Was Robert E. Lee leader of the conderacy?

Answer 1

Robert E. Lee became the commander of the Confederate Army in the last few months of the Civil War. Until that time Jefferson Davis had tried to micromanage a number of battles from Richmond, Virginia. That was especially costly in the case of the Battle of Vicksberg. Instead of having General Joseph E. Johnson be in charge of all Confederate forces, Davis insisted on having two armies use different strategies. After the fiasco in Atlanta, the Confederate congress lost confidence in Davis. When Fort Monroe fell and no east coast port remained in Confederate hands, the Confederate Congress put all Confederate troops under Lee. Before that, he was the commander of the Army of Northern Virginia.

Answer 2

Very late in the war, the Confederate President, Jefferson Davis, decided that there should be a new post of General-in-Chief.

Up to then, he had tried to perform that function himself, and failed dismally. His respectable record in the Mexican war (fifteen years earlier) did not translate into effective high command, and he was badly out of his depth.

Choice of General-in-Chief was the only possible candidate, Robert E. Lee, but it was too late to make any difference, and Lee's Army of Northern Virginia surrendered to Grant within a few weeks, barefoot and starving.

Answer 3

Yes. He was a Virginian who disapproved of secession, but felt he ought to go with his state.

When Joe Johnston was wounded in the Peninsula Campaign, Lee was appointed to command the Confederate army in Virginia, and led them to the 'Confederate High Watermark', bringing the British close to granting recognition and sending miiltary aid.

In January 1865, he was appointed General-in-Chief of all the Confederate armies, too late to make any difference, and surrendered to Ulysses Grant at Appomattox.

Answer 4

No, they had a civilian president, Jefferson Davis.

Lee was appointed General-in-Chief in January 1865, too late to make any difference to the lost Confederate cause. Before that, the post did not exist. Davis tried to double in that role, but was badly out of his depth.

Answer 5

Robert E. Lee was the commander of the Confederate Army in the last few months of the Civil War.

Answer 6

Lee tuned down command of the Union forces and resigned his commission when Virginia seceded.