Why was Robert E. Lee a good leader?

Answer 1

Basically yes he was.

Lee was capable of being both bold and aggressive when necessary but was also understand the value of defending fortified positions.

Lee was not afraid to take enourmous risks, he frequently split his Army in the face of a superior enemy and used it to out manoveur and destroy larger forces. The most famous example of this is Chancellorville where leaving only a few brigades to defend his front he sent Jacksons entire wing of the army on a flanking march that crushed the Union position and ended the immediate threat to Richmond.

Following this and other victories Lee became something of a bogeyman for Union commanders and often caused unwarranted hesitancy and fear in his opponants minds.

After the death of Jackson he was however unable to find a replacement corps commander of suitable iniative and aggression and this was the main reason for the dfeat at Gettysburg.

Towards the end of the war dwindling numbers of Confederate troops and the strategy of the Union forces under US Grant forced Lee to abandon his prefered style of a war of manouver and instead dig trenches and other field fortifications. He proved to be equally adept at this aspect of warfare and inflicted further tactical defeats on Union forces as they tried to storm Confederate defenses.

Ultimately Lee's forces where worn down by a relentless was of attrition and handicapped by the need to defend ever longer trench lines against a numerically superior enemy, Lee was eventually forced to surrender his army which largely marked the end of armed Confederate resistance.

Lee's weaknesses were that when 'his blood was up' meaning he was in an aggressive state of mind he would tend to prefer frontal attacks on the enemy which resulted in heavy losses for his forces, the most famous example if Picketts Charge on the third day of Gettyburg, another noticable example would the battle of Malvern Hill. As stated he found it hard to find a replacement for Jackson and Lee was never able to operate as effectively offensively again, his choices to replace Jackson (Ewell and Hill) in retrospect turned out to be poor choices

Answer 2

He was a brilliant military leader and a charismatic and personable individual. He outwitted his opposite number on the Union side for most of the war but was eventually crushed by the sheer weight of Grant's forces. He made one mistake, allowing the battle of Gettysburg, from which the confederate army never fully recovered.

Answer 3

Confederate General Robert E. Lee was brilliant using audacious moves in spoiling offensives to drive off Union incursions into Virginia. With little at his disposal, he kept superior forces and supplies at bay for years. Lee was also a master of tactical defense. Also, US Grant and President Lincoln regarded Lee not only as an able opponent, but an opponent they respected. Lee, of course knew many of his colleagues from West Point and his classes at West Point. At one time he was the Superintendent of the US Military Academy.

Lee had also earned his military reputation by his actions in the Mexican War.

Answer 4

because he came from a big military background and also he had very strategic plans that led to many victories

Answer 5

He was a brilliant tactician, and achieved remarkable success with an army that found itself usually outgunned. He was a man of great piety, and held strong to his devotion to his duty.