashed and the Army of the Potomac would have been in Richmond a week later.

Answer 3

Probably, but for a somewhat different reason than has already been suggested. If Lee had seen the Confederacy as treasonous, then other generals would have likely felt similarly and sided differently. More quality generals would have stayed true to the Union. Lee was more a leader than a tactician, able to inspire his men to greatness. He called together a strong corps of generals to serve carry out his command.

Answer 4

The war would have ended much sooner had Lee commanded Union forces. It was Robert E. Lee who defeated Ulyss S. Grant in the 1864 Overland campaign. It was a testament to his battlefield tactical skills despite being outnumbered. He was not as highly regarded for his strategic skills. It was Lee in 1865 who developed a plan to arm slaves and let them earn their freedom. After his surrender he quelled a guerrilla group at Appomattox and supported Andrew Johnsons plan for reconstruction. He opposed a plan to allow free slaves to vote and suspend the right to vote for former confederate soldiers. He was a brilliant tactical general, a honest man and ideal politician. Had he stayed with the North the war would not have lasted long. After-wards he's been quoted as saying "if I'd known how the Union would rape the south I'd have fought to the last man". He was disappointed in how the powers that be treated soldiers after thier surrender.

Answer 5

If Lee had sided with the Union and had command of the sheer resources of the Union to prosecute the war, the South would have been defeated quickly.

Answer 6

Yes, General Lee was and is still considered one of the greatest 19th Century Military leaders. Even by his opponents. He fought a hard war against a better equiped and far larger force. Had he been on the Union side their may not have been much of a war at all.

Answer 7

I concur that Robert E. Lee was a seasoned and well trained general for his time and given the crude strategy and tactics of the,day he was very effective in prolonging & delaying the inevitable.

However here's a counterpoint for you. What if the Federals haddn't done what they did to William Tesumsa Sherman?

Tecumsa, named for a heroic and fearce American Indian, at the very suggestion of the war lamented that it would be a long and bloody affair. Most other Generals laughed and codemned him as a mad-man. As a result he had his comission suspended and was sent to a nut-house for the first two years of the war!

Answer 8

Of course!! The main reason the War lasted so long was the North's lack of good generals and the South's lack of supplies.

Answer 9

The Battle of Bull Run (Manassas) would have ended it right there.

Answer 10

Yeah, assuming his diarrhea didn't get the better of him.