I heard somewhere that Robert E. Lee wanted peace and that is why he surrendered? Is this true? Or did he just not want his troops getting more wiped out. Thanks!
2007-04-20 11:27:42 · 10 answers · asked by Anonymous in Arts & Humanities ➔ History
John B's answer is partly right, but Lee was not as concerned with Richmond as he would have you believe. Prior to Lincoln brining Grant to the East from the Eastern Theater, Union generals, i.e. McClellan, Hooker, Burnside etc., were convinced that the way to beat the Confederacy was to take and hold its capitol at Richmond. This was an antiquated strategy reminiscent of Napoleonic warfare tactics however, and Grant knew the only way to win the war was to follow Lee's army and destroy it completely.
By 1864 the Army of Northern Virginia was shrinking, ever since Gettysburg when they lost so many men and were unable to replace them, and Grant knew that the population from which Lee could pull from back home was decreasing as well. Plus, the Southern home front needed to still be defended, and, more importatnly, the supply lines manned.
The Western Theater had been won by the Union in 1861-1862 when New Orleans fell, so the North had the South "boxed" in if you will, and when Sherman disrupted the supply lines to Lee in Virginia the war was virtually over. Lee knew this, and when Richmond fell it was a a matter of being surrounded. Lee could not go North for that was Union territory, he could not go south for Richmond was gone and Sherman had left troops along his march up into the Carolinas, and, of course, the west had already been lost.
his only choice was to surrender, much to the dismay of the Conderferate civilian leadership. Jefferson Davis and Alexander Stevens wanted to continue to fight, but the man power and resources were just not there. Add to this the prospect of the North freeing slaves in the South as they aquired territory and arming them to fight for their freedom and Lee had no choice. He was a realist and surrendered at Appomattox.
Remember too, Lee only decided to join the Confederacy because his native Virginia had left the Union. in his mind he did what was best for Virginia by ending the fighting. I don't know if he necessarily wanted peace, he just knew he and the Army of Northern Virginia, which was for all intents and purposes the last large Confederate fighting body, could no longer fight. Remember too that Lee did not surrender the entire war at Appomattox, he simply surrendered the Army of Northern Virginia. It was the civiliam leadership that ended the war when they surrendered. Lincoln's strategy worked though, and it was when Lee's troops were beaten the war would be won, not the fall of Richmond.
That's probably more than you ever wanted or needed to know, but I hope it helps.
2007-04-20 11:50:38 · answer #1 · answered by Stan D 1 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I believe that Robert E. Lee knew the situation was hopeless and his men had had enough though they would have followed him to the end. I believed Lee desired peace and did not want any more useless slaughter. If Lee had any hope of winning I believe he would have fought on because he was that classy of a soldier and his men meant the world to him .
2007-04-20 12:21:26 · answer #2 · answered by Dave aka Spider Monkey 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
He wanted peace and he also knew that once Richmond was lost the cause of the Confederacy was lost as well. His army was encircled, he could go no where, there was no choice left to him and he was a skill full enough commander to know that when you are going to lose, try and get whatever you can before you surrender, because if you wait you will get nothing.
2007-04-20 11:33:20 · answer #3 · answered by John B 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Like any General in his situation, Lee wanted peace only because he absolutely knew he was beaten...
2007-04-20 11:33:05 · answer #4 · answered by michael 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
"Will Sarah E. Palin do like Lee and leave DC for Fairbanks to lead the Alaska troops against the Union?" What you been smoking?
2016-05-19 23:27:58 · answer #5 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
He surrender because he had to .He was surrounded his troops were hungry.And they were about to be crushed.To not surrender at that time would have been foolish.
2007-04-20 14:19:07 · answer #6 · answered by Hector 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
general lee said i will lose some men but not all of them to prove anything
2007-04-20 11:37:29 · answer #7 · answered by tankdav 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Both
2007-04-20 15:16:52 · answer #8 · answered by havenjohnny 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
He surrendered because he knew he was beaten.
2007-04-20 12:03:32 · answer #9 · answered by rhymingron 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It was both.
2007-04-20 11:38:03 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋